Many people have heard friends or dog trainers talk about puppy socialization. Yet, lots of folks are not sure of what this means or why it is important. I am going to try to clarify some of this for you and why we dog trainers think it is a critical component in raising a well-adjusted, well-mannered puppy.
Socialization is a process of introducing your puppy to a wide range of new experiences, people, places, things, environments and activities. This is accomplished by gradually allowing your dog to check out different looking people, children, environments, objects and dogs. The period of your puppy’s life when socialization is most critical is between the ages of 8 to 16 weeks.
When you socialize puppies, you give them the opportunity to be positively exposed to a wide variety of new experiences. This results in dogs that more easily adjust to new things throughout their lives. Well-socialized dogs are more secure and self-confident.
The process of puppy socialization should be fun, safe and positive for your puppy. It should be completely force free and voluntary for your puppy. Your attitude will matter during this process, so make sure that you are having fun introducing new things to your pup.
It is also important for you to respect your puppy’s feelings and never push or force your puppy if she is at all reluctant to meet someone or something. Let her approach new things at her own pace. Provide opportunities for your puppy to investigate new things and then let her take her time. If she is reluctant, try laughing or interacting with the new object or person yourself, but be wiling to let it go if your pup continues to remain reluctant to interact with a new object or person.
Try to avoid situations, places or people you think may be less than positive for your puppy. The idea here is to build upon lots of really good experiences so that your puppy builds up a resiliency to novel experiences. So, if someone approaches you and wants to hold your puppy, it may be best to suggest that they sit down and allow the puppy to approach them.
A well-socialized puppy means that by the time your puppy is 16 weeks old they should have had POSITIVE experiences with:
• Many different surfaces: grass, sand, cement, grates, linoleum etc
• Interacted with many different objects: a variety of toys (soft, squeaky, hard, etc), wood, paper, metal etc
• Been to many different locations: friend’s homes, the vet’s office, ponds, cars, boats, bus etc.
• Met and played with a variety of new people: kids, men, women, people wearing hats, men sporting beards, folks in wheelchairs etc.
• Have heard many different types of noises: lawn mower, snow blower, sirens, doorbell, coffee grinder, vacuum, other animals sounds (horses, chickens, cats), babies crying, kids playing etc.
• Has seen objects moving at different speeds (do not allow your pup to chase): people running, kids playing, cats running, vacuums moving etc.
• Has had a variety of challenges: climbing up and down objects, climbing over objects, walking on wobbly surfaces, seeing an umbrella open etc.
• Has been gently handled by you and family members multiple times per week: touching their paws, looking in the ears etc.
• Eaten from different containers and in different locations.
• Played with many different safe puppies and adult dogs.
• Has had an opportunity to learn that it is OK to be left alone; this should be done gradually so your pup does not experience any anxiety about your departures and arrivals.
• Experienced wearing a leash and collar.
The important thing to remember is that when your puppy is experiencing new things you must allow your puppy to approach and that the experience is a positive one for your puppy. Peaceful Pack Dog Training offers Puppy Head Start classes with new sessions starting every four weeks. These classes are a wonderful opportunity to get your pup started on the right paw- more information can be found on the schedule page of our website at www.peacefulpack.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment