The Importance of Puppy Socialization

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.

January is "National Train Your Dog Month"

The Association of Pet Dog Trainers, the largest educational and professional association for dog trainers in the world, has proclaimed January "National Train Your Dog Month." The goal of this campaign is to promote the importance of training and socialization to all dog owners.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, between six and eight million dogs and cats are turned in to animal shelters each year, and about four million are euthanized for lack of good homes. Many dogs are turned in to shelters for common behavior and training issues that could easily be solved with the assistance of a professional trainer or behavior counselor. In fact, it has been proven that training and socializing dogs when they're young reduces or eliminates behavior problems in the future.

Since January is the time for New Year’s resolutions, it is the perfect time for the dog-owners of Hancock County, and those who may be considering getting a dog, to learn about the importance and impact of training for their pet. The APDT web site has a wealth of helpful information for pet owners at www.apdt.com/petowners.

APDT and its over 5,000 member trainers are dedicated to helping to keep dogs in homes, in showing dog owners how to fully enjoy and have fun with their dogs, and to experience the joys of having a well-trained dog.

At Peaceful Pack Dog Training we believe that training your dog with current, humane and effective methods will help your dog remain in his or her “forever home”. Training provides dogs with the basc good manners we all want- from polite greetings, to walking nicely on leash to coming when called. Training builds your mutual bond, enhances partnership and enriches the relationship you share with your dog. Is there anything better?

Peaceful Pack Dog Training offers a variety of classes for your dog- from puppy headstart, basic manners to agility, Rally O, Tricks and even Canine Good Citizen Testing. Peaceful Pack Dog Training provides group and private lessons to people and their dogs. It is our business to help people and their dogs create lasting friendships with training solutions that REALLY work!

So, Simon did not go to Sargent...

Although Simon the dog did not accompany me for our Sunday morning hike up Acadia's second highest peak, I thought of him often and how much he would have loved this snowy adventure. I also was thinking of what I would offer as alternative exercise when I returned home.

Exercising our dogs in the colder winter months can be tiresome, especially when we would much rather rest buy the fire. So, on those days when all you want to do is take Fido out for a potty break why not opt for some indoor mental exercise.

Dogs require both physical and mental exercise. Mental exercise is important as it engages your dog's brain and asks them to really think about what you are asking of them. Dogs, like humans, get bored and when left to their own devices may choose activities that we may not admire- such as chewing on our favorite shoes or stealing food off the counters. Mental exercise provides your dog with something to do, which helps to keep them from engaging in those activities that we frown on.

So, here are a couple of tricks to engage your dog's brain, build focus and teamwork and provide much needed mental exercise. Have fun and enjoy this time with your dog!

Spin/Twirl

The trick: Your dog spins in either a left or right full circle.

Begin with your dog facing you with a treat in your right hand. Move your hand to your right in a large counter-clockwise circle, slowly luring your dog. Give your dog the treat at the end of the circle. Only lure 3 times with food in your hand, then try to just use your hand motion.
As your dog improves and readily moves in the circle, start adding the cue word “spin” as he starts to turn in the circle.
As your dog continues to improve start making the hand motion smaller.
Repeat the steps luring with your left hand (I will admit that I taught this to my dog using the same hand to lure him- worked fine) to have your dog turn in a clockwise direction. Use the cue word “twirl” for moving in this direction.


Roll Over

The trick: Your dog rolls sideways on his back, completing a full rotation.

Start with your dog in a down position, facing you. Kneel down in front of her, holding a treat to the side of her head opposite the direction you want her to roll.
Move the treat from her nose toward her shoulder blade. This should lure your dog to roll onto her side- click and treat when she gets on her side.
When you think she is ready, continue the motion with your hand as you move the treat from her shoulder blade toward her backbone. This should lure her to roll onto her back and over to her other side. Reward the moment she lands on her other side.
As she improves and readily completes the roll add the cue word “rollover” and start using more subtle hand motions.

A Winter Hike Up Sargent

This past Sunday a friend and I took advantage of the warmish weather and headed out in the morning to hike Sargent Mountain in Acadia National Park. The sky was overcast and there was a possibility of snow flurries- but the weather was due to clear as the day progressed. It was 26 degrees F when we left the house.

Sargent is the 2nd highest mountain in Acadia at 1,373 feet. Some reports suggest that the pond between Sargent and Penobscot Mountains may be the oldest lake in Maine at 17,000 years. We opted to follow the Maple Spring Trail and then follow the Grandgent Trail to the summit.

Simon did not accompany us on this adventure as I was not sure how much ice we would encounter and we had hopes of spotting snowy owls at the summit. No Snowys were to be seen, but the pure beauty of the summit was worth every step. I think Simon would have loved it!