Dog Socialization — it’s importance and effect on a dog’s life!
Puppies require very little human attention in their first few weeks of being born. They feed from their mother naturally and learn to walk on their own, but humans can have a dramatic and lasting impact when it comes to socializing a pup.
The crucial socialization period starts as early as 4 weeks and spans through about 14 weeks. During this time, the puppy should be learning, exploring and introduced to anything and everything in the world. The more things, sounds and people it can associate with as a puppy will affect whether they think their ‘world is a safe place’, as they grow through adulthood.
‘The crucial socialization period starts as early as 4 weeks and spans through about 14 weeks.’
But how does one best socialize a puppy?
Some may remember from Psych 101 the process called ‘conditioning’, or pairing an experience with positive things like treats, games or praise to create a positive association. For every new or unusual experience your pup comes across, praise him or her with encouraging words or yummy treats to help your pup remember that as a happy moment.
Still, your pup is new to all this, so don’t rush it. Take each experience slow and in steps. Don’t force or push your pup into a situation that they are hesitant about or can’t handle, as this could lead to negative associations. And don’t hesitate to repeat situations and exposure to things that your pup already been introduced to! When it comes to socialization there is never enough repetition. And the same goes for adult dogs, too.
Now some may question whether they can socialize their pup without having all of his or her shots. Valid question; and our vet says puppies shouldn’t even go outside until they have all their shots. But there are plenty of things you can do!
For starters socializing your pup with other pups should be a huge part of their puppyhood. As long as the puppies have had their first shot, a pup can go on a playdate; that is why many trainers and even some daycares offer monitored playdates. When taking your pup to a playdate, ensure there is puppy counselor or trainer on hand to help. Navigating the social world and learning how to read social cues is a process for pups, and sometimes guidance from humans can help.
‘Socializing your pup to a full spectrum of people, things and environments is also crucial.’
But your pup needs more than just puppy playtime. Socializing your pup to a full spectrum of people, things and environments is also crucial. And the list is endless but for examples, the vacuum, men, men with beards, people wearing hats, skateboards, strange objects, loud noises, these are all things to consider socializing or desensitizing your pup to. But remember, the most important thing when doing all this is to keep each situation or introduction positive.
So what happens if a puppy is not socialized? Not being introduced to these strange, crazy or load things that exist in this world can lead to fear or aggression towards something or someone.
To help our dogs live in a safe world, puppy socialization is key!