What does "socializing your puppy" mean?
Exposing your puppy to as many new people, animals and experiences as possible
When you socialize your puppy, you expose him to everything that he may encounter and need to handle as an adult. This includes people and animals of all types, situations (such as high traffic areas and quiet country areas,) experiences (going to the vet, riding on an elevator) and objects (statues, umbrellas, and other potentially scary things.) If you plan on having a working dog, it also means introducing him to the "tools of his trade"- noisy dog shows, being handled by strangers, agility equipment, gunfire, etc.
When do responsible breeders start socializing their puppies?
At birth
Responsible breeders usually ensure that their puppies are habituated to many things from birth. They will handle the pups and get them used to human contact. They will expose the pups safely to normal household situations- children, other animals, vacuum cleaners and the like. As the pups grow older and begin to move about, the responsible breeder will make sure that they are introduced to many new situations. For example, by the age of 8 weeks, my pup will already have been exposed to dogs, cats, game birds, show stacking, new people, dog crates, and many other things.
What is the primary reason that socialization is vitally important?
Preventing fears in adult dogs
During the socialization period, puppies form views on which things are safe and which are not. These opinions last for life! Thus, if the pup has pleasant experiences with something, it will be happy to accept that thing for life. If the puppy is scared by something, it may develop a lifelong fear. After the socialization period ends, the dog is apt to be afraid of anything new and unfamiliar that it meets. In many cases, this leads to problems. Dogs who are not socialized to children, for example, may be afraid of them and tend to bite them as adults.
What age do most dog experts believe is the optimal age for a socialization program?
7-16 weeks
Most experts believe that optimal socialization occurs during the time that, in nature, the puppy would be weaned and would just be starting to interact with others in the pack. During this time, the pup is "programmed" to be curious, approach new things, take in as many experiences as possible and process them as "good" or "bad." After the socialization period, acclimation to new objects and situations is much more difficult, as the dog will become cautious.
Puppies that are to grow up to be guard dogs should not be socialized to strangers, so that they will be more wary of them as adults.
FALSE
In fact, it's vital that potential guard dogs be intensively socialized, as they must, as adults, be able to distinguish between normal, harmless human behavior and dangerous human behavior. A good guard dog will not bite a stranger running, screaming child, a poorly-socialized one often will
Do you know what you should NOT do if your puppy seems afraid of something?
Reassure the puppy, using a high tone of voice to tell him "It's OK, that won't hurt you."
If you reassure the puppy, he will interpret your words, which he cannot understand, as praise for his fear! Do not reward fearful behavior. Many pups will regain their boldness when they see you approach the object without fear. The pup should be rewarded for any approaches towards the object. If he is really afraid, back off to a "safe" distance where the pup is calm, then gradually approach the feared object (this may take several sessions), rewarding the pup for calm behavior.
When it comes to people is it most vital to socialize your puppy extensively with...
Men and children
Studies have shown that the most common "people phobias" in dogs are of men and of children. Pups need to be socialized to ALL people, but take extra time with these groups!
When socializing your pup with people, it is most important to...
Make sure the experience is pleasant for the puppy
Remember that these experiences are designed to instill a good attitude about people in your puppy! Allowing anyone to frighten or intimidate the pup at this time can cause lifelong fears.
According to dog behaviorist Dr. Ian Dunbar, how many different people should your puppy meet between the ages of 8 and 12 weeks?
At least 100
That's about three people per day! It really isn't a difficult goal, and it's worth it for your pup.
Socializing dogs is very important and it's up to YOU as a responsible dog owner.
Do the right things, be a strong pack leader and you'll have a well behaved, confident and social dog that will be obedient too. Good dog behavior depends on you to lead the dog!
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