Now that you've brought that adorable bundle of fur home, what are you going to do with him? Well, if You want to avoid future headaches and frustration, you should learn the ins and outs of puppy socialization. The experiences your puppy has during the first four months of life will dramatically influence her adult personality. To prevent asocial behaviour, fear and biting, it is very important for a puppy to have frequent positive experiences.
Dog ownership can be wonderful and rewarding - if your dog is comfortable with people, other animals and in unfamiliar environments. And it's never too soon to start socialization training.
THE FIRST WEEKS
The primary period of socialization in dogs is from 3 to 12 weeks, but sufficient handling, beginning at birth, is also important for proper social development.
Studies show that stimulation an handling beginning shortly after birth and continuing through 12 weeks of age increases exploratory behaviour, learning ability, coordination and sociability toward people. In addition, these puppies are more resistant to disease, mature faster, learn faster and are better able to handle stress. The health and behaviour of the bitch also plays an important role in early development. Puppies from bitches with good maternal behaviour have better digestion, better resistance to disease, better weight gain, develop and mature faster, and are more stable than puppies born to bitches with poor maternal instincts.
Dogs and cats that have been deprived of maternal and peer interaction are more likely to turn out to be undesirable, particularly with regard to emotional behaviour.
For the first six to seven weeks, the most important aspect of normal canine development is that the dog learns to be a dog. Puppies that have been deprived of normal social relationships with other dogs may have difficulty in adjusting to their own kind. Species identification and imprinting on the mother and littermates, sensory development, investigative behaviour, social skills and den instincts emerge and develop during this period. For this reason it is best to keep a puppy with its mother and littermates.
Unless there is another dog in the new home, adopting a dog at too young an age may result in a close attachment with humans but poor social skills with other dogs. Although socialization to other dogs is most important during the first six weeks, the puppy should also be exposed to as many new people, new environments and novel stimuli as possible.
AFTER SEVEN WEEKS
By seven weeks of age the puppy is least inhibited, and is best able to adapt to new experiences, so that the focus of socialization should now be shifted toward people and the new home. Sociability begins to diminish at 12 - 14 weeks of age so pups will bond readily to new people and the new environment only up to this age. Mild discipline during the socialization period actually enhances development and attachment to new people. You may think you're being kind, but puppies raised in a permissive environment with a lack of owner dominance develop weak ties and little respect for the owner, so you're doing your dog and your family no favours by being a pushover.
Puppies should be exposed to every possible experience while they are young, friendly and impressionable because, as the dog matures, new experiences could lead to fear, anxiety and even aggression.
Puppies that grow up in an environment with limited exposure to people may become fearful or aggressive when exposed to a person who is slightly different from the 'norm' that the puppy has come to expect. For example, a puppy that grows up in a sorority house with teenaged girls, may become fearful of babies or young children. Puppies that grow up with police officers are not likely to be fearful of uniforms, while a dog kept on a farm for the first few months may be well socialized to cattle or horses, but when it grows up may be frightened or aggressive toward cars, bicyclists or joggers.
Try to make each new experience as positive as possible. An excellent way to introduce the puppy to new people and novel situations is to carry a bag of dog biscuits and allow only new people the pup meets to give them to her. You should take the biscuits along whenever the dog goes outdoors, and the puppy should be encouraged to approach everyone it meets along the way so that they can pat the puppy, play with it and give it a treat.
The puppy should also be intorduced to car rides, other animals, the veterinary clinic and even taken visiting neighbours, relatives or friends, being certain to make each new experience as pleasant as possible, with praise patting, play or treats.
CONTINUED SOCIALIZATION
By 16 weeks it may be too late to begin primary socialization, but continued socialization is essential. A good way to continue socialization with a varitey of people and other dogs is by attending puppy training classes or puppy parties. Behaviour consultants may be necessary for dogs with emerging problems.