Puppy Socialization

Socialization means learning to be part of society. When we talk about socializing pet puppies, it means helping them learn to be comfortable as a pet within human society-a society that includes many different types of people, environments, buildings, sights, noises, smells, animals, and other dogs.

Most young animals, including dogs, are naturally made to be able to get used to the everyday things they encounter in their environment until they reach a certain age. When they reach that age, they are naturally made to become much more suspicious of things they haven’t yet experienced. God made them with an incredible genome to adapt to their environment through gene expression, epigenetics, and natural selection over time. This age-specific natural development lets a young puppy get comfortable with the everyday sights, sounds, people, and animals that will be a part of his life. It ensures that he doesn’t spend his life jumping in fright at every blowing leaf or bird song. The later suspicion they develop in later puppyhood also ensures that he does react with a healthy dose of caution to new things that could truly be dangerous.

Our imprint training begins on puppies when they are 8 weeks of age and it is a 12 week program. They are around 4.5-5 months of age when they are ready to go home. When we have the puppy for the entire 12 weeks, we are able to have their behaviors well established and they will be further along in the house training (pretty much 100% house trained).

WHAT AGE IS BEST FOR PUPPY SOCIALIZATION?

Puppies are most accepting of new experiences between 3 and 12 weeks old. After that age, they become much more cautious of anything they haven’t yet encountered. From about 12 to 18 weeks old the opportunity to easily socialize the puppy ends-and with each passing week it becomes harder to get the pup to accept and enjoy something that he’s initially wary of. After 18 weeks old, it’s extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible, to teach a dog to like something new, or help him become comfortable with something he or she finds frightening.

WHY IS PUPPY SOCIALIZATION IMPORTANT?

Well-socialized puppies usually develop into safer, more relaxed, and enjoyable pet dogs. This is because they’re more comfortable in a wider variety of situations than poorly socialized dogs, so they’re less likely to behave fearfully or aggressively when faced with something new. Poorly socialized dogs are much more likely to react with fear or aggression to unfamiliar people, dogs, and experiences. Dogs who are relaxed about honking horns, cats, cyclists, veterinary examinations, crowds, and long stairwells are easier and safer to live with than dogs who find these situations threatening. Well-socialized dogs also live much more relaxed, peaceful, and happy lives than dogs who are constantly stressed out by their environment.

Socialization isn’t an “all or nothing” project. You can socialize a puppy a bit, a lot, or a whole lot. The wider the range of experiences you expose your doodle puppy to, the better chances he or she is of being comfortable in a wide variety of situations as an adult.

HOW DO I SOCIALIZE MY DOODLE PUPPY?

We recommend taking your puppy with you everywhere! The more places, sights, sounds, and smells the better. The rule of thumb with puppy socialization is to keep a close eye on your puppy’s reaction to whatever you expose him or her to so that you can tone things down if your pup seems at all frightened. Always follow up a socialization experience with praise, petting, a fun game, or a special treat. You want to associate new experiences with positive reinforcement. If you have begun crate training, we recommend allowing your puppy to go to their ‘safe space’ and trying again in the future. Whenever negative experiences happen, it’s important to introduce your puppy to the scary situation much more gradually and to make a big effort to do something your puppy loves during the situation or right afterward.

OTHER SAFE WAYS TO SAFELY SOCIALIZE A DOODLE PUPPY WHO IS NOT FULLY VACCINATED

• Drive to a busy shopping area and hang out with your pup on a mat at the entrance. Strangers will flock to you because they want to pet your puppy and they’ll willingly feed him the treats that you’ve brought with you.

• Host a puppy party! Invite friends and family over, play some music, toss some streamers, and pass your pup around.

• Bring your puppy to a park. Supervise the children interacting with him or her to make sure he’s not frightened by them and they’re being gentle.

• Take your doodle pup on car rides through different neighborhoods, drive-thrus, car washes, and out into the country where he’ll see and smell a variety of farm animals.

• Arrange play sessions with other puppies and adult dogs who you know are healthy and friendly.

• If your puppy is small enough, carry him around town and let strangers pet him, and give him treats.

SHOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT MY PUPPY OR I CONTRACTING A DISEASE WHILE SOCIALIZING?

The risk of infection is quite small compared to the much larger risk of your puppy developing serious behavior problems with fear and aggression later in life. Keep your puppy up to date on their vaccinations and take proper precautions. The great news for you is that dogs help you build your immune system! Dogs work like a probiotic, helping you to develop healthy bacteria colonies that in turn boost your immune system – stopping you from getting ill and, potentially, keeping you from having allergies. source