What does it mean to socialize my puppy?
We hear it all the time -- it’s important to “socialize” your puppy. But, what exactly does that mean? We, humans, socialize with other humans at parties and gatherings and it generally means that we make small talk, network, or peacefully “hang out” together.
Socialization for Puppies
When we refer to socialization for puppies, we are kinda on that same page, but digging deeper and broader. We want our dogs to feel comfortable making that canine small talk and hanging out, feeling confident and comfortable in their world and their place in it. We build that foundation through safe and monitored exposure to a variety of real world experiences, ie socialization. Although it is important to continue to socialize our adult dog, it’s critical to start when she is a puppy. Just like the first five years of a human child’s life is an important time for their social development, the childhood of the dog (ie, the puppy stage) is also an important milestone that supports the puppy in building their perspective that, in part, creates the adult dog they are growing into.
The Puppy’s First Three Months
“During [the first three months of life] puppies should be exposed to as many new people, animals, stimuli and environments as can be achieved safely and without causing overstimulation manifested as excessive fear, withdrawal or avoidance behavior,” the AVSAB position statement says. “For this reason, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior believes that it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive such socialization before they are fully vaccinated.”
During the critical time of life from 8 weeks to 16 weeks of age, puppies learn a lot about their world. If, during that time, they rarely leave their home, then they may overreact when, later in life, they see someone on a skateboard or in a wheelchair, or another dog at the park. When we properly socialize that puppy, we expose her to a broad range of “everyday life experiences”, such as handling for nail trims, people on bicycles, children running, strangers offering treats, men wearing hats and beards, walking up/down stairs, and her experiences with each encourage her to trust, relax and tolerate. By exposing her to a variety of such everyday life experiences, at a young age, we have the benefit of allowing her to desensitize to such sights and sounds and, therefore, have her grow up to think they are no big deal.
Protect and Encourage New Puppy Socialization Experiences
It is important, however, that your pup is monitored for her reactions to these new experiences and adjustments are made when necessary. We must protect her from negative experiences that have the potential to teach her to be fearful. Is she willing to check out the kids’ tunnel at the playground? Great, let her do so on her own terms. If we rush her through it, pick her up and plop her in it, she has learned that she doesn’t have control over her environment and may need to be prepared to flee or defend herself. Such fearful responses create a dog who doesn’t trust new environments or new people and may create an exaggerated response as the dog gets older. Instead, be her cheerleader! Encourage her to explore that tunnel by coaxing her to check it out, maybe tossing treats at the entryway then throwing a party for her when she tentatively reaches to sniff or puts one paw on it to get a treat. If she doesn’t want to run right in and explore, that’s ok. When it is confirmed for her, time after time, that each new experience can be explored on her own terms, she will begin to gain more courage and more confidence. That sets us up for having a dog who is comfortable and relaxed in social settings since she knows she is safe and has repeatedly learned that new situations generally offer positive outcomes.
Why Puppy Socialization Training Classes?
Puppy socialization training classes can provide great opportunities for your puppy to be appropriately exposed to new such interactions, but they are also an important time for you to learn how to support your puppy in feeling safe and confident in those circumstances. More than learning basic commands, a good puppy socialization class can provide owners with:
the tools needed to safely expose the pup to new situations
understanding how/when to encourage and when to get more distance
how/when to protect the pup by making adjustments
In addition, a healthy puppy class can provide socialization experiences that build and grow your relationship with your puppy, setting the stage for cooperation and trust resulting in more fluid learning, in other words, a cooperative, happy dog more easily able to train.
Synergy Dog’s Well-Rounded Puppy Class
In Synergy Dog’s Well-Rounded Puppy Program, we provide ramps, jumps, stairs, tunnels, and beams to walk, navigate and explore. Our goal is for your pup to choose to check out this play equipment while you cheer her on using praise, encouragement and treats. From the trainer’s perspective, we smile broadly when we see the pups prance to mom and dad after investigating something new, full of pride for their accomplishment. Our job is to coach you in coaching your pup and to ensure that we are reaching that goal of building confidence and self-assurance. We’ll add in opportunities to learn and practice “sit” and “off” as well as “come” but, at this young age, of utmost importance is, yup, gotta use that word again, socialization.
Editor’s Note: I am in no way saying that you are guaranteed a stable, well-behaved, well-socialized adult dog if you start with a puppy and follow all the rules. All animals, us included, are a product of both nature and nurture. Many times, in fact, I have found that adult dogs, who lived their lives as a homeless “stray” in states where they are, unfortunately, plentiful or even those adult dogs who come from situations of abuse and neglect, have been so well socialized, adapted to their circumstances and, by the pure forgiving nature of the canine species despite the poor circumstances humans have had them endure, have grown into tolerant, loving, stable, trusting companions. In fact, unless a puppy has already charmed you into bringing her home, I encourage adoption of adult dogs. As an adult, the guesswork is taken out of the equation as in, you already know who the dog is. But, that’s a different blog.
Other dog training services provided by Synergy Dog include:
Day Training, much like board & train but your dog stays home with you!
VIP services for unlimited access to training support
Essential Obedience group class
Advanced Obedience group class
Specialty classes such as Party Tricks, Nosework, Stranger Danger, and Tug/Fetch classes