Introduction
Socialization is the process by which puppies and dogs are exposed to a variety of stimulations with the goal of acclimating them to life as part of a human family. Early socialization stimulates the brain of the puppy and will help them not only bond with humans but also grow up to be more confident dogs that accept new surroundings and experiences with minimal stress. Dogs that are bred for companionship should be socialized from birth and throughout their life. If a dog has not had early socialization, it is more difficult to accomplish the goal of socialization, but it is not an impossible task. In the case of dogs rescued as adults, care must be taken to socialize them slowly and thoroughly so they can learn basic skills to live with a family.
Early socialization
The socialization process should begin at birth with the mother of the dog and the breeder spending time with the puppies holding them and stroking them gently to stimulate neurological development. As soon as the puppy can hear sounds (when the ears open at approximately 12 days), it is helpful to expose them to the normal sounds of a household such as human voices, television, vacuum cleaners, and the like. A radio or television near the whelping box can help the puppies acclimate to a variety of voices and sounds. As the puppies grow, they need a variety of surfaces to walk on and plenty of toys to stimulate their minds. The breeder should make a conscious effort to make sure each puppy is held and played with by a wide range of people from both genders and all age groups and races. It is especially important that puppies are introduced to children early on since many dogs are wary of children if they have not had early exposure to them. Animated toys which move and make sounds are excellent for exposing puppies to unpredictable things. Puppies as young as five weeks can be taught to use a potty box. By six weeks, puppies should be coming when called and sitting in front of the person for a treat. This early training is important for puppies and helps establish the fundamentals of communication with humans and an understanding of basic household manners. A skill that can affect success in socialization is bite inhibition. Puppies start to learn about bite inhibition from their mother and littermates. A puppy must learn how to control the force of its bite and to respectfully play with littermates, a behavior which will later help translate to play with humans and other animals.
Puppies from 8 weeks to 16 weeks
Once a puppy goes home to its new family at around 8 to 12 weeks of age, the socialization process continues. The early weeks in a new home are very important since they can set the stage for later development. Puppies in the 8 week to 16 week age range are like sponges in that they absorb everything around them and can learn a great deal. Several trips to a veterinarian for booster shots will help their immune system develop. It is important to follow your veterinarian’s recommendations for allowing the puppy to interact with other dogs and/or go to places where other dogs can be found. There is a drop in the immune system protection from their mother and an increase in the immune protection from inoculations which occurs during this time period, so owners must be careful to protect the puppy from exposure to dogs that might be carrying communicable diseases since protection can vary at this time. However, the opportunity to play with other puppies and adult dogs that have had inoculations is essential to their development, and owners should take care to allow the puppy plenty of opportunity to interact with gentle dogs of a similar size. Continuing to expose the puppy to new people, including children, is vital to their development. Puppies can become fearful during these weeks, and it is important to allow them to explore the world around them. While it is tempting to cuddle a frightened puppy, it may only reinforce their fears. A better option is to ignore the puppy and allow it to retreat to a safe distance from things that scare it and then approach at its own pace. All kinds of household items or unusual sights may scare a puppy, so give it an opportunity to approach carefully, and praise it when it appears confident.
Even the simplest of items can be helpful in socializing a puppy, such as a cardboard box placed in the living room or a new toy with an unusual shape and texture. Daily walks around the neighborhood with an opportunity to observe people, cars, homes, and swing sets can go a long way to help socialize the puppy. Short car rides to the store, the park, or another family’s home are important so that the car ride is associated in the puppy's mind with pleasurable events and locations. If the only time a puppy is in a car is to ride to the veterinarian’s office, it may soon develop a dislike of car rides, which will be harder to correct than it would have been to prevent in the first place.
Older puppies
Once the puppy has had its full set of shots and you have the go-ahead from your veterinarian, it is time to continue the socialization process and begin training in earnest. Puppies should be enrolled in a puppy class and then later in basic obedience class to give them an opportunity to learn to interact with other dogs and people. The best puppy classes allow for some short puppy play times interspersed with a focus on training. Look for a class with a trainer who believes in positive motivation and who welcomes your questions. A good place to find a trainer who is an expert in canine behavior in your area is through the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. Their Web site is www.apdt.com
Puppies generally love to play with other puppies, but shy or small puppies sometimes are hesitant. If your puppy hangs back, simply allow it and don’t force the puppy to interact with the others. Generally most classes will have a couple of puppies that are slower to respond to the play time, and those puppies will often enjoy each other’s company when allowed to do so. Rambunctious puppies need to learn to play gently and to stop playing and come back to their owners when called. A good trainer can help you accomplish these tasks.
Trips to the park or even the local grocery store parking lot can be a good way to find people willing to help you with socializing your puppy. Always carry treats with you and when you meet friendly strangers who admire your puppy, ask them to assist you with socialization by giving them a treat to give to your dog. Ask them to pet the dog and then give it another treat. This will help teach the dog that people in general are friendly.
During this formative time, it is also important to begin regular grooming sessions with your puppy. Keep the sessions short at first, and use a toy to distract the puppy. Make sure that the puppy learns to lie down on its side and that it is comfortable with you rolling it over on its back and holding each of its feet gently. As you progress, brushing and nail trimming can be added gradually with treats as a reward for cooperation. Teeth brushing is also very important to the dog's health, and early exposure to this makes it easier. Ask your veterinarian for a demonstration and for instructions and assistance with picking out tools and a good cleaner.
If you have another dog in your household, it is tempting to think that your puppy will get plenty of socialization by playing with the adult dog. However, puppies that only play with one other dog can be quite fearful or even aggressive with other dogs. There is even a tendency for puppies to develop a strong liking for a particular breed of dog and to be fearful of dogs that simply look different from what they are familiar with. It is very important that puppies have time alone with their owners as well as a chance to go to class to socialize with other puppies early in life.
Adult dogs
If you acquire your dog as an adult, it may or may not have had early socialization. Ask if the shelter or rescue organization or the former owner can give you some background on the dog, but if not, you will simply need to introduce the dog to people and other dogs slowly. Give the dog some time to get used to a routine in the new home and gradually begin exposing it to new experiences. Always make sure these experiences are pleasurable to the dog by using praise and rewards such as food or play. A basic dog obedience class will help with socialization. Follow the recommendations for older puppies, but be very careful and observant with the dog around new dogs, smaller or larger dogs, people and especially children. It may take several months for an adult dog to become socialized, and it may be that some dogs that have had very bad life experiences will never be comfortable around new people or dogs. However, with good management, even a dog that has had a bad start in life can become a beloved member of the family and bring years of joy to its owners.
Elizabeth Wells, Ph.D. - Michigan State University
