Socialization is a lot more than what you may think

When considering socialization, many people think of: 

• meeting people and other dogs
• Getting used to kids
• Getting used to things
• Going to different places

 These are examples of a few paths towards socialization, but doesn’t define what it is. We must always keep in mind that dogs are a completely different species and we are asking them to adapt and function in a human world. They must learn our cultural norms and social communication in order to be happy, welcomed, and safe in human society. This is what socialization essentially is. We use socialization as a defence against an array of behaviour problems in the future. It’s vitally important, but no easy feat.

When Socialization Happens

As soon as a puppy’s eyes and ears are functioning properly, they are actively learning about their world, at approximately  three weeks of age. Prime socialization period for a puppy is between 3 to 12 weeks of age. Behaviourists believe that the ideal socialization window closes at around 14-16 weeks. When most puppies are adopted at 8 weeks, they are already more than  half-way through this critical developmental period. From 3-8 weeks they are learning essential social skills like  how to communicate and interact with their littermates and their mother. They should also be learning about humans and the world around them. Puppies who are adopted too early and miss out on this crucial social learning, often have problems communicating in canine body language in the future which leads to poor or dangerous interactions with other dogs. 

A good breeder will see to giving puppies lots of appropriate socialization opportunities.  They will raise their puppies in a home environment where the puppies will have the chance to normalize the everyday noises and activities such as phones ringing, doors closing, microwaves beeping and people coming and going. They should be taken outside regularly to safely explore different surfaces, weather, vehicle sounds, smells and other animals. Avoid adopting from breeders who raise their puppies in a barn or kennel. You should also be cautious of taking home the shy, timid puppy out of pity, thinking the little one just needs your love to come around. This is not usually the case. If the puppy has a genetic predisposition for a confident personality, some of the damage can possibly be repaired, but it takes hard work in addition to love. If she is genetically predisposed to be timid, early socialization is even more critically important. Absent that, dog and human are probably in for 10-15 years of behaviour challenges. 

Some of my clients are advised to not take their puppy to public  spaces or enrol them in puppy classes until they are fully vaccinated when they are around 4-6 months. The American Veterinary Society for Animal Behaviour released a statement in 2008 that advises otherwise. It confirmed that the risk of a puppy contracting a serious or fatal disease during proper socialization efforts is far less than the risk of a dog later being given up or euthanized due to behaviour problems that developed as a result of a lack of socialization.

If you adopt a dog or puppy after the initial socialization period, all is not lost, but expect to take more time and effort to help your dog acquire the needed social skills.  Indeed, I often get many such clients for fear-related behaviours (often aggression) stemming from a lack of adequate socialization during puppyhood. They may never be the dog they could have been with better socialization during the prime socialization window, but they can certainly improve and learn to live a more confident life.

How Socialization Happens

Socialization involves introducing a puppy to a variety of stimuli (sights, sounds, smells, experiences) and making sure the pup is having a good time while doing so. Good socialization must happen with care and intention. As much as is possible, you need to control the environment to avoid overwhelming the dog or puppy and creating a negative association with a particular stimulus. When introducing your pup to children, choose ones who can be counted on to behave appropriately around dogs; don’t just let them be mobbed by the entire Little League team.

Socialization must be done at the dog’s pace and sliced up into small manageable steps to help the dog feel safe and build their confidence. For instance, when introducing a vacuum cleaner, start with simply having the vacuum in the room. Next, you can begin to gently and slowly move the hose back and forth without turning it on. Then work on the noise, but use a recording of a working vacuum that you can control the duration and volume of the sound. Gradually work up to a realistic noise level and duration. Finally, you can then turn on the real vacuum and later have it move around the room. 

Pair your pup’s exposure to new things with high-value, pea-sized treats so they learn that new things means good stuff happens. You can also use favourite activities such as attention, toys and games. Your goal is to ensure your pup is having a good time when exploring new things in their world while protecting them from overwhelming and scary experiences. It’s a time for unicorns and rainbows.

A well-run puppy class will guide pet parents through the steps and techniques for proper socialization and offer some supervised playtime ensuring all puppies have a good and safe experience. Make sure you enrol early, before your puppy arrives, to secure a place as you cannot afford to waste time waiting for a spot to open up.

Benefits of Proper Socialization

The great benefits of properly socializing your dog more than compensate for the time and effort it takes. Well-socialized puppies become optimists, believing that the world is a happy place and that new things they encounter are probably safe and good unless proven otherwise. They tend to be resilient, able to bounce back quickly in adulthood even if or when a traumatic event occurs. Proper socialization reduces behaviours associated with fear, overstimulation and excitability.

It makes dogs less fearful, less reactive and smarter; and dogs who are taught to work through problems, rather than react emotionally, are much more pleasant companions. It benefits both ends of the leash, making us all happier, more relaxed and safer. 

Socialization must be done with the care, knowledge and intent to reap its many benefits. Cut corners on your socialization program, and you and your dog are likely to pay the price in fear-related behaviours, even aggression, a life full of stress, and major restrictions on what activities they can share and enjoy with you. We socialize our dogs so they can have the best possible life, to feel comfortable in their environment, and to blend into human society as well as any non-human can. It’s the key for dogs and humans living happily together.

The post Socialization: The Key for Dogs and Humans Living Happily Together first appeared on Paragon Pooch Pet Services CPDT-KA.

The post Socialization: The Key for Dogs and Humans Living Happily Together appeared first on Paragon Pooch Pet Services CPDT-KA.