Consistent Socialization is Key Throughout Your Dog’s Life

Proper socialization aims to help your puppy or dog acclimate to all types of sights, sounds, smells, surfaces, surroundings, people, and experiences.  Effective socialization is meant to produce a neutral or positive reaction to experiences they encounter.  New experiences are likely to come with stress for your dog, this is perfectly normal; providing them with new experiences will help desensitize their stress levels for future encounters.

Research shows that the first 16 weeks of your puppy’s life are critical to the socialization process; Studies suggest that the effects of this period remain unchangeable during a dog’s lifetime.   However, socialization should not stop there; continuing socialization throughout your dog’s life is important.  Inadequate socialization can lead to behavioral issues in your dog, which causes problems for you.  Starting the process early is key to mental and social development and can remove future challenges for your pup; continuing the process throughout your dog’s life is important to maintain a well-mannered pooch.   

Early Socialization (Birth to Eight Weeks)

Socialization begins with your breeder, as your breeder should have your puppy for the first eight weeks of its life.  It is important to choose a breeder who understands socialization and has the plan to interact with the puppies daily, stimulating and introducing them to the new world around them.  Exposure to new smells, sounds, surfaces, and surroundings as well as the playful companionship of their littermates is important during this time.

Beginning at just a few days old, before the puppies open their eyes, breeders should begin daily socialization.  Neurological stimulation, otherwise known as Biosensor training, is a training technique using a series of simple exercises that introduce the puppies to a small amount of controlled stress; enduring this small amount of stress allows the puppies to learn to cope and recover at an early age, and in turn, excels their tolerance for later stages of life when levels of stress may intensify.  The Biosensor routine was developed by the United States Military and is proven by research to have an increased tolerance to stress, stronger immune and nervous systems, greater adrenal response, better temperaments, and even longer lifespans.  The simple, daily exercises performed from days three to sixteen of the puppy’s life, consist of holding the puppy upright, on its back, and upside down, as well as tickling between the toes and placing them on a damp cloth; each exercise should be endured for only 5 seconds.

Other techniques your breeder should use during their tenure with the new puppies consist of basic human socialization, introduction to new toys and common household items, a variety of sounds and surfaces, as well as different indoor and outdoor environments. The social interaction they experience with their littermates is also crucial to their development.  

Your First Eight Weeks With Your New Puppy

Your puppy must spend its first eight weeks with its mother and littermates; at the eight-week mark, your new pal is ready to go to their forever home.  By this time, the breeder’s veterinarian should have administered the puppy’s first series of vaccinations.  As puppies need additional booster shots to complete their initial series of vaccinations beyond those provided during the time with the breeder, this is an important consideration to remember before you take your puppy out into the public for socialization training; if you do take your puppy on field trips before completing their vaccination series, it would be a good idea to carry them with you so they are not exposed to anything or any other foreign dog that may comprise their health.

During your first eight weeks with your puppy, you should partake in daily activities such as exploring your home and the objects within it; introducing your new puppy to everyone in your family as well as those who will be regularly involved in your pup’s life; spend time handling the puppy physically including petting from head to tail, belly rubs, touching their teeth, mouth, ear, collar, and paws; as well as taking them for car rides and field trips.  The more your puppy can experience during this time, the better. Another excellent activity your pup can partake in from the comfort of their crate is listening to a puppy socialization soundtrack; these soundtracks can be found on YouTube and consist of a variety of everyday sounds that your pup will likely be prone to hearing throughout their life.  These soundtracks contain noises such as other dogs’ barking, car horns, household sounds, doorbells, and common sounds that frequently cause reactions in dogs. 

Keep socialization activities positive and exciting for your pup.  Never force them to do something they do not like; if your pup is worried about something, move on – you can always come back and try again.  Distance is key; when exploring new things, people, or other dogs, allow your dog to decide when to approach them – don’t let others approach your pup, initially.   Create positive associations with engagements by treating your puppy to reward favorable behaviors; this will also offer validation and reassurance to them. Sometimes, jumping in and playing with an item yourself helps to show your puppy that the object they question is not scary.

Socialization for Older Dogs

If you feel you missed the boat in providing quality socialization during the first 16 weeks of your pup’s life, don’t beat yourself up.  Start socializing now.  Although younger puppies can bounce back quicker from stressful or frightening situations, older dogs can adapt and overcome socialization hurdles as well, but the process may take longer.  Persistence and positivity in calm and controlled environments are the keys to success.

Effects of Poor Socialization

Poor socialization can cause a multitude of lifelong problems for your dog, and in turn, you. Poorly socialized dogs have a very difficult time dealing with stress and anxiety.  Some of the common issues in poorly socialized dogs are shyness, fearfulness, aggressiveness, nervousness, sensitivity to sound, unpredictable reactivity, separation anxiety, difficulty in socializing with other dogs or people, hyperactivity, lack of ability to control bite pressure, and difficulty in handling and training.   

Conclusion/Tips

Early socialization is very important for your puppy; but if you missed the window, the next best time to start is now.  Consistency is key; continue socialization activities throughout your dog’s life to maintain a well-mannered companion.  Learn to identify learning opportunities for your dog and act on them when they present themselves; this is a great tip that can easily be dismissed because of the busyness of life.  A well-socialized puppy is easier to train, is more confident, possesses more self-control, and has an easier time calming itself.

Baxter & Bella has excellent socialization activities built right into their training program; learn more about this excellent program and how to get a discount on a lifetime membership to this great resource by reading our article:  Oak Bluff Recommended: An Online, Step-by-Step Puppy Training.

Keep socializing fun and exciting for both you and your dog.  Nothing beats having a great companion to take with you wherever you go!