The Importance of Proper Socialization

The first 12-14 weeks of a dog’s life is a critical period in development. The things they experience during this time will have a profound impact on their personality and social outlook for the rest of their life. It is referred to as the Critical Socialization Period because the experiences they have—or lack there of—during this time are difficult to alter later in life.

To effectively socialize your puppy, you should expose them to a wide variety of surroundings and experiences, such as people, dogs, other animals, objects, surfaces, sounds and scents. For early socialization to have a positive impact, the majority of the puppy’s experiences must be neutral or positive in nature (not more than mildly stressful). It is important to reward your pup for calm, confident behavior and to not overly soothe them if they are scared. If you spend too much time trying to soothe them, you inadvertently reward and encourage the fear response. A simple “it’s ok” in a calm, confident voice with a brief, gently pat is the only reassurance you should give to signs of fear or anxiety. If the dog’s anxiety continues to increase, remove them from the situation. Allow your dog to decompress before attempting the interaction again.

Without effective socialization early in life, your puppy’s social outlook, as well as mental and emotional wellbeing, may be compromised. A puppy that has been well socialized is much less likely to have serious fear or aggression issues later in life.

While it is crucial to socialize your puppy from birth to 14 weeks, that does not mean that the socialization should stop after that. Social interactions should continue throughout your dog’s life to maintain and improve your dog’s social behavior.

No other factor will influence your dog’s life more than early socialization! A well socialized dog will be easier to train, whereas a poorly socialized dog is likely to present many problem behaviors that will be difficult and costly to resolve. Having a well socialized dog will allow you the freedom to include your dog in your daily adventures!

If you need assistance with ideas on how to socialize your puppy, contact us today! We are always happy to help!

(creative contributions from Atiya Olivas)