24/06/2021
Socialization should be your first goal when starting out with your puppy because it can only be accomplished when a puppy is young AND it has a huge impact not only on the type of dog you will have when they mature (social versus nervous).
Puppies are in a critical period of socialization from about 4 weeks of age to about 14 weeks (this range may vary based on the breed). During this window it is important that the puppy is properly socialized because their brains are the most receptive to learning about the world. Proper socialization is the key to the friendly and social dog.
It is important to stress that socialization is not exposure. It is far more complex than simply taking your new puppy places with you. In fact, for some puppies exposure can be too overwhelming and can create more fear. Socialization is about helping your puppy build positive associations.
When setting up socialization experiences it is always important that you carefully observe your puppy’s body language. Puppies and dogs communicate active enjoyment and stress through their bodies, and it goes far beyond a tail wag. Small signals like licking lips, dropping the head, yawning, and scratching can all indicate stress. Becoming proficient at reading your puppy will help you learn when your puppy is having and good time (and building those essential positive associations) vs. when a situation could be too overwhelming, and we need to back off!
Our goal is for the puppy to have a choice to interact or to retreat and to reward that bravery and interaction with high-value reinforcers instead of being forced into situations that cause stress and assuming the puppy will “get used to it”.
Want to read more about puppy socialization? Read our blog: https://www.pawsitivefutures.com/single-post/puppy-socialization-101
