How To Properly Socialize A Puppy

• THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIALIZATION FOR YOUR DOG
  
  A properly socialized dog is an animal that is well adjusted and comfortable around both other animals and people. It is neither frightened by, nor aggressive towards, anyone or anything it would normally meet in day to day living. This is the Dream Companion. Unfortunately…we find that most dog’s mentalities are as diverse and intricate as people’s. Fears, aggressions, anxieties, worries, depressions and so on, can become part of a dog’s psychological make-up early on and if not acknowledged, can become hard if not almost impossible to alleviate. In today’s fast moving, worry-free and litigious society, many people may feel an un-socialized dog to be untrustworthy and many times, an unwanted liability, due to excessive barking, depressive attitudes and fear or aggression biting.
  
  While socialization treatment and training is available for most all dogs at varying levels and ages, nipping this problem at an early stage in the Dog’s life is paramount, meaning it all begins as a Puppy.
  
  When you bring a new Puppy home, there are some absolutes in regards to rules that you should follow which will insure your Puppy grows to become a well adjusted dog. The critical socialization period for most all dogs is from 4 weeks to 4 months. While exposing your dog to family, friends and a few other dogs is a good start and may aid in a light form of socialization, it is normally not enough to truly “socialize” your dog. Overall, your dog will need to be exposed to all sorts of situations over a lengthy period of time, to include many people, a multitude of environments and of course, as many other dogs as you can.
  
  Effective Socialization technique from my experience, is applying a well balanced combination of both universal and breed-based canine behavior understandings with consistent, positive training. Basically, it is taking the Puppy everywhere you go, exposing the Puppy to hundreds of people, dozens of environments and all kinds of dogs. This includes both friends and strangers of all makes and models, situations such as construction sites, school yards, heavy traffic areas, etc., and finally, dogs of all different sizes and color. Walking paths and city parks are normally great places to get your Puppy acclimated to the “Dog Experience.” And remember, this is not just a short term thing. To promote a well balanced mentality, this socialization will need to continue throughout most of the dog’s life.
  
  As you expose your Puppy, applying general and advanced positive training technique can be of benefit as well. Once you have established command training such as sit, stay, come, down, heal and so on, in the quiet, controlled environment of your home or a trainer’s facility, the distractions of people, environment and other dogs will give your training a challenge.
  
  One methodology that many have found to work well is the “Rule of Seven.” The “Rule of Seven” say’s your Puppy will need to be exposed to seven new kinds of surfaces, seven new kinds of people, seven new kinds of foods, seven new kinds of sounds, seven new places and seven kinds of dogs by the time he is 12 weeks old. While I personally promote even more exposure, this is a solid, working model that can be used to socialize your dog properly. And above all, situations, especially new ones, should be introduced in a neutral or positive way—nothing frightening or hurtful.
  
  Between 7 to 10 weeks of age (this figure will differ depending on which expert you ask), your Puppy is experiencing a major IMPRINT PERIOD. Both enjoyable, positive conditions, as well as hurtful or traumatic situations, may stay with the Dog for his whole lifetime. While there will always be things that startle your dog, much like a human (jack hammers, skateboards, car horns, fire trucks, etc.), the exposure to situations will ultimately pay off by reducing the overall fear factor. Not every encounter can be controlled and at times, your dog will experience a fearful situation or possibly get hurt. How you handle these situations after the fact is also of great importance. With a good dose of love, treats and reassuring speak and manners, your Puppy should move through a troubling period with ease, creating cautiousness more than fear.
  
  Your Puppy will have developed a full ‘adult brain’ at 49 days of age. But…this doesn’t mean stop. Keep with your Puppy’s socialization program for up to 16 weeks of age at least. Socialization of your Dog after that time is always necessary and encouraged, but it is never more important than the first 4 to 16 weeks of your Dog’s life.
  
  SOCIALIZING YOUR PUPPY – One Way to go
  
  There are a variety of methods that approach the socialization of your Puppy. The recommendations offered here are combinations of many methods and applied experience.
  
  - Initially, invite friendly, healthy, vaccinated dogs, puppies and even cats to your home to meet and play with your new Puppy. You can also take your Puppy to the homes of these pets, increasing not just dog exposure, but new environments and possibly new people, etc. Make sure if using cats, to find dog-friendly cats.
  - Do not force or rush your Puppy. Let your Puppy take things at they’re own pace. Your job is simply to provide the opportunity for the socialization to happen.
  - Take your Puppy to the Vet when he doesn’t need a shot. Just hang out and feed cookies and have fun!
  - Take your Puppy to pet shops (most of them allow pets). You’ll meet a lot of dog-loving people who will be happy to introduce themselves to your pup. The Puppy should be able to meet other animals there as well (Please keep in mind…you may not want to take your Puppy close to any “for sale” animals at a pet shop—many times these animals come from Puppy mills or rescue environments and may be sick or unvaccinated, etc. While not probable, they may transmit something to your Puppy).
  - Take your Puppy to a park (not a dog park yet. While it may seem like the perfect place to expose your Puppy to a lot of dogs at once, you are at the mercy of dogs that may have untreated diseases which could cause a Puppy without complete vaccinations harm. There are also behavior issues in other dogs to consider that, while a full grown dog could deal with, could overpower a Puppy).
  - Take your Puppy to a training class, or Puppy playgroup. Whether in-home or at a Training Facility…these are invaluable.
  - Take your Puppy to outdoor sporting events, starting with day and then at night as they get a bit older.
  - Take your Puppy anywhere and everywhere that the proprietors will let them come in.
  
  Like with a child, as they venture outdoors and experience other kids and environments, yes, there is a risk that your pup could get sick by socializing it before all the vaccinations are completed, which ironically, can’t be completed until your pup is 16 weeks of age or more. But…if you don't socialize your pup before 16 weeks of age, an under-socialized dog may develop and is more likely to bite and or become stressed, develop fears or anxieties, etc., in unfamiliar environments and situations. Simply be aware of the environments you expose your Puppy to, making them familiar, clean environments as often as possible. Happy Socializing!

Here is a letter from a vet named Robert K. Anderson DVM. How he states how important it is to socialize a puppy and not be to worried about not being fully vaccinated.

http://www.apdt.com/m/news/rk_anderson_letter.aspx