Next to vaccines, socialization is one of the most important things you can do for your puppy. The socialization window is between 4 and 14 weeks of age. What they are exposed to, trained for and deal with during this time will mold them for the rest of their lives.
Socialization is the activity of getting your dog used to being part of a human society. Be sure to expose them to as many situations, experiences and creatures as you can during this socialization window. While you can’t possibly expose them to everything they will experience during their life, the broader you make their exposure the more comfortable your dog will be outside of his comfort zone. Making a checklist of everything you want your puppy exposed to will help you keep track of their progress. This is especially important if you already have plans for them (ie, agility, therapy dog, work with children, travel).
The type of activities, situations and living creatures your puppy should be exposed to are endless. Introducing them to other dogs, cats and people are the basics. You should also get them used to car rides. They don’t have to be long trips. Quick rides to the convenience store and back will suffice. Teaching basic commands, such as sit and stay, will form the foundation of behavioral training and should be incorporated in all puppies’ socialization.
Puppy classes are a great way to get socialization. They are all the same age and in the same vaccine sequence, so the risk of contracting an illness is much lower. During this time they will learn basic commands and how to interact with other dogs and people. Talk to one of our staff members to learn where puppy classes are offered in our area.
It is important to understand how your puppy learns best. While your intentions may be good to host a puppy party, if your puppy gets overwhelmed being around a lot of other dogs your party will be counterproductive. Slowly introduce them into these new experiences and build from there.
We recommend using caution when socializing your puppy. Until they are fully vaccinated they remain susceptible to infectious diseases. Your puppy should avoid contact with unvaccinated dogs and areas such as dog parks that have no formal regulations on vaccinating dogs. However, don’t feel like you have to keep your puppy in a bubble. Taking general precautions and care will reduce the risk of them becoming sick. There is a much higher risk of your dog having a behavioral problem from not being socialized properly than contracting an infectious disease.