Creating a Better World

A variety of experiences helps puppies become confident adults.

Lately, many dog owners have been told to “socialize” their dogs.  It’s one of the reasons for the increased popularity of dog parks. But while dogs interacting with other dogs is part of “socialization,” it’s not the entire picture nor is it entirely correct. 

We know that limited exposure to other animals, people, and environments tends to make dogs (and people) cautious or even frightened by the unfamiliar.  In the dog world, socialization is the practice of introducing dogs to the variety of the world in a safe and positive manner.  Good socialization is necessary for our dogs to feel secure and confident.  Socialization is not just psychological and emotional, but also physical.  New experiences actually stimulate neurological development.  It’s how animals and people build up a memory bank, a resource that allows us to know, for example, how rabbit fur feels in comparison to a rock without having the textures immediately present.  It’s how we remember the thrill of a roller coaster, without being on a roller coaster. It’s also how we remember if something is good, bad, fun, safe, or dangerous.

 For dogs, the key socialization period is during the first 3-12 weeks of their life.  The impressions and experiences puppies have during this time period form the groundwork for their view of people, dogs, and the world for life.  Since most puppies are still nursing during part of this time, responsible dog breeders start introducing puppies todifferent walking surfaces (grass, linoleum, carpet, wobble boards, etc.), different people, a variety of sounds, and handling (touching paws, collars, ears, etc.), even before sending them off to their new home.  New puppy owners should continue building on the positive experiences, monitoring the puppy closely so that it safe and comfortable during these times.  Because puppies haven’t completed their shots, it’s important that they are kept in disease free environments – not being walked on public sidewalks, only meeting polite, safe, and healthy adult dogs, and people washing their hands before and after handling the puppies.  For smaller puppies, doggie strollers and being carried can further expand places to explore while still being disease free.

Dogs reach a second period of impressionability during adolescence, beginning as early as 6 months and continuing to as late as 2 years old.  Like human adolescents, adolescent dogs undergo hormonal changes that impact physical and mental development.  They start to test and challenge their world view.  Again, the results of their experience become ingrained and will carry into adulthood.

Introducing puppies to children and collar grabs in a positive
way makes them familiar and comfortable with both in adulthood.

All these formative moments and memories establish the “norm” of the dogs’ world perception, determining how they will interact with the world:  with confidence, fear, aggression, etc.  The goal of socialization is to create a positive reserve of memories.  If the world view is positive, when the dog has a negative experience, it will be interpreted as “not the norm,” making it easier for the dog to recover emotionally.  “Bad” things will be seen as the exception to the rule.  Still, it’s important to follow a negative experience with more positive or neutral experiences to confirm that the negative experience is exceptional.  On the other hand, negative experiences during developmental periods have a strong emotional impact that remains with the dog for life, making it extremely difficult to change behaviors that result from that experience.  So, it’s important to protect our dogs.  By constantly adding new positive experiences, dogs can also learn that novelty in itself is a good thing.

That’s not to say that once a dog has passed its prime socialization stages, it is done socializing.  Although it’s easy to become accustomed to limited places and routines as we get older, it’s important to continue to have new experiences. Science has shown that learning and experiencing fun new things, even in our senior years, keeps all of us alert and healthy with a positive outlook on life. And that’s something that benefits us all. (Special thanks to Cash Creek Whippets for the puppy photos and Basu Ball footage)

** The Collaborative Dog is offering Basic Training, Leashwalking, and Coming When Called classes through Pleasant Hill Rec!  Puppy Socialization classes in a safe environment will be coming in mid-August/September.***