RETHINKING PUPPY SOCIALIZATION
"Why does my dog have a behavior problem? I TOOK him to puppy class!"
I
hear this - or variations of this - a lot. Like, all the time. In
fact, at least half the dogs in my aggression cases have taken a puppy
class. That's way up from 10-15 years ago.
While
more dog owners are aware of the importance of socialization than they
used to be, the complex concept of socialization has been boiled down to
almost useless sound bytes. Online articles give generic advice like
"Socialization is very important. Enroll your puppy in a socialization
class."
I
taught puppy classes for many years. And I can say that even the best
puppy class provides only about 5% of the socialization that a new puppy
needs.
A
puppy class is held in just one environment, with one group of people
and one group of puppies. Imagine if a child were only exposed to two
places - home and the same classroom - for the first 10 years of their
life...they would not be a well-socialized child! Socialization means
exposing a puppy to many novel sights, smells, sounds, and surfaces, in
as many different environments as safely possible, ensuring a pleasant
experience in those environments, especially for (but not limited to)
the first 14 weeks of their life, the critical period of socialization.
Basically, be prepared to come home from work and take your puppy on a safe socialization field trip to a new location every day for the first six weeks in your home. After that, you can drop it to 2-3 days a week until your puppy is at least 5 months old. Ideally, until your puppy is past the adolescent stage (approx 18 months old).
Basically, be prepared to come home from work and take your puppy on a safe socialization field trip to a new location every day for the first six weeks in your home. After that, you can drop it to 2-3 days a week until your puppy is at least 5 months old. Ideally, until your puppy is past the adolescent stage (approx 18 months old).
Seem
extreme? I didn't say these trips have to last for hours. They can be
quick trips to the local grocery store parking lot or even sitting on a
local park bench (keeping new puppies off the ground) for 10 minutes
before heading home. But you need to do something new every day.
Or,
you know, you could wait 6 months and then spend $900 or more to hire a
trainer to help you undo your dog's leash reactivity or
stranger-directed aggression. Totally your choice.
Socialization prepares your puppy for life in your world, which frequently presents unusual and even scary situations. Read the entire article
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