Weekly Column
| PDTA Weekly Column |
Puppy Socialization
by Samantha Foss
When planning our lives with our new puppy, most of us dream of the dog that we can take anywhere, introduce to anyone, and trust in any environment. While most of us dream of this, a good percentage of people end up with an adolescent dog that is unruly and under-socialized. Though this is a sad truth, it is still the truth. Puppy socialization is the most overlooked, but most important, aspect of puppy care to most puppy parents. With human babies we call their first year of their life their critical period, or the time where they most resemble sponges- as they soak up all the information they can. With puppies, their critical period is only a mere sixteen weeks. In these first sixteen weeks, puppies learn what things are normal, what’s not normal, who to like, and who not to like. The first sixteen weeks is vital to puppy socialization because it is the period that will reflect throughout the rest of their life. If they aren’t introduced to new people, new dogs, and new environments during this time, the likelihood of the dog being shy or aggressive when it gets older is high. Make an effort to have your puppy socialize with everyone and everything. This is important exposure that can benefit the rest of your dog's life so that your dreams of taking your dog anywhere, introducing them to everyone, and trusting them everywhere can become true.
To learn more about training and to find a trainer near you, visit the Association of Pet Dog Trainers' web site.
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