SAFE Puppy Socialization
I hear over and over from my clients that they are waiting until their puppy has all their shots before doing any socialization. This is NOT in the best interest of your puppy. HOWEVER, it is imperative that socialization be SAFE both emotionally and physically for your puppy.
Puppies are learning machines, just like children are. Not giving them learning and confidence building experiences during the first 16 weeks of their lives is a huge mistake. This is the critical IMPRINTING period. The only week that would concern me, is week 9. That is a typical fear period. During that week, it is important not to let any emotional harm come to your puppy. So, working on basic obedience and house manners is very good during this time. Many breeders will not let puppies go home before that 9 week fear period.
Things you can do with your puppy for her to get the most out of her 16 week imprinting period include things like play dates with older, gentle dogs that are friends of yours that are up to date on their vaccinations and where there is a fenced yard. Letting puppies play in areas that can be accessed by unknown dogs is NOT safe. If an unknown dog leaves feces behind, it is possible for the transmission of parasites, Giardia, and Parvo to occur in your puppy. The means DO NOT TAKE YOUR PUPPY TO THE DOG PARK!!! Unknown dogs can produce very dangerous results for your puppy! Unknown dogs can also emotionally traumatize your pup with aggressive, or very pushy behavior.
Have a puppy party where you invite your friends over (without dogs), about 10 minutes apart. With each greeting, teach your puppy to sit and wait for a yummy treat from your guest. Let them see that the door knock or door bell is a good thing. Putting a leash on your pup so she cannot jump will help her to learn sitting is a very cool and SAFE thing to do. Invite polite children that have experience with dogs.
Teach your puppy to lay down for treats when a child comes near. Have the child sit nicely next to her while your pup gets treats. Puppies usually see children as other puppies. Keeping your puppy LOWER than a child will help your puppy to understand that children should be respected, not bitten as a pup would do to another puppy.
Take your puppy to friends’ homes where they have safe dogs. Keep your pup on a leash and let her drag it around so you can catch your pup if she gets too far from you preventing an accident.
If you want to walk your pup, go places NO ONE ELSE frequents! Do NOT expose your puppy to feces left behind by irresponsible dog owners in popular dog walking places.
Take your puppy in the car frequently with you, but please put your pup in a crate in the car! Puppies are very fast and a crate is like seat belt for dogs. Just riding in the car is a good thing!
Expose your puppy to noises, things to climb on like a children’s snow saucer or steps, lots of odors and using their noses to find bits of food hidden under a rug or behind the leg of a chair.
What is important is that socialization and learning take place during this critical period, but it must be done both emotionally and physically safe!
Caption: Teaching puppies to lay down when children are near is a good exercise you can do with your puppy during that critical imprinting time. Here Kalidor learned at 12 weeks old how to do this very thing.
