Socialization Basics

socialization, socialization - By Staff Writer on Monday, September 27, 2010 - 10:24

Socialization is the process by which you introduce your puppy into society.  By introducing them to a variety of experiences, people, objects, sights and sounds your puppy will be familiar with them and know how to handle them later in life.  The broader the scope of things you familiarize your puppy with the more adaptable and socialized they will be.

How Socialization Works
Imagine what would happen if you introduced a person that had lived their whole life in the woods with no outside contact to a major city.  The sounds of the cars, masses of people, buildings, steps, sidewalks, lights, doors and other things we see in our daily lives and think nothing of would overwhelm and frighten the person.  Likely they would run and hide, get nervous and panic or lash out and try to fight things that came too close or were unknown.  This is what it is like for a dog that is not socialized. 

If a puppy is never taken out into the world, they only know their littermates, family and immediate surroundings and will be frightened and try to flee or fight when brought out.  By introducing your puppy to as many things as you can at a pivotal point when their brain is growing they will be comfortable not only with those objects, situations and people but with similar circumstances and be more adapted to life in our world.

Proper Age to Socialize
Socialization needs to occur at a very young age when a puppy's brain is developing and is open to new experiences.  Between the age of 3-12 weeks a puppy's brain is like a sponge.  A puppy will absorb new experiences and the more they have the more socialized and accepting of new things they will be.  As a puppy reaches 12-18 weeks the enter a stage where they will likely become suspicious of new experiences and people and it will become more difficult to introduce and get them comfortable.  That does not mean it can't be done it is just much harder.

Why It Is Important
Just like the person in the woods who first sees a big city, if you don't socialize your pup they will be overwhelmed by new situations and can flee or fight.  It is not uncommon for an un-socialized dog to lash out at strangers. The dog might be a perfect angel at home but if they are taken out of their home or if a stranger comes into it they can be unpredictable and dangerous.  This does not mean your dog will not protect your home it just means that if you invite your new friend over for coffee you don't have to worry about your dog biting them in the leg.

How To Socialize
Socialization refers to a spectrum not just an absolute.  This means that you can choose to socialize your pup a little bit, a moderate amount, or to just about everything.  The more you introduce them to the more comfortable they will be.

Socialization is really simple, it is all about exposure.  The key is to expose your dog to as many things as possible while they are young.  If you live in a city this will likely be easy and if you live in the country it will just take a little more work.   We recommend putting in the work even if you live in the country as you never know if you will have to bring your dog to the city some day.  The more prepared they are the easier and while we all don't think it will happen, is for some reason they have to live with someone else, a socialized dog will be much easier to live with and less likely to be given up.

Some Common Socialization

• Street Sounds - traffic, dump trucks, jackhammers, emergency sirens, traffic signal sounds, motorcycles
• House sounds- vacuumed, blender, children playing, air conditioner, garage
• Transportation Sounds- Busses, Trains, Airplane sounds, bicycle, skateboard, luggage, subway
• Nature- thunder, other dogs, horses
• People - people in uniform, hats, glasses, beards, capes, canes
• Surfaces - grates, slippery surfaces, mirrors, stairs, tile, ice

Socialization is about giving your puppy as much exposure as possible to give them the best chances of being adaptable throughout their life.  If you do it when your puppy is young not only is it more effective it is much easier to bring them around and it is simple to get strangers to pet them.  While it might take a little effort to find a horse in a big city or a subway in the country, going the extra mile will be well worth it in the long run.