The number one reason that dogs and cats are given up for adoption at animal shelters is due to some behavior issue. Fear, anxiety, aggression or other behavior issues can make bonding with a pet difficult for even the most committed pet lover.
Many of these problems can be prevented by a
good socialization program and one of the keys to success is to start early. The critical socialization period for puppies is the first three to four months of life and it's best to start on day one.
Successful breeders know the importance of socialization and they will start handling puppies at a very early age. Gentle handling gets the pup accustomed to people and human interaction.
Once they are a little older, play with litter mates and interaction with their mom is very important, too. They learn how to get along with other dogs and they learn the all important lesson of bite inhibition through play with mom and litter mates. Good breeders will expose puppies to other people and dogs too and they should begin to expose puppies to different situations and experiences.
Puppy classes are the best way for you to continue, and build on, early socialization. You and your pup can start puppy class around 8 to 9 weeks of age. Your puppy should have had a least one vaccination in the
infectious disease series and that vaccine should be administered at least one week prior to starting class. Deworming is best done prior to class, too.
It's a good idea to do some shopping around for puppy classes. Start by getting a recommendation from your veterinarian. Some vets offer puppy socialization themselves, but most can recommend a good place to start. Make sure that your classes are based on
reward and play and steer clear if you hear anything about dominance and punishment as part of the program.
Puppies learn how to interact with other dogs and other people in these settings and those lessons last a lifetime. And even though the first three to four months are very important, ongoing socialization is a must. Many veterinarians recommend that adolescent dogs get daily exposure to other people and other dogs up until they are three years old.
A well socialized and well behaved dog is a good companion for life. Destructive behavior, aggression, separation anxiety and fearfulness are many of the problems that can be avoided in a well socialized dog. If you can do one thing as a dog owner, make sure that you attend to the socialization needs of your young puppy and adolescent dog.