I’ve talked a lot about socialization in my columns, but what exactly is it, and how does it happen?
The dictionary defines socialization as the process of learning to behave in a way that’s socially acceptable … and this is as true for dogs as it is for humans. In a nutshell, socialization is the practice of exposing puppies to a wide variety of situations they’ll face during their lives, which allows them to thrive emotionally as they grow up and experience the world.
Ideally, socialization occurs between three and 20 weeks of age, when the puppy’s brain is most receptive to learning how to be a social member of the dog world. A dog that’s missed this early socialization may lack the ability to relate well to humans and the world around them. They may exhibit behavior like fear aggression, separation anxiety, discomfort with touch, apprehension over new experiences, and an overarching, crippling fear of almost everything. This certainly isn’t a picture of the family-friendly dog that most of us dream of.
One of the first things to focus on when socializing your puppy is handling, where as many different people as possible can hold and cuddle your pup. Don’t overlook small children, but make sure they understand the need to be gentle and calm in their petting and touching.
Get your puppy accustomed to the normal sights and sounds of living: vacuum cleaners, car engines, telephones, doorbells, television, kitchen sounds like dishwashers and garbage disposals, bicycles, delivery people and mail carriers, cars entering your driveway, and large vehicles like waste collection trucks.
Teach your puppy how to be alone: if people are around her 24/7, she never learns that being alone isn’t scary. Instead, when she’s left alone she goes into a state of high anxiety, which can lead to things like destruction of furniture, house soiling, constant barking or howling, and dangerous escape attempts.
During socialization, your puppy should also learn how to not bite humans. It’s perfectly normal for a puppy under five or six months old to bite in play, but he needs to know how hard is too hard. One tactic is when you’re playing and he bites too hard, make a sudden noise like “ow!” and end the game. Never yell or hit him, since that can frighten him and make the biting worse.
Attending a puppy obedience class can be a huge help in the socialization process, since it allows your pup to mingle with new dogs and people in a controlled setting, and helps reinforce the socialization exercises you’re doing at home.
Socialization shouldn’t end with puppyhood, but should continue through your dog’s adolescence and adulthood. Continue handling your dog by petting and brushing him, touching his feet and other parts of his body including his mouth (brushing his teeth regularly can help with this), and walking with him on a leash. Keep exposing your dog to new people, new dogs, new things, and new experiences.
Explore different routes on your daily walks. Take your dog into dog-friendly stores where she can interact with a variety of people and happily accept petting from strangers. At the same time, don’t inflict your dog on people who clearly don’t want to be near her. Chances are, your dog may instinctively avoid these people, but be prepared to gently dissuade her from approaching people who aren’t interested in her.
Finally, don’t hesitate to take a refresher obedience class if you notice a problematic behavior or simply want to learn some new techniques. Just as with humans, dogs benefit from lifelong learning!
Joan Merriam lives in northern California with her new Golden Retriever Frankie, her Maine Coon cat Indy, and the infinite spirits of her beloved Goldens Joey and Casey. You can reach Joan at joan@joanmerriam.com. And if you’re looking for a Golden, hop on over to Homeward Bound Golden Retriever Rescue.
