Aug 14, 2016
Welcome to Bark & Wag 15 minute Vet Talk – I am your host Polly ReQua
Today we are talking to one of our
favorite vets, Dr. Susan McMillan, owner of Vet to Pet Mobile
Veterinary Service in Burlington, Vermont as we discuss puppy
socialization.
How to Socialize Your Puppy
One of the most valuable lessons you can teach your puppy is that the world is a safe place, with kind humans and friendly dogs and other animals. The act of exposing your puppy to the world is called socialization. Many puppy owners have heard that this is important but really don’t know how to go about doing it correctly. If you do it right, you’ll help your puppy grow up to be confident and outgoing. If it’s done wrong, you can inadvertently create a frightened, aggressive puppy.
A critical time for your puppy’s learning is from birth to 16 weeks of age. During this time, puppies can absorb a great deal of information, but they are also very vulnerable to bad experiences. Puppies who are not properly exposed to different types of people and other animals can find them very startling or frightening when they do finally encounter them at an older age. They may react by growling, cowering, or even biting. But if they have positive experiences with people and animals before they turn 16 weeks of age, they are less likely to be afraid of them later.
Soon after you bring your puppy home (preferably no younger than
eight weeks of age), it’s time to start your socialization training
program.
Protecting Your Puppy’s Health
Most puppies will not get all their shots until they are 15 to 16 weeks of age. Some breeders and veterinarians recommend an even more extended schedule. It’s very important that you do not expose your puppy to dangerous diseases until she’s had vaccinations to protect her. Puppies can get diseases by walking where sick dogs have been and by picking up traces of feces or other bodily fluids. Some viruses, such as the parvovirus, are extremely durable and contagious, and it only takes a small amount of exposure to infect your puppy. How do you prevent exposure? Do not let your puppy walk in public places. This means that you should not let your puppy walk in the neighborhood or in public parks until she has had all her shots. If you must take your puppy to these places, carry her. Of course, this will be easier with a Maltese puppy than it will be with an English Mastiff, but it’s up to you to keep your puppy safe. The need to keep your puppy safe from disease can compete with the need to socialize her. If the ideal window for socialization is up to 16 weeks, and your puppy will not complete her shot series before then, how can you expose her to the world? Here’s how to do it safely:
These simple steps will allow you to socialize your puppy while
minimizing exposure to disease.
Puppy Socialization with People
Here are some guidelines for positive socialization experiences with people:
Once you have the right people in place, here are some fun
socialization games to play.
Pass the Puppy
Divide your puppy’s meal of kibble into small plastic bags, one
bag for each person visiting. Before starting the game, if
necessary explain to everyone how to properly hold the puppy by
supporting her rear end. The first person then picks up the puppy
and gives her a piece of kibble. The person touches one of her
paws, gives her a piece of kibble. Touches another paw, gives a
piece of kibble. Touches her ears, gives a piece of kibble. Touches
her tail, gives a piece of kibble. Looks at her teeth, gives a
piece of kibble. Then the person passes the puppy on to the next
person, who goes through the same routine. This game teaches your
puppy that it’s rewarding to have people touch her all over her
body.
Puppy Recalls
Divide your puppy’s meal of kibble into small plastic bags, one
bag for each person visiting. Have everyone sit in a circle on the
floor, with the puppy in the center of the circle. One person calls
the puppy to come and holds out the piece of kibble. When the puppy
goes to the person, she gets the kibble and lots of petting and
praising. Then someone else in the circle repeats the routine. This
game teaches your puppy that it’s rewarding to approach
people.
Puppy Socialization with Other Dogs
with future dogs you have at home, it’s important to expose her
to different dogs at an early age so that she learns to get along
with them properly. Puppies who are not socialized with other dogs
sometimes never learn to “speak dog” and have fear or aggression
problems with members of their own species. It’s very important to
only pick safe dogs to interact with your puppy so that she has
positive experiences. If you have a tiny 3-pound (1.4-kg) Yorkshire
Terrier, it’s not a good idea to let her play with a bouncy
30-pound (13.6-kg) Labrador Retriever puppy. The Lab puppy could
hurt your Yorkie without meaning to; the size difference is just
too great. Now, if it’s an older Labrador Retriever with a proven
history of being safe and gentle around young puppies, it may be
perfectly fine. Just be sure that you know the other dog well
before risking injury.
Socialization: What Not to Do
All socialization is not good socialization. Bad experiences at
an early age can make negative impressions for years to come.
Sometimes, certain situations are just too much for your puppy. If
she is having a good time, she will look the part. Her ears will be
up, her eyes will be bright, and she may wag her tail or whole body
and actively seek interaction. If your puppy is not enjoying
herself, learn to recognize her signs of stress to avoid causing
emotional harm:
For example, let’s say you take your puppy to your child’s soccer game. You see that she’s flinching at the loudspeaker and getting a bit clingy. She starts to whine. Your child’s team rushes around her to pet her. She licks her lips, turns her head away, and yawns. She tries to crawl in your lap or under the bleachers. These signs of stress mean that your puppy is not having a good socialization experience. You may actually be teaching her that children, large groups of people, or playing fields are cause for worry. Forcing her to remain there or hoping she’ll get used to it might only make things worse. If you see signs of stress in your puppy, immediately remove her from the situation until she relaxes. Take it much slower with your puppy, and gradually get her used to this level of stimulation.