Puppy Socialization and Obedience Training

Early Socialization as an Aid in Training Puppies

Jun 17, 2009

The first three to four months of a puppy's life are the most critical period for socialization. Well socialized puppies are less fearful and better behaved as adult dogs

All new puppy owners want their puppy to grow into a well-behaved and well-adjusted dog. One of the best ways to ensure that this happens is to make certain that the puppy undergoes proper socialization procedures within the first three to four months of the puppy's life.

Early Socialization is an Essential Part of Puppy Obedience Training

While obedience training can be successful at any age, socialization is best accomplished early in a puppy's life. In these first few months, puppies are most susceptible to being imprinted with positive experiences which will help to create a more confident and less fearful dog later in life. Conversely, negative experiences during these first three to four months of age are likely to be remembered for the rest of the puppy's life and create fearful and undesirable responses as an adult dog.

After three to four months of age, the puppy's personality is more firmly imprinted and socialization becomes much less effective. However, prior to three to four months of age, socialization can have as much impact on personality as breed and genetics, and puppies which are well socialized early in their lives will grow into dogs which are less fearful, more confident and better behaved than those which did not undergo socialization. Therefore, socialization at an early age is considered to be an integral part of proper puppy care. And puppies which are well socialized are also more receptive to obedience training as they tend to happier and better adjusted to their surroundings with less fear of unknown situations.

Puppy Socialization Techniques

Proper puppy socialization involves exposing a puppy to as many new experiences as possible, while still keeping the puppy safe from harm. New experiences may include:

Encountering Other Dogs as Part of Puppy Socialization

Puppies who are exposed to other dogs early in life are less likely to behave aggressively to other dogs once mature. However, introducing a puppy to new animals needs to be done in such a way as to avoid exposing the puppy to infectious diseases and parasites. Puppies should not be introduced to animals which appear to be ill and it is important that other animals which puppies are introduced to be up-to-date with vaccinations and receiving appropriate parasite prevention.

Puppy kindergarten or puppy play sessions can be a great way to introduce a young puppy to other animals, particularly to other dogs. Puppy kindergarten and puppy play sessions allow puppies and, in some cases, mature dogs to interact with one another and play together off leash in a controlled environment.

Encountering New People as Part of Puppy Socialization

Young puppies should be introduced to as many people as possible also. Doing so will help avoid having the puppy grow into a dog who is fearful or aggressive toward people. People who are strangers to the puppy should be advised to move slowly and talk soothingly to avoid startling or frightening the puppy. Owners of young puppies should encourage their friends and neighbors to pet and handle their puppy. When walking in public, people encountered on the walk can also be encouraged to pet and handle the puppy.

Young puppies should not, however, be taken to dog parks and other areas where they are likely to encounter strange dogs or excrement from strange dogs as it is difficult to know whether these dogs are healthy. Dog parks and similar areas should not be visited until the puppy is fully vaccinated and protected against infectious diseases such as parvovirus.

Young puppies, aged four months or less, can benefit greatly by proper socialization and puppy socialization can become an important aid in puppy obedience training. Properly cared for puppies who have been well socialized are less fearful and more confident than those dogs which were not socialized as puppies. As such, they are more easily trained and can make better pets.

The copyright of the article Puppy Socialization and Obedience Training in Pet Training is owned by Lorie Huston. Permission to republish Puppy Socialization and Obedience Training in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.