What is socialization, and why is it so important

							What is socialization, and why is it so important?

From 8 to 12 weeks of age, puppies go through a fear imprinting stage. During this time,
it is crucial to carefully introduce a pup to a variety of stimuli every day, and to ensure
that the experiences are positive. This is also a good time to start training the pup in basic
behaviors.

These socialization efforts make the difference in the dog's outlook on life. Instead of
reacting fearfully to new experiences, the dog is comfortable when encountering new
things, animals and people. This helps the dog and everyone else, since the most common
cause of unprovoked dog aggression is lack of proper socialization.

What is socialization? Introducing and familiarizing a canine to new experiences -
including people, places, objects, other animals - in ways that help the dog learn how to
respond to and interact with these experiences appropriately and without fear.

The list of things to socialize a pup, or dog, to include umbrellas, canes, wheelchairs,
bikes, keys, men with beards, people in hats, young children, passing trucks, odd sounds
and sudden, loud noises and other animals.

The puppy brain is most inclined to accept new experiences between 4 and 12 weeks of
age. Missing the window after 14 weeks of age can socially handicap the pup. Of course,
the dog can still learn, but it is harder, mostly due to the need for to help the pup unlearn
unproductive and inappropriate responses. Prevention is far better than rehabilitation, so
if you can work within a puppy's critical learning window, you and the pup have an
immense advantage.

Socialization Principles:

Introduce the pup to new people, places, objects and situations ONLY when you can
control the experience.

It's your job to protect the dog from situations that frighten him. Something as simple as
letting someone get too close too soon can cause a setback in socialization, causing the
dog to hide behind you or adopt a fear-aggressive posture and growl at the offending
person. If this does happen, correct the human, not the dog. Tell the person to back away,
which will show the dog you can protect the pack and that he does not have to.

When working on socializing your pup or dog, do not impose on other people. First ask
for their help. Most people will oblige.

Taking a pup on walks on leash offers effective opportunities for socialization. However,
avoid dog parks and other areas where there's higher risk of exposure to disease. Do not
let your dog sniff feces or to play with any dogs who might be unhealthy or aggressive.

Introduce a puppy into a large group only after having socialized him to smaller groups.
Use treats, praise, touch, even play to reward, and thus reinforce, your dog for displaying
positive responses.

Reward the behaviors that you want repeated and ignore or give a signal to the behaviors
you do not like. The signal could be "uh uh" or "too bad". If the signal does not
discourage the undesired behavior, try a time out - a brief separation period from the fun
interactive environment.

Be aware of the signals you send. Make it obvious to your dog that you enjoy
encountering other people, animals and things. Even puppies observe and sense their
handlers' reactions.

You must think of what you are teaching your dog in every situation. Your dog is aware
of your actions and reactions, your attention or lack of attention, even if you don't realize
it.

Understand when and why your dog shows fear, but do not reinforce it. Cooing, coddling
and cuddling a pup or dog when she is showing fear will not help the animal lose that
fear. Help your canine realize that you have control of the situation and that the dog does
not have to be afraid, or take matters into his own paws (or jaws). You are the alpha, and
you want your dog to trust that you will protect him.

It is not fair to put any dog in a situation in which he might feel threatened or prompted to
use his teeth. This is why you must educate not only your dog but the people in your
home. For example, it is essential to teach family members never to bother dogs when
eating, playing with a favorite toy, or resting.

Be careful about the people you choose to help care for your dog. Be it your spouse,
roommate, children or petsitter, you need to explain that you are trying to socialize your
pup, and that it is necessary for them to reinforce good behaviors in the same way you do
in order for the pup to learn. If you are not sure an individual will abide by this, limit that
person's contact with your dog during the socialization and training stages. Otherwise, the
person can undermine and undo the progress you make with your dog.

One reason that puppies should not be separated from their mother and littermates before
8 weeks of age is that they learn core behaviors from mother dog and siblings. These
include proper social play and bite inhibition.

Socialization does not end at puppyhood. While the foundation for good behavior is laid
during the first few months, good owners encourage and reinforce social skills and
responsiveness to commands throughout the dog's life.

Steps to Socializing Your Pup or Dog

Interaction is key to socialization:
As pack animals and social beings, dogs need interaction with their owners, other people
and other animals. The more you isolate the dog, and the less you interact with the dog,
the more likely she will develop negative behaviors.

Companionship is vital to a dog's emotional well-being. Integrate the pup into your
family from the start. Place your pup's crate or play pen in a room in which your family
spends considerable time each day.

Raise a dog in an environment that doesn't allow him to be teased, tormented or attacked
by other dogs. Tying a dog up or fencing in a location where other dogs can agitate him
leads to dog aggression. People who want their dogs to live outside should not get dogs.

Part of interacting with a dog of any age involves consistently rewarding all desirable
behaviors - thus increasing the likelihood the dog will repeat those behaviors - and to take
steps to prevent the development of undesirable behavior.

The latter is usually accomplished by redirecting the dog's energy into a positive behavior
for which you can reward her, and when she does something "bad", to ignore the
undesired behavior. This is based on the principle that dogs typically engage in behaviors
to get attention and/or obtain something they desire such as a treat, toy, special privilege
or higher status.

And this is why pushing off a jumping dog usually will not stop the jumping behavior;
even though pushing the dog away seems like a negative reaction, to the dog seeking
attention, any interaction she achieves seems better than none. Therefore, it is far better to
get your dog to "sit" before she tries to jump. That way, you can reward her with the
attention she wants, while reinforcing only good behavior. It is important to think about
why your dog is engaging in a particular behavior.

Socializing with other dogs:

Exposing a puppy or new dog to other friendly dogs is the best way to teach essential
social skills. (This is why canine behavior experts warn not to bring a second dog into
your family until the resident dog has been taught good behavior and social skills.)
Writes Pat Miller in "Plays Well With Others," (Whole Dog Journal, March 2000),
playtime with other puppies and non-aggressive adult dogs enables a dog to learn how to
talk and read "dog-ese" through appropriate interactions with and responses to other dogs'
body language. If this doesn't happen during the pup's critical learning period, well before
the age of six months, you may end up with a canine nerd whose inept use of physical
and postural language gets him into trouble. Either he sends inappropriate messages or
fails to respond appropriately to another dog's message.

Playtime in a controlled situation is a great way to socialize your pup to other people and
dogs. Find friends who have healthy puppies and gentle adult dogs, and invite them over
to play.
If one dog starts bullying another, intervene. The old saw about "dogs will work it out
themselves" does not apply here. Your impressionable pup can develop defensive
aggression if frightened by the dominant or intense nature of another pup or dog. Firmly
but calmly interrupt undesired behavior the moment it occurs using brief time-outs. Do
not yell at, smack or otherwise punish the roughhousing dog; just separate him from the
interaction. Also watch for good behavior. To encourage good behavior, you want to take
all opportunities to praise and reward with small treats when the dog is playing well with
others.

Vigorous play is OK as long as both dogs are having fun. Be ready to intervene if the one
appears scared or things start to get out of hand.

Be aware that when a male pup starts sexually maturing, he exudes testosterone, which
can lead to dominance issues and disrupt relationships with other canines. This is one of
the many good reasons for neutering dogs at a young age, before sexual maturity. If a
male dog is intact (not neutered), that increases the potential for conflicts and fights.

Out in public:

Taking a dog out in public to meet other people and dogs is an essential part of
socialization.

When dogs meet on-leash, keep the leash loose as much as possible. Restraining the leash
tightly telegraphs your tension to the dog. A dog will be more relaxed if he thinks his
owner is not anxious and that he has some room to maneuver.

Dogs in neighboring yards might be territorial. Carefully introduce pets on neutral
ground. Keep your pup on a leash and never approach another dog until you have asked
the owner if it is OK.

If you see a dog off-leash, watch for body language. For example, a wagging tail and
relaxed posture are more welcoming signs than raised hackles, erect tails and staring. If
you sense any tension, change your walking route or pick up your young pup and prevent
the animals from having eye contact.

It does a disservice to all to let a dog off-leash in public, since dogs can rarely figure out
on their own how human society expects them to behave. As for the attitude, "my dog
just wants to say hi!" - in many cases, the objects of the dog's interest don't want to say hi
back ... and in some cases, the dog himself actually wants to do more than say hi,
possibly leading to an aggressive encounter. Even the assumption that an off-leash dog
approaching another canine just wants to play is often wrong. The approaching dog may
be more interesting in establishing him- or herself as alpha or declaring "this is my
territory." Some dogs may work it out without owner intervention, but most often, they
need human intervention and control.
Contrary to popular belief, it's not normal for adult dogs to instantly come together, bond
with one another and play. It's not even normal for humans; watch children and you'll
notice that kids are typically selective about who they wish to fraternize and play with.
Forcing a dog into a social situation for which the owner has not thoroughly prepared him
for can be a plan for disaster.

Puppy kindergarten and dog obedience classes:

Enroll in puppy kindergarten and training class. This provides a great opportunity for
puppies to socialize with other dogs ... for puppies to get introduced to obedience
concepts in a playful environment with distractions ... and for owners to learn how to
communicate with their pups. In the past, some experts recommended that puppies be
kept from social interaction until they received all of their shots. However, more recent
evidence indicates that it is better for pups to be given social activities and taken out in
the human world at younger ages (for example, between 8 and 10 weeks of age).

Observe a class or two before signing up, since you want to make sure that the trainer
carefully supervises and controls the environment and does not allow more dominant
dogs to bully others.

Obedience training and agility training are excellent ways to help a dog feel more
comfortable and confident in public and with other dogs and people. Just as it works with
people, learning new skills improves the dog's outlook on life as well as self-confidence.
For many dogs, as with people, problems result when brains and energy are underutilized.

Children:

Instruct children to greet and pet the pup gently, and without picking the puppy up.

Explain to and remind children that puppies are not toys and that they need to be treated
with care.

Teach children never to bother a pup or dog when eating, chewing on a toy, resting or
with when a mother dog is near her puppies.

Do not expect a pup or dog to accept rough handling, tail and ear pulling, poking,
prodding, teasing, taunting, yelling, screaming, chasing or jerky movements that can
seem threatening. Many if not most dog bites in the home are provoked - and they can be
prevented if the owners act with greater responsibility.

ALWAYS supervise children and dogs of any age to avoid adding to the statistics of
children, puppies and dogs injured by one another.

Preparing to meet new people:
Invite people you trust into your home starting soon after you being your new dog home
so that she learns that visitors are welcome.

You can circumvent a lot of common problems by making the effort to introduce your
pup or new dog to postal carriers, delivery workers and utility employees early one. First,
of course, ask the person's permission to introduce the dog. A smart move that will hasten
the dog's acceptance: give the worker some treats for using in rewarding your dog for
good behavior. Frequent visits with positive outcomes will likely reduce the pup's
excitability.

Being a leader to your dog:

Dogs depend on their owners to be leaders, to teach them proper behavior, and to manage
situations - not just when the dogs are puppies, but throughout their lives. In addition,
dogs depend on pack order for a sense of security. The owner should be the Alpha -
meaning leader, not bully.

Keep in mind that if a dog can't count on his owner for leadership, he is not likely to
listen when the owner does try to command his attention.

Routine and consistency result in happier, calmer and better socially integrated dogs. Be
consistent; "no" should always mean no. And be fair; you can't expect your dog to
understand you unless you take the time to train and educate him. Dog folks help their
dogs and themselves by polishing their canine parenting skills.

When a dog is confident in his owner, and when a dog is well-socialized, he can stay
calm in potentially threatening situations in public and in the home.

Encouraging good habits in puppies:

Take and make opportunities to praise your dog.

Condition your pup to accept gentle touching and petting. When your pup is in a calm
state, practice examining him from head to toe, gently and patiently. This exercise will
pay off later when you need to check your dog for ticks, clip his nails, or when the pup
goes to the vet or groomer. It is also a good idea to use touch techniques (such as T-
Touch) to relax your dog and help alleviate some behavioral problems.

Teach your dog his name. And that his name means "pay attention and look at me."

Begin teaching your pup to come by calling him to you enthusiastically and rewarding
the come with a petting stroke, a "good dog," and a tasty treat.

Never use your dog's name in an angry tone, to call him for a reprimand, or for anything
he finds unpleasant. You want the pup to associate his name as well as coming to you
with good things.
Get your pup used to a leash early on by using it every time you take him outside for
potty breaks and walks.

You can keep your puppy from developing the habit of jumping up on people. Do not let
anyone pet the puppy when he is standing on hind legs. Put the puppy back on the ground
before he gets attention and petting every single time.

Avoid chasing your pup. Instead, encourage the pup to follow you.

When the pup mouths you, make a "yip" sound to let the pup know "stop it, that hurts!"
Stop playtime when the pup nips, since play will reinforce the unwanted behavior. Dogs
who aren't stopped from teething on and nipping people will likely continue that
behavior.

When playing with your puppy, use chew toys to redirect his sharp teeth from your
hands, clothing and furniture. Encourage gentle play instead of roughhousing, play-
fighting and teasing that all can lead to problems. Remember, little puppies grow into
strong, active dogs.

Proactively condition your dog NOT to protect his food and toys. Remove his food dish
at least once during feeding. Put an extra treat in the bowl before setting it down gives
your pup a positive association with someone removing his bowl. With toys, gently take
the toy away and say, "out" or "drop it." Reward the pup with a "good dog" and a treat,
then give the toy back.

For effective housetraining, avoid leaving pups under 4 months old alone more than a
couple of hours at a time. You want to be there when the pup shows any signs of having
to go potty, so that you can take him out and have the opportunity to praise him for going
in an acceptable spot. Crate training can be very useful.

Some people are fortunate to be able to take their young pup and his crate, water bowl
and toys to work and to friends' homes so that they can keep on a good housetraining
schedule and speed up the process. If you can't take your pup to work, come home for
lunch or hire a dogwalker during the housetraining period, which if done correctly will
last just 2 or 3 weeks. As an additional benefit, outtings to work, to friends' homes and
regular walks provide opportunities for socialization.

If you use a crate for your dog, never use the crate as a place for correction or
punishment. The crate should have only positive associations.

Training your dog:

One of the most important steps you should take as a pet owner is to properly and
humanely train your dog. Training benefits your dog's disposition, improve the dog's
socialization skills and enhances your relationship. For details, see other Dog Tips and
get some of the excellent books recommended on the books tipsheet link shown at the
end of this guide.

Multiple pups and pets:

If you currently have other pets, let them get used to the smell and sound of the new pup
from across a door or through a create. Closely supervise the initial interactions and don't
leave the new pup alone with other pets at least until you are sure they are safe together.

Help reassure resident pets that the new arrival is not a threat to their position in the
family by maintaining the same feeding, playing and walking routines. Make sure the
resident pets are getting as much attention as before. Be sensitive to elderly pets who may
feel harassed by the younger newcomer's rambunctious playing. Use the crate to give the
puppy a rest and the other pets a break.

See other Dog Tipsheets at www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/dog_tips.html for details about
introducing new pets to resident pets.

Adopting 2 pups at the same time:

Some folks adopt two puppies together to avoid the problem of a lonely dog. But this
means more work for the owner. Another consideration: the pups may bond to each other
rather than you, making training and socialization more challenging. Many experts
suggest to wait until your first dog is an adult and reliably trained. The older dog can then
help in teaching the new family members.

And remember:

If you want a well-adjusted dog, actively seek new experiences and arrange for pleasant
encounters throughout your pet's puppy hood. This is how dogs learn to respond to
situations in life without fear. Socialization is the most important process in a puppy's
life, ranking right up with proper feeding, shelter and medical care. Socialized canines are
typically happy, friendly, predictable and able to handle stress. Under-socialized pups
often become fearful, shy, unconfident, anxious, unhappy, unstable and sometimes even
fear-aggressive. Such dogs are hard to live with, and the person responsible is the owner.
Make time to socialize your pup or adult dog.

Sources for this tipsheet include articles by canine behavior experts Pat Miller
(www.peaceablepaws.com), Kathy Diamond Davis (www.veterinarypartners.com), Linda
B. Mullally and Pam Young (www.dogtrainingbasics.com).

What Every Puppy Should Learn
by Pam Young

* to be comfortable in a crate, both when owners are home as well as when owners are
gone
* to eliminate outside (on command would be nice!)

* to respect human hands and skin (no nipping or mouthing!)

* to not jump up on humans or countertops

* to respect their owners as the leader of the pack

* to release or relinquish food, toys or inappropriate objects when told

* to come when called

* to be tolerant of handling (nail trims, cleaning ears, kids grabbing fur, taking things out
of mouth, drops in eyes, giving pills, bathing, brushing/grooming...)

* to "leave it" when told

* no chasing bicycles, children, squirrels, rabbits, cars, balls....

* to walk without pulling

* to sit, down, stay, wait on command

* to be comfortable and under control in new or uncomfortable places such as the
veterinary hospital, groomer, boarding kennel, training class, pet store, other people's
homes

* to be comfortable when separated from other dogs, pets or people in their family - able
to stay alone without destruction, barking or nervousness

* to play, chew or relax without constant contact or interaction from owner

* to be tolerant of and possibly sociable with other dogs

* to not be protective of food, bowl, crate, toys or bed

* to quiet barking when told

* to greet friends and strangers without jumping or shying away

* to not rush through doorways or down stairs ahead of owner

* to move off furniture, bed or other location without delay when directed

Related Resources
Socializing Adult Dogs
http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_SocializationAdultDog.php

Bite Inhibition - an Essential Part of Socialization
http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_BiteInhibition.php

Temperament Testing
http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_Temperament.php

Shy Dogs
http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_Shy.php

Positive Perspectives by Pat Miller

How to be the Leader of Your Pack and Have Your Dog's Love You For It by Patricia
McConnell

Dog-Friendly Dog Training by Andrea Arden

Other Excellent Books
http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_Books.php