Socialization: What Does it Mean?

You just got a new puppy and everyone is telling you to socialize him now. They say, “Introduce him to new people!” and “Have him meet new dogs,” which are two very important pieces of his early socialization process but there is much more to know. Little Paws Academy is here to give you a better understanding of what socialization means for you and your puppy.

Socialization by definition is the process of learning to behave in a way that is acceptable to society. Adult dogs often get in trouble when they don’t meet society’s expectations. They are often required to handle situations that we ourselves would never consent to dealing with. Let’s put ourselves in their paws for a moment and think about how you would feel if a stranger approached you and gave you a big hug or about how you would feel if you were upset about something but no one is listening so you had to yell to be heard. These examples are exactly the same as when a stranger touches your puppy or he growls or barks because someone missed his subtle body language signals that said he was uncomfortable.

While over the past several years leaps and bounds have been made towards helping society understanding our dog’s needs and setting realistic expectations we still need to take the time between 3-16 weeks of age to help our puppies learn that this crazy world is safe. Proper socialization and creating positive associations will reduce moments where she will feel uncomfortable and behave in ways that society considers inappropriate. It will also give you plenty of opportunities to teach her that you are her advocate and will protect her in the moments when she believes something isn’t safe.

So how do you raise a well-behaved, socialized dog that can handle everything that society expects? The key is to create positive experiences while working at his pace. Letting him decide when he is ready to explore the world and gently introducing him to enjoyable socialization experiences such as body handling, people, animals, sounds, objects, surfaces, and new environments, will grow his confidence and mold his future outlook on life.

At Little Paws Academy we have personalized socialization and training programs designed to assist on your passage through puppyhood. Want to learn more? Contact us today!