Adult dogs that are comfortable around other canines and people have usually received proper socialization early in their life. It begins within the first few weeks following birth. If a puppy has positive experiences with others, he will typically develop into a healthy, friendly canine. You'll be able to place him within a variety of environments without worry regarding how he'll behave.
On the other hand, if a pup has been abused or has suffered negative experiences with others early in his life, he will likely display fear and distrust. This can have a major influence on his ability to remain comfortable around other dogs and people.
In this article, we'll explain how socialization begins with a puppy's exposure to his mother and littermates. We'll also describe how puppies learn to relate to the first people they meet, including their new owners.
Mother And Littermates
A puppy immediately learns to trust his mother. She provides warmth and protection. She gives him a feeling of security from the unknown and unexplored world that lies beyond his immediate environment. His mother is also the one who helps him learn how to breathe and eliminate. If his behavior becomes unacceptable, she provides loving but firm discipline.
His littermates provide an opportunity to interact with peers. He learns to play with them and test boundaries. This is the time during which he learns the value of relating to his own kind. Puppies who spend very little time with their littermates before being adopted often have trouble getting along with other canines in adulthood.
First Exposure To People
Professional breeders try to expose puppies to people within a few weeks of their birth. The earlier a puppy interacts with people, the more comfortable he will be around them throughout his life. Many breeders encourage kids to hold and pet the puppies in their care within the first week following their birth. As long as the interactions are supervised and children are taught to be delicate with the pups, this early exposure can prove invaluable.
Meeting Your Pup For The First Time
Most breeders prefer to keep puppies for seven weeks before allowing families to adopt them. During this period, the pups spend most of their time in the company of their mother. By the fourth week, they are spending an increasing amount of time away from their mother, and interacting with people. By the end of the seventh week, the pups are released to their new families.
When you bring a new puppy home, it's important to continue his socialization. During the first week away from his mother, avoid abandoning him for long periods of time. He will feel a sense of loss for his mother and littermates. Spend time with him to keep his attention occupied.
A lot of puppies go through a phase near their eighth week during which they suddenly display apprehension for anything that is unfamiliar to them. This lasts for a couple of weeks. It will pass.
Providing Ongoing Opportunities For Socialization
The first twelve months of a puppy's life are very impressionable. The experiences to which he is exposed will shape his behaviors for the rest of his life. It is critical that you take every opportunity to introduce your pup to new people and environments. Take him to a park where others bring their own pets. Take him on walks using different routes that expose him to a variety of other owners and their pets.
An ideal outlet for meeting others is within group obedience classes. This gives your puppy a chance to interact with his own species and other people in a friendly and controlled environment. He'll learn that those who are unfamiliar to him pose no threat.
A puppy who has received proper socialization early in his life typically develops into a friendly, happy, and well-adjusted adult dog. These are the qualities that make for a more pleasant canine companion.
Find the best Bulk Bully Sticks and Raw Dog Food at Bestbullysticks.com
Secrets To Dog Training
How your dog can live longer!
Online Dog Training
![]() | |
 | |
 | | Dog Training | | Offer by: Buy.com USA and Buy.com CA | | Price: USD 10.58 | | There is nothing more pleasing to an avid bird hunter than to watch a well-trained sporting dog do what it was bred to do: hunt. Likewise, there is nothing more pleasing to a pet owner than to watch their well-trained family dog interact in a calm and controlled manner with family and friends.With step-by-step instructions and detailed photographs and illustrations, this book provides proven information for achieving the best of both those worlds. Everything is discussed from choosing a sporting breed (retriever or pointer), to basic family-friendly obedience commands, to introducing the dog to the sound of a gun, competing in field trials and hunt tests, using an electronic collar, and keeping your sporting dog happy and healthy. It even covers how the nation's top trainers troubleshoot some of the more common problems faced in the field. |  | |
|
 | | Dog Training for Children & Parents | | Offer by: Buy.com USA and Buy.com CA | | Price: USD 11.98 | | Make your dog a real member of the family! Find out how in Dog Training for Children and Parents. Author and trainer Michael Tucker provides thorough, easy-to-read instructions that children can follow and that adults will find accurate and entertaining. By training their dog, children gain a sense of achievement and develop a bond with the pet that will last a lifetime. From essential commands to tips on care and tricks, Dog Training for Children and Parents provides useful, understandable guidance for everyone in the house.A Howell Dog Book of Distinction | | |
|
 | | Maran Illustrated Dog Training | | Offer by: Buy.com USA and Buy.com CA | | Price: USD 12.16 | | Produced by the award-winning maranGraphics Group, Maran's Illustrated Guide to Dog Training is a valuable resource to a wide range of readers - from individuals picking up their first puppy to those who are looking to eliminate their pet's annoying behaviors. Instead of describing the myriad ways to perform each task, Maran's Illustrated Guide to Dog Training shows you the best way, while the full-color photographs and clear, step-by-step instructions walk you through each task from beginning to end. Thorough topic introductions and useful tips provide additional information and advice to help enhance your dog training experience. Maran's Illustrated Guide to Dog Training is packed with essential information for teaching simple commands and performing the most impressive tricks. Maran's Illustrated Guide to Dog Training costs less than the price of one private training lesson, and will be a permanent resource that can be accessed at any time. | | |
|
 | | Dog-Friendly Dog Training | | Offer by: Buy.com USA and Buy.com CA | | Price: USD 12.59 | | A popular guide with a fresh new look and updated content Increasingly, dog owners treat their pets as members of the family. The book that helped define and popularize reward-based dog training has now been updated to cover new techniques and approaches, including using a clicker or verbal markers, instilling impulse control, teaching the roll-over exercise, and more. With 100 colorful illustrations and reader-friendly explanations, this guide will appeal to dog lovers young and old, as well as to professional trainers. Andrea Arden (New York, NY) is the behavior columnist for New York Dog magazine and the pet expert for the Today show. The author of four other dog training books, she was named the best dog trainer in New York City by New York magazine in 2001. | | |
|
![]() | |
 | | Gun-Dog Training | | Offer by: Buy.com USA and Buy.com CA | | Price: USD 14.32 | | In 'Gun-Dog Training: Spaniels and Retrievers, ' the first book ever to devote itself exclusively to the flushing breeds as well as the first book to cover training retrievers for upland game work, Kenneth Roebuck is careful to point out not only what the handler should do, but also what mistakes should be avoided. | | |
|
 | | The Dog Training Pack | | Offer by: Buy.com USA and Buy.com CA | | Price: USD 16.11 | | The Dog Training Pack is a practical, no-nonsense, and, most importantly, humorous training guide that utilizes the newest and most effective technique for training. The method guarantees effective results in just 10 minutes a day! The kit includes: a clicker and silent dog whistle, a tug toy, and a 64-page, two-color, fully illustrated instruction manual | | |
|
 | | Dog Training | | Offer by: Buy.com USA and Buy.com CA | | Price: USD 16.67 | | This easy to follow DVD will help you train your dog, step-by-step to achieve the most pleasing results. Just Pop-in the DVD and let us show you how you can make your dog into a pleasant and playful part of the family. An internationally renowned certified dog trainer and Director of Training and Behavior at St. Hubert's Animal Center in Madison, N.J. explains in detail, through demonstration, the most effective ways to train your dog to become a more obedient companion to avoid house training accidents, destructive behaviors, jumping on guests and much more. This DVD helps bridge the communication gap between dog and owner to promote a long healthy and happy lifetime with each other. Color, Run Time: 60 mins. | | |
|
