New Behavior Article: Puppy Socialization
Puppies begin learning at birth, and are particularly responsive to retaining what they learn during their first 13 to 16 weeks of life. It is especially important that puppies have experiences with other dogs, as well as with children and adults, during this optimal time from birth to 16 weeks.
Picture two dogs from the same litter. One brother is taken out as a puppy at least once a week to meet new people and dogs. The other puppy is kept at home. A study conducted by the ASPCA’s Dr. Pamela Reid revealed that the socialized brother is less likely to exhibit problematic behavior as an adult than the puppy who was kept at home.
posted by ASPCA at 5:35 PM PERMALINK
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Picture two dogs from the same litter. One brother is taken out as a puppy at least once a week to meet new people and dogs. The other puppy is kept at home. A study conducted by the ASPCA’s Dr. Pamela Reid revealed that the socialized brother is less likely to exhibit problematic behavior as an adult than the puppy who was kept at home.
Much like humans, puppies 'see' and 'learn' from the moment they 'experience' the world. Seemingly, if they have posative experiences, they will be 'praised' and 'rewarded'...if they have negative experiences, they will be considered 'deviant' and 'uncontrollable'.
When they are 'rewarded', they are cool, calm and collected... if they are 'uncontrollable', they dig holes, tyear up stuffed animals and deface table legs...
Interaction with other dogs works the same way. I was the owner of a wonderful Rottie! I adopted her when she was 8 months old. She was raised with an Akita and an Mastiff. As I lifed my life with her, Fia was not threatened, nor did she ever lash oput at a non-deserving animal (if she were approached by a spunky dog she would take a stance, but would not responde until she was breached by said agressor)
Unfortunately, every human who had heard a story of a maming rottwieller would approach my Fia with a weary eye...the animal could sense there was reluctance and always thought that person was suspect?
When it came to children I would watch her with a keen eye... children were like squeeky toys and the dog just wanted to play, jump, pounce and inspect...children were the answer to the dog's request for a squeeky toy!!
interaction between your environment and everyone in it will allow your puppy to 'know' a proper response... if you are there to advize you pup early in its development, it will have the experience to play with others. If a dog does not learn this ealy, it may not re-learn the proper behavior if!! it has the opportunity to upgrade its enviroment. Good luck with that!!
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