Socializing Your Puppy: Why “LATER” Is Too Late

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It’s a common scenario.

You’ve just brought home your new puppy.  Eight weeks old, all roly-poly fluff and cute as a button.

You’ve heard that puppies need to be “socialized,” and you definitely plan to work on that when you get a chance.  Maybe sign up for a class with your local trainer, or start taking her for walks around the neighborhood.  But not just yet.

You’ll start when the weather gets warmer.  When your work schedule eases up a bit and you have more time.  When the kids go back to school.  And you want to make sure she’s had all her shots first, right?  There will be plenty of time for socializing later.

Wrong.

Unfortunately for many new puppy owners, it’s easy to assume that there’s no need to worry about training or behavior issues at such a young age.  I talk to owners about puppy kindergarten classes and socialization during every new puppy exam at our veterinary clinic, and it’s a constant refrain: “Oh, we don’t need to start anything like that yet.  She’s doing fine right now, no problems.  Maybe when she’s older.”

The fact is, “when she’s older” will be far too late.  Scientifically, here’s the reason why:  puppies go through a critical socialization period from 6 to 16 weeks of age that will dramatically impact their behavior for the rest of their lives.  During this period, their brains are like tiny sponges – soaking up everything they experience and filing it away for the future.

(I should note here that some experts in the field consider the socialization period to end as early as 12 weeks, and there is also some evidence to suggest differences in the optimal socialization window for different breeds – which is a fascinating topic in itself, but beyond the scope of today’s post!  Suffice it to say, as a general rule of thumb, 16 weeks is a good estimation.)

Whatever puppies see at this age, they will consider a normal part of life as adults.  Kids on bicycles?  Fine.  People with umbrellas and shiny coats?  No problem.  Lawnmowers, crying babies, men with beards and hats – for a well-socialized puppy, these things are all a normal part of the world around them.

BUT… beyond 16 weeks, something happens.  New things, which before were accepted with cheerful curiosity and a wagging tail, are now met with suspicion.  Anything that the pup has not already encountered is automatically assumed to be dangerous and scary – so bicycles, umbrellas, lawnmowers, etc. are now terrifying monsters to be barked at or cowered away from.  You may have met adult dogs who are fearful of everyday objects or unfamiliar people; in many cases, this is the end result of poor socialization during this all-important period.

This is actually a pretty staggering fact – nothing “bad” has to happen at all.  A simple lack of exposure at the right time can result in an adult dog who is unable to cope with normal life.  And in practice, this is one of the saddest things I see.

Why are dogs wired this way?  From an evolutionary standpoint, in the wild, having a short window of time for accepting new things makes a lot of survival sense.  For wolves, coyotes, and foxes (the domestic dog’s closest wild relatives) as well as for feral dogs living on their own, odds are high that anything truly “new” is bad news – something that may hurt or kill them.

Thus, there’s an expiration date on how long the canine brain is open to novel experiences.  An adult wolf or coyote that happily walks up to unfamiliar things (like other predators, cars, or even humans) won’t survive long.  Even though our pet dogs lead comparatively protected lives with little to fear from their environment, they have inherited this hard-wired behavior pattern from their more cautious ancestors.  This is why no amount of cajoling and coaxing can convince a poorly socialized adolescent dog that a plastic bag blowing across the parking lot is no big deal – to her, escaping from it or defending herself is a matter of life or death.

So when should you start actively socializing your puppy?  Right now.  As soon as possible.  From the very first day your new pup comes home, the clock is ticking.

Now, one final caveat… what about vaccines?  You may have heard that your puppy should not go anywhere until she’s had all of her shots.

You should absolutely be careful!  Diseases like parvo, distemper, and others can be deadly, and are unfortunately common in many areas.  But consider this – your puppy will not be fully vaccinated until after she’s 4-5 months old.  If you wait until then, you’ve already missed your opportunity.

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) feels so strongly about this issue that they published a position statement on puppy socialization in 2008, stressing that owners should be introducing their puppies to new places, people and other dogs prior to completing their vaccination series.  In particular, they strongly recommend beginning puppy kindergarten classes as early as 7-8 weeks of age.

So, what does this mean for you?  It means to be smart about where you take your puppy before she’s fully vaccinated.  I normally recommend avoiding places like dog parks, pet stores, and high-traffic public areas where lots of strange dogs are walked.  Instead, visit friends with healthy, vaccinated pets.  Go for car rides – visit McDonalds, Starbucks, or the drive-thru lane at your bank or pharmacy.  Walk your pup around the block to meet your neighbors.  Invite the kids playing outside to say hello.

Just do it before 16 weeks of age.  Someday, when she’s a happy, well-adjusted adult, your puppy will thank you for it.

About the author:  Dr Jen Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA is a vet in Huntington, West Virginia.  You can see her blog here: www.drjensdogblog.com

For more information on socializing your puppy go to: http://dogtrainingblogger.com/what-dog-breeders-dont-tell-you-about-socialization.html

Is There Hope For My Aggressive Dog?

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Simply put the answer is YES, usually, most of the time, but not always. Is that answer confusing, if so keep reading? The odds of the success you can have with rehabilitating a dog is good enough that you certainly need to give your dog a chance.

Can all dogs be rehabilitated, again the answer is simple NO. There are some dogs that just can’t be rehabilitated just like there are human beings with mental illness that are in institutions and cannot walk the street with the rest of us because of their illness and in some cases their aggression.

The question from the owner of an aggressive dog is always can my dog be rehabilitated and become a loving member of our family again? That isn’t a question that we can answered by simply looking at a dog.

The only way to tell if a dog can be rehabilitated is to try. That’s right you need to get started with training and behavior modification. For best results you want a canine behavior specialists that has a bunch of experience with aggressive dogs.

Simply relying on the trainer at the local big box dog store is a sure fire way to failure. Yes training is part of what your dog needs however there is more and we call that more, behavior modification.

So what is behavior modification? Behavior modification comes in many different colors and flavors and each dog could need something a little different than the last dog with a similar problem.

The behavior modification for your dog could include one or more of many different things including but not limited to:

1. More exercise 2. Getting the dog off the furniture 3. Feeding the dog after you, the ALPHA, eats, 4. Eliminating treats

5. and more than we can list in this article but you get the idea

Dog Training Blogger is your #1 source for information on dog training, Dog behavior and health care.

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Wayne Booth created this blog site to give you information on dog training, behavior and health. This blog was started for his dog training clients and has grown to a blog for dog owners and trainers all over the world.

Wayne Booth has been active in dog training for over 30 years. He is a Master Trainer as well as a Canine Behavior Specialist and was the founder of an internationally known dog training academy in Texas before moving to Nashville, TN. and starting  where he helps people train as well as solve all types of behavior problems with their dogs. He is currently the Founder and Director of the Canine Behavior Specialists Network where he trains people from all over the world to be successful dog behavior specialists and trainers.

Wayne has trained thousands of pets in both group obedience classes and private lessons. He has also personally trained several hundred dogs for law enforcement that are serving in over 40 states and several foreign countries as well as service dogs for the handicapped and hearing impaired.

He especially enjoys helping individuals train their dogs to be good members of their family. Wayne feels that a “trained dog is a happy dog” and therefore a welcome member of your family. He believes that behavior issues are an important part of any training program. Wayne is an Approved Evaluator for the American Kennel Club (AKC) Canine Good Citizen (CGC) Program and periodically offers the AKC CGC test.

Wayne routinely conducts training classes and seminars for police departments, fire departments, humane organizations and other training facilities as well as training people entering the dog behavior and training business.

Wayne is not only a dog trainer, but also an entrepreneur, published author, teacher and, last but not least, a dog lover.  His passion to train new dog trainers shows in the programs he has created to help new trainers learn the business of dog training.  Feel free to contact Wayne at 615-776-9663 if you have any questions or comments.

Top Reasons Every Kid Needs a Dog

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This article is from guest writer Zara Lewis.

If your little ones have been bothering you about getting a dog, you should give it some thought. Not only will you all have a new furry family member, but your children will also reap numerous benefits. There are actually more than a few positive sides to getting a pet for your kids, so don’t say no just yet.

Your child will have a friend by their side

Dogs will give your children unconditional love. They are the most honest and loyal creatures in the world who will always be by your kids’ side. Whether they’re happy or sad, your little ones will always have support from their furry friend. There’s nothing more valuable than having a companion who loves you no matter what.

Your child will exercise more

Not only will your children spend more time outside, but they’ll also exercise regularly, which is extremely important for their development. From running around to throwing Frisbees and simply walking, your kids will be more active than ever and you won’t even have to make them.

Your child will be healthier

If you’ve been reluctant to get a dog because you’re worried about your children’s health, you should know that this won’t be an issue. Studies have shown that children who grow up with pets are less likely to develop allergies and asthma later on. In addition, even children who are allergic to dogs can benefit from living with them because they will be more resistant to eczema.

Your child will relieve stress and anxiety

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When they are stressed, anxious or sad, your little ones will feel much better once they hug their furry friend. Cuddling with a dog actually stimulates the release of oxytocin, a hormone that soothes anxiety. Furthermore, studies have shown that dogs relieve stress in children with Autism, as well as reduce their behavioral problems.

Your child will adopt healthy lifestyle habits

Apart from exercising, your children will acquire other healthy habits with a dog by their side. They will have to learn that they need to walk their dogs and give them special food designed just for them. Since many parents have difficulties persuading their children to eat healthy, homemade food and vegetables, feeding a dog is a great opportunity to teach them why this is important. For example, I’ve included my son into the pet care and explained that their bodies, as well as ours, require natural, healthy and balanced diet, such as the nutritious Vets All Natural dog food that we use. Thus, he learned that he needs his own healthy diet just like his dog eats his special food. Furthermore, he also knows that having regular meals is important for a person’s and a dog’s health.

Your child will become more responsible

Getting a pet for your children is a great opportunity to teach them responsibility. They will have to take care of another being, feed, walk and bathe their dog, even when they don’t feel like it. It’s important that you give them specific, age-appropriate tasks and show them what they need to do. If you have small children, they should help you at first before you give them their own tasks. You can even make a schedule to remind them when they need to feed or walk their furry friend.

Your child will develop empathy

A dog can help your children develop empathy and understanding for other people. They’ll have to think about the feelings and needs of their pet and treat them with respect. I often ask my son to guess what the dog is thinking or feeling, especially when he doesn’t feed or walk him on time. This is a great way to help your child put themselves in someone else’s shoes and become more aware of their feelings.

By getting your children a dog, not only will they have a great friend by their side, but they’ll also become healthier, more responsible and caring individuals.

About the author:

“Zara Lewis is a regular contributor at Highstylife.com and a full-time animal lover. Passionate about creating a better world for the generations to come, she is a mum of two, raising them inseparably from their furry family members.”  You can find her at:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100011339040658
https://twitter.com/ZaraELewis

IF YOU HAVE A DOG THAT IS SHOWING AGGRESSION READ THIS IMMEDIATELY:

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If you have a dog that is showing aggression you need Canine Behavior Specialists because we have the expertise that you and your dog need to solve these aggression issues.

Please keep in mind that you DO NOT want a dog trainer. The typical dog trainer has been trained to do exactly that, obedience train dogs. Most dog trainers do not have the training or the experience to help with aggression issues.

I mention this because so many of our clients have spent hundreds or even thousands of dollars with dog trainers with no results before finally finding us and solving their problems.

A Canine Behavior Specialist is an individual who has participated in extensive training to understand the behaviors and associated actions for dogs of all breeds. Rather than just train an animal to respond to a basic command, these individuals get to know the dog, try to understand how his past might have contributed to his current actions and assist owners in working through these behaviors so the dog can develop new, more acceptable skills and better acclimate into the family unit.

When aggression becomes an issue with your dog, you need a Canine Behavior Specialist. You would not go to a general doctor when you had cancer; you would seek the expertise of an expert like an oncologist. The same is true for aggression you need a specialist, not just a dog trainer.

We offer a Rehabilitation Program for aggressive dogs that is two fold. The first area that we concentrate on is Obedience Training.

A dog that has not been obedience trained will assume the position of the protector of the pack. By obedience training your dog, you will assume that position and relieve your dog of that burden.

The second area we work on is Behavior Modification. When you decide to work with us, we will have you fill out a form that gives us a history of your dog from the day it came into your life until today.

This information will allow us to look for triggers, the things that are creating the aggression. With this information, we will be able to make changes in how you interact with your dog so that it begins to understand its place in the pack.

Your dog should be at the bottom of the pack with you and other family members at the top.

Most people are concerned about costs, and I want to assure you that this program is very affordable. We even have a 6 month 0% interest option if needed.

Let me ask you some questions.

1. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to go for a walk with your dog without it acting like Cujo everytime you see another person or dog?

2. Wouldn’t it be nice to go to bed this evening without worrying about your dog and the liability it is creating for your family?

3. Have you considered finding a new home or even worse, euthanasia for your dog?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you owe it to yourself and your dog to contact us.

We take calls 7 days a week from 8 AM – 9 PM Central or 9 AM – 10 PM Eastern.

Canine Behavior Specialists
https://CanineBehaviorSpecialists.com
888-901-2275 Toll Free

Wayne Booth the Dog Training Blogger

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