Dog Training Basics & Puppy Socialization

Yes, it’s true! One of the most important things you can do for your new best friend is socialize him to the world in which he’ll be living. For those of you wondering, socializing means just what it sounds like, taking your dog out to visit new places and meet new people. Puppies go through a critical developmental period between birth and about sixteen weeks of age. Dogs may have a tough time adjusting to new people or situations if they haven’t been exposed to them during this time.

Now, you may be thinking, why is socializing my puppy more important than something, like, say, housebreaking? It’s a good question, and quite normal if you’ve been spending a lot of your time mopping up after your new pup’s accidents. Housebreaking is an important skill, but it is much easier to housebreak a dog than it is to try to make up for a lack of proper early socialization.

There are several reasons that socialization is so important. One is to keep your dog from becoming aggressive in new situations later in life. Picture a dog that has lived with a quiet, elderly person for his entire life. This dog has never gone farther than his own backyard or been exposed to children or an active household. When this dog is five years old, his elderly owner passes away, and a neighbor decides to take in the dog who has always been gentle and sweet when she’s stopped by to visit. 

Now, this adult dog is plopped down into a household full of young children with people coming and going all hours of the day and night. Where his elderly owner always gave him soft pats on the head, these new little people tend to pull his tail and lean on him. Frightened and confused, this dog tries to let these people know he doesn’t like their behavior by baring his teeth and giving a small growl, or worse, a bite. Off to the nearest shelter he goes for nothing more than trying to defend himself against something he viewed as an invasion.

Now this is an extreme example, but you get the point. The wider the variety of people and situations your dog is exposed to, the less likely he is to react in an aggressive manner to new experiences.