Windows of Opportunity:
But what exactly is "proper socialization"?Socialization is the process of exposing a puppy from early on to as wide a variety of environments, situations,animals, and types of people as can be done safely and without causing trauma to the pup. Canine-behavior researchers have found that there are several crucial "socialization windows" in the first year- limited periods during which the pup is receptive to the lifelong benefits of exposure to new things. Of these periods, the earliest- the first 12 weeks of life is the most critical. According to the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), sociability outweighs fear during this period, making it "the primary window of opportunity for puppies to adapt to new people, animals, and experiences."This period is web the pup first learns to accept and enjoy the company of people, to behave appropriately around other dogs, and to experience the differing aspects of the world around him without fear So after 12 weeks, most pups will enter a fear-prone period in their development. After this point, if the pup has not been well socialized it may be at best permanently difficult for him to adapt to certain unfamiliar experiences. "Basically, an adult dog's temperament and behavior habits, both good and bad, are shaped during puppy hood," says veterinarian and leading animal behaviorist Dr. Ian Dunbar, author of Before & After Getting Your Puppy. Further, Dunbar notes that behavior issues are the number-one cause of relinquishment to shelters. Thus it is essential that as a breeder you understand the importance of socialization. Although its benefits continue throughout (and beyond) the first 18 months of the dog's life, remember that the most critical socialization period ends at 12 weeks, so the bulk if not all of this most vital groundwork is up to you.
100 People by 12 Weeks: Most important of all is to expose the pups to as wide a variety of people as possible- people of differing ages, sizes, skin color, and dress. Many dogs can be particularly apprehensive of men and very small children if they were not exposed to them during the early socialization period. Dunbar recommends that a puppy meet at least 100 different people by age 12 weeks. "Not only is this easier to do than it might sound," he explains, "its also lots of fun." Breeders can arrange to have small groups of friends and family visit the pups, and take pups to public areas such as pet-supply stores and school grounds
The American Kennel Club, suggest The Importance of Puppy Socialization: From the very start, a puppy learns important lessons through his experience of the world around him. Even in the first few weeks as he snuggles with his dam, wrestles with his littermates, and is handled by his breeder each day, the personality traits and social skills that he will have all his life are beginning to form. As the weeks go by, exposure to a variety of experiences is crucial to his well-rounded adult. Studies have shown that a puppy's experiences in the first three months of life strongly influence what kind of companion he will grow to be and how he will react to the world. Will he shy away from children? Will he be afraid of people in hats? Will he be aggressive toward other dogs? Or will he be easygoing and adaptable in a variety of situations? Perhaps surprisingly, failure to properly expose a young puppy to certain situations or types of people during his brief early period can result in his being forever fearful of them as an adult. Early socialization or the lack of it is a vital determinant of a dog's lifelong behaviors. Without proper socialization, it is unlikely that a pup will become the adult dog he could have been, whether as a competitor in canine events or as a happy, well- adjusted pet.
