The Importance of Dog Socialization
copyright © 2007 Jo Jacques
“You’ve got to socialize your dog properly!” “Don’t fail to socialize your puppy!” As dog owners, we hear this constantly from vets, trainers and even other dog owners. But what does it really mean for our dogs – and for us?
The effects of socialization on dog behavior became apparent in the ’60s, following the release of a 30-year landmark study by researchers Scott and Fuller, who were attempting to find out if temperament was influenced by genetics as well as environment. This study was originally published as Dog Behavior: the Genetic Basis in 1965, and recently re-released as Genetics and the Social Behavior of the Dog. The study found out that genetics do have a lot of influence, but that something else could have even more: the critical periods of puppy development.
Scott and Fuller determined that there were specific periods during puppy development where they were more likely to develop unusual fears or strange habits depending on what they were exposed to during those periods. They named these times Critical Periods, as the experiences that the puppies had during those times seemed to stay with them, sometimes for life. For example, Scott and Fuller found that dogs who were not exposed to things like cars or teenagers or even sidewalks during the Critical Socialization period (6-12 weeks) developed a lifelong anxiety or even fear of these items later on in life. If the dogs were not carefully desensitized, these fears could become almost phobic if the dog happened to become severely frightened by the items during this period. This is when the term ’socialization’ came about, as a way of increasing the chances of raising a behaviorally healthy dog.
But when your vet or trainer tells you to “socialize your puppy”, what does that mean? It means that you should make sure that your pup is carefully exposed to as many types of people, places, stimuli, events, things and other animals while it is young, particularly during the first twelve weeks. If you obtained your pup from a reputable breeder, they may have followed a program called “The Puppy’s Rule of Twelve’s” while bringing up the litter.
The Rule of Twelve’s is a program that encourages behavioral health in pups by exposing them to the following by the time they are 12 weeks old (the end of the Critical Period of Socialization):
• Experienced 12 different surfaces: wood, wood chips, carpet, tile, cement, linoleum, grass, wet grass, dirt, mud, puddles, deep pea gravel, grates, uneven surfaces, on a table, on a chair, etc.
• Played with 12 different objects: fuzzy toys, big & small balls, hard toys, funny sounding toys, wooden items, paper or cardboard items, milk jugs, metal items, car keys, etc.
• Experienced 12 different locations: front yard, other people’s homes, school yard, lake, pond, river, boat, basement, elevator, car, moving car, garage, laundry room, kennel, veterinarian (just to say hi & visit, lots of cookies, no vaccinations), groomer (just to say hi), etc.
• Met and played with 12 new people (other than of family): include children, adults (mostly men), elderly adults, people in wheelchairs, walkers, people with canes, crutches, hats, sunglasses, etc.
• Exposed to 12 different noises (ALWAYS keep positive and watch puppy’s comfort level – we don’t want the puppy scared): garage door opening, doorbell, children playing, babies crying, big trucks, motorcycles, skateboards, washing machine, shopping carts, power tools, clapping, loud singing, pan dropping, horses neighing, vacuums, lawnmowers, birthday party, etc.
• Exposed to 12 fast moving objects (don’t allow to chase): skateboards, roller-skates, bicycles, motorcycles, cars, people running, cats running, scooters, vacuums, children running, children playing, squirrels, horses running, etc.
• Experienced 12 different challenges: climb on, in, off and around a box, go through a cardboard tunnel, climb up and down steps, climb over obstacles, play hide & seek, go in and out a doorway with a step up or down, exposed to an electric sliding door, umbrella, balloons, walk on a wobbly table (plank of wood with a small rock underneath), jump over a broom, climb over a log, bathtub (and bath) etc.
• Handled by owner (& family) 12 times a week: hold under arm (like a football), hold to chest, hold on floor near owner, hold in-between owner’s legs, hold head, look in ears, mouth, in-between toes, hold like a baby, trim toe nails, hold in lap, etc.
• Eaten from 12 different shaped containers: wobbly bowl, metal, cardboard box, paper, coffee cup, china, pie plate, plastic, frying pan, Kong, Treatball, Bustercube, spoon fed, paper bag, etc.
• Eaten in 12 different locations: back yard, front yard, crate, kitchen, basement, laundry room, bathroom, friend’s house, car, school yard, bathtub, up high (on work bench or table), under umbrella, etc.
• Played with 12 different puppies (or safe adult dogs).
• Left alone safely, away from family & other animals (5-45 minutes) 12 times a week.
• Experienced a leash and collar 12 different times in 12 different locations.
What if you got your dog after 12 weeks, but it was from a pet store or hobbyist who didn’t follow the Rule of Twelves? You have some catching up to do! However, be very careful – make sure that the dog is exposed to new stimuli in a way that he doesn’t become frightened or anxious, or this could set the stage for later behavior problems. Don’t force your pup into situations, let him investigate on his own, but make sure that you take him to as many places and into as many situations as you can.
What if you adopted an adult dog? You have no idea what kind of socialization experiences it’s had, but here’s a word of warning: the signs of under-socialization are VERY similar to what some people (including those in rescue) think are the signs of abuse. Things like shyness around men can mean that the dog wasn’t exposed to men often enough during the first few years. Hand shyness when you attempt to pat a dog can also mean that the dog was not exposed to enough humans touching him. Lunging and barking when a skateboard or a bike goes by can also mean that the dog was not exposed to those, as well. Take your cues from your dog – if he’s a little shy, let him warm up on his own so that he doesn’t become frightened.
Does this mean that you can stop socializing your dog after the age of 12 weeks? No way – when it comes to socialization, it’s a ‘use it or lose it’ type of deal. Make sure that you keep exposing your adolescent dog in the same careful manner throughout the first two years, then occasionally after that for the rest of his life.
