Puppy Socialization
Most people think of puppy socialization from only one aspect, dog to dog socialization. In reality, the most important part of puppy socialization is the human/dog relationship. The definition of socialization is the interaction of the teacher with the pupil, training the pupil to be social.
A puppy’s brain continues to grow and develop from birth until the age of about 14 weeks. During this growth span the environment can have a significant effect on the social skills of the adult dog. The puppy’s brain development that most influences the social skills with other dogstakes place between the ages of 4 and 8 weeks. At the age of 4 weeks, puppies begin to interact and play fight with each other. It is important for the breeder to allow the mother to continue to live with the puppies. The mother maintains peace, defends the weak, punishes the bully, and teaches respect for the elders; in essence teaching the adult dog to be social with other properly socialized adult dogs.
Between 8 to 14 weeks the human/dog social skill is most influenced by the environment. It is at this age that it is most important for the puppy to have its primary association with humans. The puppy should be exposed to a variety of humans, from toddlers to teens to adults. It is important to have these experiences be positive and non-aggressive. The experiences with humans at this age most influence the adult dog’s social skill with humans. If the puppy’s primary association is with other dogs at this age, the adult personality will be more focused on dogs, rather than on humans.
Unfortunately, puppy socialization classes focus on dog interaction and play fighting rather than human interaction. If these interactions are allowed, they should be done on a one-on-one dog basis, rather than a group basis, with the human teacher observing and training the pupil with the appropriate behavior. Most puppy socialization classes involve group puppy play and inreality do little to influence the adult dog social skills with other adult dogs in a positive way. When puppies have been raised without the mother living with them during that 4 to 8 week period, these group type puppy classes can actually be detrimental to the puppy. Most puppy socialization classes are merely a marketing ploy to drive in potential customers for their group class training program.