When to start socialization with your new puppy
March 29, 2020
Socializing your brand new 8 week old puppy is one of the most important things that you will do for that dogs entire life. Those few critical weeks set him up for a lifetime of being well-adjusted. Please don’t put it off!
When should I start socializing my puppy? A.S.A.P. When you bring your puppy home at 8 weeks, you can start. Around 7 weeks is the start of a period of time where the puppies brain is like a sponge. Soaking everything up and keeping it for later. The longer you wait, the less time you have to get good experiences filed away in your puppies mind. You want to expose your puppy to as many new environments, people, dogs, other species, floors, sounds, smells as you can while making sure each one is safe and positive.
But my Veterinarian said I should wait until my puppy has completed all his vaccinations? I’m not saying your Vet is wrong…… But the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) thinks your Vet is wrong so I guess I do too. The socialization window closes around 16 weeks which is when puppy usually completes his vaccines. After that period closes puppies don’t accept new things as readily. They are a little more suspicious of things. The AVSAB wrote a great article on this very topic, which I will link for your reading pleasure. https://avsab.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Puppy_Socialization_Position_Statement_Download_-_10-3-14.pdf
How can I socialize my puppy without risking serious illness? If you want to go into pet stores then I recommend carrying your pup or even pushing him in a secure stroller. Silly, I know, but this will keep your pup safe while also letting him watch everything that is going on. In other stores, you can carry, put in a stroller, bring a blanket and put in a shopping cart, or let him explore on leash a little. Use your judgement. Just completely avoid dog parks. It’s not even worth it. I don’t even recommend them for adult dogs. Have a few good dog friends that you know are good with puppies to introduce him to instead. It would be even better if you have other friends with puppies. Your puppy gets to interact with other dogs and you get to play with other puppies! Win-win!
When you bring home a new puppy your number one objective should be exposing that pup to everything you can SAFELY. If there is a chance that puppy could get hurt or have a bad experience then don’t do it. Move on to the next opportunity. Remember, while you are out setting him up for success, always have fun!
