WHAT. THE. HECK.
Why did my puppy just do that?!
A lot of people think that socializing your dog means exposing them to a lot of different situations, sounds and new things. While this is partly true, it is really only half of the story.
Watch a quick video here about what socialization means...or keep reading for "The Rest of The Story":
https://www.tiktok.com/@betterfurryfriend/video/7052815530935192837?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id7059826913627817477
Socialization begins from the very first breath of life, when a puppy is exposed to a new environment. Puppies are born underdeveloped, with no ability to see or hear, as an animal adaptation so the mother is able to continue to hunt and get food for her pups. This means that socializing a pup will take an extended period of time as the pup develops over the years.
A puppy's brain is like a human brain, going through developmental phases, so even if a dog is exposed to multiple things in a short amount of time, that does not mean the puppy will be able to process that information all at once.
Dog owners need to not only expose a puppy to multiple people, places, things and situations, but they need to be aware of the pups emotional state as they interact with those things, especially in a "fear imprinting period" as you may cause an emotional imprint during one of these critical phases.
The development of the puppy brain over the first two years of life is a critical period. Although a dog can be taught new things after this period is over, the training required to achieve a desired effect takes longer and is more difficult to achieve, but not impossible. The most critical thing you can teach your dog during the early period of their life is "how to learn". A dog who knows how to learn is much easier to train then a dog who has not been taught to listen.
While teaching and interacting with your pup, and as the pup enters more situations throughout their life, you may notice some undesirable behaviors, like rushing to the door when it is opened, barking at neighbors as they walk past or lunging at dogs on a walk. These behaviors are not indicators that a puppy is "bad", it is an indicator that a puppy needs more training and socialization.
Socialization not only affects how the dog reacts in these situations, but also how they may not be so enthused about the vacuum or the blender. Anytime your dog has a negative emotional response to something, the dog needs more experience and training in that situation.
Lets imagine that you take your dog to the groomer, and they report they he/she was terrible! They bit the groomer, were wiggly and whiney. This can get expensive and groomers charge more when a dog does this...so training at home for some grooming desensitization and trips to the groomers to add some positive associations is a great way to help the dog become more comfortable.
So remember, if your dog displays any behavior that is undesirable, it is not an indicator that you have a "bad dog" or that you are a "bad dog owner", it is merely an indicator that your pup needs a little more socialization to certain things. Remember, baby steps and consistency, and if that seems to intimidating, get a trainer. Great socialization and training now will ultimately help your puppy be amazing in the long run. So watch for those negative emotional reactions and think of a way to break the socialization down into smaller steps your pup can handle to gain more confidence.
For a great video on how to socialize your puppy and breaking it down into steps, click the link below. Also, don't forget to go to lakemountaindoodle.com to apply for your perfect puppy through us!
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CN5tKwmioQq/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
