Socializing Your Puppy

Socialization is the process by which a dog learns how we want him to interact with the world - how he greets children, adults, other dogs, and things which are new and potentially scary to him. A properly socialized dog is well adjusted and makes a good companion. He is neither frightened or aggressive when confronted by normal daily situations. An unsocialized dog who was unable to learn from humans what was expected of him early on in life, is not trustworthy as he often becomes afraid of otherwise normal situations (and may even become a fear-biter), which then makes him difficult to train.

Most of a dog’s personality is formed from birth to 1 year of age, therefore how your puppy perceives the world during his first year will undoubtedly determine how he handles all future situations. Three weeks to three months is the most critical age in socializing your puppy. This is when most of his personality is being formed. For this reason it is important to find a breeder who takes time to socialize their puppies before bringing him home (8 weeks of age is the minimum age for puppy to be taken from breeder and litter), and then a good puppy kindergarten class. It is in this class environment that the owner will learn how to best understand life through the pup's eyes and then apply some basic rules (to become a good, stable canine citizen) in a manner that is both positive to the dog's welfare, and fun.

References: Houston Dachshund Rescue
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