BY FRAN JEWELL
Socialization needs to begin the moment you bring your puppy home. However, most folks think it means to let your puppy play with every dog it sees. And, usually, there is no structure to the playtime.
Unfortunately, it is not advisable for your puppy to play with strange dogs until your puppy has had all its vaccinations. Many times that means 16 weeks old! However, before that 16 weeks of age is it critical for your puppy to have experiences with other dogs and people.
So, how can we combine all of that in a safe and educational way for the puppy? Find older, safe dogs for your puppy to spend time with. When I use the term “safe” I mean other dogs that you know to be kind but firm with puppies. It also means dogs that have been vaccinated. Safe should also mean an enclosed area like a fenced yard where unknown dogs do not frequent.
Some older dogs will not play, and that is something a puppy needs to learn, too. She needs to know what dogs she can and cannot play with.
The other thing that is critical is that there needs to be some structure to socialization. So many folks complain to me that when their dog sees another dog, they are uncontrollable. This happens when we let puppies see another dog, then immediately run and jump on the other pup. This not only teaches your pup bully greetings as they get older, but it teaches puppies that they don’t need to have self-control. Then, when a puppy reaches six months, she is so out of control that she becomes dangerous to the owner, other people and other dogs.
A simply way to teach self-control, or “impulse control,” which is the fancy terminology, is to put a leash on your pup. Put your foot on the leash of your puppy and wait until she sits for the count of 15 seconds. Then, release her. Letting her play is the reward for her calm behavior. Continue this as she grows older. This gives you the opportunity to ask the other dog owner if the two may play when meeting someone on a walk. This is the only polite way to treat other people and dogs on your hikes. It’s just polite manners and safe for everyone.
Make “come” a game during playtimes. While two puppies are playing, each owner walks up to them, grabs their collars, says “come” and gives them treats. Ask the pups to sit, then let them go play again, saying, “Go play!” Soon, the puppies will love the word “come” and not see it as the end of a good time. If you make it a goal to practice seven to 10 times during play, pretty soon you are going to have the most awesome dog with the most awesome manners and reliable “come!”
Waiting to create safe socialization experiences without planning in a little structure can mean so much more work for you later down the road. Puppies are little sponges that soak up everything so eagerly during those first 16 weeks of life!
Fran Jewell is an Idaho Press Club award-winning columnist, IAABC-certified dog behavior consultant, NADOI-certified instructor #1096 and the owner of Positive Puppy Dog Training, LLC, in Sun Valley. For more information, visit positivepuppy.com or call (208) 578-1565.