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The effects of socialization
on dog behavior became apparent in the '60s, following the
release of a 30-year landmark study by researchers Scott and
Fuller, who were attempting to find out if temperament was
influenced by genetics as well as environment. This study was
originally published as Dog Behavior: the Genetic Basis in 1965,
and recently re-released as Genetics and the Social Behavior of
the Dog. The study found out that genetics do have a lot of
influence, but that something else could have even more: the
critical periods of puppy development.
Scott and Fuller determined that there were specific periods
during puppy development where they were more likely to develop
unusual fears or strange habits depending on what they were
exposed to during those periods. They named these times Critical
Periods, as the experiences that the puppies had during those
times seemed to stay with them, sometimes for life. For example,
Scott and Fuller found that dogs who were not exposed to things
like cars or teenagers or even sidewalks during the
Critical Socialization period
(6-12 weeks) developed a
lifelong anxiety or even fear
 of these items later on in life.
If the dogs were not carefully desensitized, these fears could
become almost phobic if the dog happened to become severely
frightened by the items during this period. This is when the
term 'socialization' came about, as a way of increasing the
chances of raising a behaviorally healthy dog.
But when your vet or trainer tells you to “socialize your
puppy”, what does that mean? It means that you should make sure
that your pup is carefully exposed to as many types of people,
places, stimuli, events, things and other animals while it is
young, particularly during the first twelve weeks. If you
obtained your pup from a reputable breeder, they may have
followed a program called “The Puppy's Rule of Twelve's” while
bringing up the litter.
The Rule of Twelve's is a
program that encourages
behavioral health in pups by exposing them to the following by
the time they are 12 weeks old (the end of the Critical Period
of Socialization):
• Experienced 12 different surfaces: wood, wood chips, carpet,
tile, cement, linoleum, grass, wet grass, dirt, mud, puddles,
deep pea gravel, grates, uneven surfaces, on a table, on a
chair, etc.
• Played with 12 different objects: fuzzy toys, big & small
balls, hard toys, funny sounding toys, wooden items, paper or
cardboard items, milk jugs, metal items, car keys, etc.
• Experienced 12 different locations: front yard, other people’s
homes, school yard, lake, pond, river, boat, basement, elevator,
car, moving car, garage, laundry room, kennel, veterinarian
(just to say hi & visit, lots of cookies, no vaccinations),
groomer (just to say hi), etc.
• Met and played with 12 new people (other than of family):
include children, adults (mostly men), elderly adults, people in
wheelchairs, walkers, people with canes, crutches, hats,
sunglasses, etc.
• Exposed to 12 different noises (ALWAYS keep positive and watch
puppy’s comfort level – we don’t want the puppy scared): garage
door opening, doorbell, children playing, babies crying, big
trucks, motorcycles, skateboards, washing machine, shopping
carts, power tools, clapping, loud singing, pan dropping, horses
neighing, vacuums, lawnmowers, birthday party, etc.
• Exposed to 12 fast moving objects (don’t allow to chase):
skateboards, roller-skates, bicycles, motorcycles, cars, people
running, cats running, scooters, vacuums, children running,
children playing, squirrels, horses running, etc.
• Experienced 12 different challenges: climb on, in, off and
around a box, go through a cardboard tunnel, climb up and down
steps, climb over obstacles, play hide & seek, go in and out a
doorway with a step up or down, exposed to an electric sliding
door, umbrella, balloons, walk on a wobbly table (plank of wood
with a small rock underneath), jump over a broom, climb over a
log, bathtub (and bath) etc.
• Handled by owner (& family) 12 times a week: hold under arm
(like a football), hold to chest, hold on floor near owner, hold
in-between owner’s legs, hold head, look in ears, mouth,
in-between toes, hold like a baby, trim toe nails, hold in lap,
etc.
• Eaten from 12 different shaped containers: wobbly bowl, metal,
cardboard box, paper, coffee cup, china, pie plate, plastic,
frying pan, Kong, Treatball, Bustercube, spoon fed, paper bag,
etc.
• Eaten in 12 different locations: back yard, front yard, crate,
kitchen, basement, laundry room, bathroom, friend’s house, car,
school yard, bathtub, up high (on work bench or table), under
umbrella, etc.
• Played with 12 different puppies (or safe adult dogs).
• Left alone safely, away from family & other animals (5-45
minutes) 12 times a week.
• Experienced a leash and collar 12 different times in 12
different locations.
What if you got your dog after 12 weeks, but it was from a pet
store or hobbyist who didn't follow the Rule of Twelves? You
have some catching up to do! However, be very careful – make
sure that the dog is exposed to new stimuli in a way that he
doesn't become frightened or anxious, or this could set the
stage for later behavior problems. Don't force your pup into
situations, let him investigate on his own, but make sure that
you take him to as many places and into as many situations as
you can.
What if you adopted an
adult dog? You have no
idea what kind of socialization experiences it's had, but here's
a word of warning: the signs of under-socialization are VERY
similar to what some people (including those in rescue) think
are the signs of abuse. Things like shyness around men can mean
that the dog wasn't exposed to men often enough during the first
few years. Hand shyness when you attempt to pat a dog can also
mean that the dog was not exposed to enough humans touching him.
Lunging and barking when a skateboard or a bike goes by can also
mean that the dog was not exposed to those, as well. Take your
cues from your dog – if he's a little shy, let him warm up on
his own so that he doesn't become frightened.
Does this mean that you can stop socializing your dog after the
age of 12 weeks? No way – when it comes to socialization, it's a
'use it or lose it' type of deal. Make sure that you keep
exposing your adolescent dog in the same careful manner
throughout the first two years, then occasionally after that for
the rest of his life.
copyright
©
2007, Jo Jacques More Ask
Jo
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