The Importance of Socialisation to a Dog

One of the most common reasons for dogs to end up in shelters around the world is because of behavioural issues, and many of these issues can be attributed to a lack of socialisation.

There are also certain potential risks associated with dogs that are not socialised, such as the possibility of them becoming aggressive towards other dogs, and even humans. Most vets, trainers, and behaviourists recommend that the process of socialisation is necessary by the time a puppy is seven to eight weeks old.

Almost any puppy can grow into a well-balanced, well-functioning and loving adult dog if sufficient socialisation is provided whilst they are young.
This is not too dissimilar to how humans socialise their children. We do not choose to confine our children to the house for their entire lives, but we also do not begin parenting a child after they have developed learned behaviours and habits. For some reason however, this is exactly how many people raise their puppies, which is why quite often these cute, bundles of fur will most certainly turn into an aggressive, disobedient, or destructive animals as they get older.
Dogs are social animals which means that companionship is extremely important to their wellbeing. Dogs have evolved to live with humans, and so they should be involved with humans from the start. They do not like being alone and they require a great deal of attention, to mature correctly. An estimated 1 in 5 dogs have behavioural issues, due to poor socialisation, as reported by the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors.

Why New Owners Should Socialise Puppies As Soon As Possible

Socialisation is the process of exposing a young dog to as many environments, situations and stimuli as possible, this is including people and animals. This has to be balanced correctly, however, as the dog may easily become overwhelmed. A dog that is overstimulated might become fearful, and withdraw from the situation, or avoid certain behaviour.

Dogs that are well socialised should:

Be handled from birth and accept touching of all of their parts, including their tails, legs, ears, teeth and feet.

Be exposed to as many places, people, animals, and situations as possible, this can include car journeys.

They should be allowed to engage in several games, play with toys and be exposed to various surfaces, textures and sounds.

If done correctly, socialisation should reach all the senses of a young dog, which will help them to grow up being unafraid of sounds, sights and smells. In other words, this desensitises a dog and allows the dog to develop a high level of comfort, when experiencing new situations or environments.

Unsocialised dogs are less likely to cope well with any change in their situation or environment, which can make it difficult for them to visit a vet for medical care, grooming, or to have visitors in their homes. On top of this, if a dog isn't properly socialised, they can develop a permanent fear of situations and develop anxiety. In serious cases, this can make a dog unsuitable for human companionship.

The Right Timing of Socialisation

It is very important to socialise a puppy, during their first three months of life. This means starting the socialisation process as soon as they enter into a new home. Why is this timing so important? Because at this point, the need for socialisation outweighs fear - and their brains are willing to accept new experiences. The situations the puppy encounters during this period will contribute greatly towards its temperament and behaviour, for the rest of its life.

If a puppy is not socialised within the first three months of its life, the chances of them developing unwanted behaviours in adulthood increase significantly.

Tips for Socialising a Puppy

These classes should:

• Increase the responsiveness of the puppy to commands.
• Teach a puppy when it is appropriate to use their teeth - and when it isn't.
• Teach a dog how to properly interact with people and other animals, including strangers.
• Help owners to develop realistic expectations of their puppy.
• Strengthen the bond between the puppy and the owner.
• Give tips on housetraining and the prevention of hyperactivity.
• Help the owner learn how to show a dog what is unwanted behaviour.

A large number of studies have shown that owners who take their dogs to puppy classes have dogs that are much better behaved and easier to handle, than dogs that do not attend puppy classes.

Interaction With People and Other Animals

Owners of a new dog should invite friends and family over to meet with and interact with the dog. It is helpful to include people of different ethnicities and ages where possible, along with people who have children of varying ages where it is safe to do so. Children should always be supervised around a dog. 

Both men and women should be introduced to the dog.

The new owner should ask friends and family to bring a calm, well behaved dog, puppies and cats to the home too. Alternatively, you can take your new dog to the homes of others. When introducing a new dog to other animals, it is important that those animals are vaccinated and your pup is under control.

It is also important to take the puppy to public areas, where there are people and other animals. This way, the dog gets used to a crowd.

Expose the Puppy to New Sounds and Sights

Owners should expose a new dog to unfamiliar sounds and sights, even in the home. This is to ensure that the dog is not fearful of any changes in their environment, such as the rearranging of furniture, dropping of pots or pans, or even loud voices. New owners should also get their pet used to loud sounds, such as the vacuum cleaner, lawnmower, hair dryer or even the sound of the television.

Owners should never attempt to scare or frighten their dog. Instead, it is best to expose the dog to the sound from a distance and then gradually bring the sound, or the dog, closer. Be patient, taking time and eventually, the dog will learn that it has nothing to fear.

Grooming, Bathing and Handling

From a young age, it is important to get a dog used to being brushed and bathed. It is also important that the dog is handled by different people and that these people handle the paws, the mouth, the ears and tail. This will allow the dog to be more comfortable, which ultimately helps to make grooming and vet visits easier for everyone.

Make Socialising a Positive Experience

Most owners of a new dog are excited to show the dog off and often want to do it straight away. Although this is fine, the new owners should keep in mind that they need to take things slowly and allow the dog to meet people and animals, at their own pace. If not, the puppy could become overwhelmed and scared.

Young dogs get tired quickly and forcing their progress, will make them tire even faster. These training sessions for socialising must also always remain positive. When a puppy shows fear or hesitance to do something, owners must NOT reward this behaviour with attention or affection. Instead, owners should reassure the dog that it is safe, but then back off. Doing more than this might seem like a reward to the puppy, which will encourage fearfulness. Socialising should be an activity that is enjoyable and safe, for both the dog and its owner.

Azz Rainey has worked with a large number of dog behavioural issues over the years, including, separation anxiety, destructive behaviour, aggression, reactivity, high prey drive, extreme fear and resource guarding.
Working in Oxfordshire, Gloucester, Swindon and Evesham as well as the surrounding areas to provide one to one sessions with dog owners in their own home.