Puppy Socialization

By Marilyn Marks

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior has released a position statement on puppy socialization that gives the go-ahead for socializing pups under 16 weeks of age.  This reverses the long-held view that puppies are best kept somewhat isolated due to the risk of infectious disease.  The AVSAB advises that lack of socialization at a critical time in the puppy’s development may cause more problems than lack of immunization.
Immunization for puppies is still extremely important.  They protect the puppy from Parvo and Distemper (amongst other things) which are otherwise quick killers.  These shots are given 3 times, 3 weeks apart in order to try to "catch" the puppy’s immune system when it is ready, yet before anything deadly can be contracted.  The pup’s immune system is receptive when the immunity conferred on the pup from his/her mother wears off.  No one knows exactly when this will happen during the first 16 weeks.
The first 16 weeks are also important in another way they are the puppy’s socialization period.  According the AVSAB’s statement, this is "the period when sociability outweighs fear, this is the primary window of opportunity for puppies to adapt to new people, animals, and experiences.  Incomplete or improper socialization during this important time can increase the risk of behavioral problems later in life including fear, avoidance and/or aggression."
Hence the conflict If you keep the puppy isolated, you risk abnormal social development; if you socialize the puppy you risk serious illness.  Fortunately in our modern world, the likelihood of a pup coming into contact with these diseases is much lower than in the early to mid 1900’s when the advice originated.  Today, most pet dogs are vaccinated and thus the viruses are not rampant as in the past.  Puppies socialized on an indoor, recently disinfected surface will be safe.  Puppies introduced to others  in the house and yard of friends and neighbors should also be fine.  Avoid public areas where lots of dogs visit, where it is never disinfected and where stray, uncared for dogs may roam.

A few hints about socializing pups under 16 weeks:

DO introduce the pup to many, many new types of people, places and things.  Variety is the key, not frequency.  Your friends and neighbors and their dogs and kids are fine, but new (not known) kids, people, dogs, surfaces, noises, etc. are what the pup needs.
DO keep sessions short, no more than an hour at a time.  If you’re taking your pup with you for a day of activities, plan some down time for the pup.
DO recognize when a pup has "special" socialization needs.  If you find your pup fearful of everything and not seeming to overcome this (within a week) or too overly playful to be much enjoyed by anyone or anything, you should seek the help of a professional so that this important developmental period can be turned in the right direction.