SOCIALIZATION IN THE PUPPY

To have a balanced dog, it is essential to ensure that he is well socialized.

But what does socialization mean?

Socialization is divided into two moments: primary socialization and secondary socialization.

In the very first days of life, during the neonatal phase, the dog finds itself in a semi-passive situation, still being very vulnerable. Biological development occurs around 2-3 weeks: the opening of the eyes and ear canals and the maturation of the central nervous system. These processes allow the puppy to begin exploring the outside world, interacting with its mother and other members of the litter. An initial development of communicative and social skills therefore occurs. At the end of the third week, the puppy is able to perceive the stimuli around him and respond accordingly. This short phase is called the transitional period: the puppy passes from a helpless and vulnerable state to one characterized by relationships and interactions, entering the exploration phase.

From the third to the eleventh week we are in the sensitive period. In this phase, the puppy has the opportunity to strengthen interactions, first with its mother and later with its siblings. A good relationship with one's mother allows the individual to lead a peaceful and harmonious existence, and thanks to interactions with siblings, communication skills and social rules are developed which will then be used throughout life, such as inhibition of bite and the development of self-control.

Primary socialization occurs between the eighth and twelfth week of the dog's life. At this stage, in addition to learning to interact with other dogs, he also learns to interact with other species. Everything that happens at this stage will be remembered in the future.

It is very important that in this phase the dog has many positive experiences, without exaggerating with overly stimulating environments, if we are not able to give him the right support. Anything he doesn't know during this time may cause future uncertainty.

Secondary socialization instead takes place from the twelfth to the sixteenth week of the dog's life. At this stage, the dog is still quite receptive, but we are talking about a reversible type of socialization, so it is important to repeat the necessary actions over time. In this age group, learning is at the highest levels and it is essential to impart basic education, useful for when he enters the puberty phase, when he will be more destabilized and rebellious.

Once it reaches four months, the socialization phase is over and, if a good job has been done, the dog is able to understand what is good and what is not. This phase is irreversible and, should there be attitudes to change, it would require greater energy expenditure.

Conclusion

When you choose a puppy, whether purebred or not, where possible, ask to see the parents (the first imprinting is transmitted by the mother, so it is important to understand its character), the conditions in which the puppy grew up and the attention given received up to that moment, so as to be ready to face his arrival home in the best possible way.

Some parts of this article refer to the following texts:

Steven R. Lindsay, Handbook of Applied Dog Behavior and Training: Adaptation and Learning , Iowa State University Press, Vol. 1, 2000.

Roger Abrantes , The Evolution of Canine Social Behavior , Wakan Tanka, 2003.

Shanis Barnard , Ontogeny and Phylogeny of the Social Behavior of the Domestic Dog (Canis lupus familiaris) , PhD in behavioral biology, pag. 18-20, University of Parma, Department of Evolutionary and Functional Biology, 2011.