What Is The Best Socialisation Program From 6wks On?

[Stitch]

Bearing in mind the balance between socialising a new pup and keeping it safe before full immunisation kicks in, what do you think is the best way to socialise a pup from say 6wks of age?

I have the chance to start on a socialising program with a pup that I bred so I am looking for a range of exercises designed to help the pup grow in the right direction.

Can anyone suggest a good starting point and what to do as the pup grows?

[The Spotted Devil]

Hi Stitch

I recently purchased this one:

Puppy Socialization - An Insider's Guide to Dog Behavioral Fitness by Caryl Wolff

It covers from birth to 16 weeks. From Amazon as a digital version downloaded to my iPad Kindle app it was super cheap. I haven't read it in depth but it looks fantastic. You can also buy it as a hard copy book.

Photos and feedback essential :D

Edited August 8, 2014 by The Spotted Devil

[Stitch]

Thanks for that book, I will look out for it.

Does anyone have any personal experience using their own socialisation program?

I also found this study

http://www.behav.org/00library/articles/dog/dog_puppy_socialization%20program.pdf

the findings of which seem to be rather inconclusive.

Edited August 8, 2014 by Stitch

[Amax-1]

It's best to expose a puppy to as many new experiences as possible, but most importantly remove the pup from anything creating fear...pushing a puppy through things causing fear is the main component of socialisation that does more harm than good. Puppy schools are notorious for that when not run properly......free for all's where dominant pups are frightening weaker pups is a good recipe for dog aggression in maturity.......if the pup is having fun great.....if the pup is apprehensive or going into flight, don't push it, the puppy in their own time will gain confidence. People gushing over a puppy too much causes handler focus problems down the track....dogs that want to run to everyone for a pat and play with great enthusiasm. Socialisation albeit is a good thing, it's more directed towards pups with temperament and nerve deficiencies to help suppress poor behaviour in adulthood. Pups of genetic quality in temperament and nerve don't need much socialisation to result in well adjusted adults.

Contrary to popular belief, poor behaviour said to be resultant from insufficient socialisation is actually a temperament/nerve defect in the dogs genetics.....socialisation helps mask the defects :)

[Stitch]

I totally agree with you Amax....although exposing pups to different experiences does help.

[huski]

Hey Stitch we have published a couple of blog posts on this topic just recently. the most recent one (including a video that shows one of our pups at 10 weeks and then again at 6 months) is here;

http://blog.k9pro.com.au/distraction-proof-your-pup/

The blog post above also has a link to an article describing how we socialise pups and raise them to have a neutral value for distractions like other people and dogs.

ETA: Socialisation (IME) is about exposing your pup to new experiences and giving that experience a value.

A pup with the best genetics can still develop too high a value for other dogs, people etc which can create issues later on with a dog that is over excitable around people and other dogs or too invested in those things because they've learnt they are highly rewarding.

Edited August 11, 2014 by huski

[Amax-1]

Hey Stitch we have published a couple of blog posts on this topic just recently. the most recent one (including a video that shows one of our pups at 10 weeks and then again at 6 months) is here;

http://blog.k9pro.com.au/distraction-proof-your-pup/

The blog post above also has a link to an article describing how we socialise pups and raise them to have a neutral value for distractions like other people and dogs.

ETA: Socialisation (IME) is about exposing your pup to new experiences and giving that experience a value.

A pup with the best genetics can still develop too high a value for other dogs, people etc which can create issues later on with a dog that is over excitable around people and other dogs or too invested in those things because they've learnt they are highly rewarding.

That's one of the greatest errors in the ideology of socialisation for a dog to learn the fun of unrestricted play with people and other dogs. The dog ends up with having so much value on other dogs and people, the owner in that environment has a massive problem at hand controlling their dog's exuberant behaviour actually created by free for all socialisation routines.