Like babies, puppies are not born understanding the world and how to behave. It is up to us to help them flourish and develop into friendly and confident companions. Well-socialized puppies are more likely to grow up to be friendly adult dogs who are easy to handle and not overly frightened or stressed.  

The best time to socialize a puppy is from 3 to 14 weeks of age. This is when puppies are most open to new experiences and thirsty to learn.  

When socializing your pup(s), it is important to remember that exposure is not the same as socialization. Having a screaming 4-year-old yanking on your pup’s ears and tail could well cause the dog to be afraid of children for life. However, meeting several young children who are calm and handle the puppy appropriately can lead to a dog who adores kids.

  • Before doing anything, mom needs to be okay with you petting the pups in order to avoid accidentally teaching the puppies to be stressed by petting.
    • If mom does seem to be too anxious for the first few days try petting the puppies while she is out of the room or sleeping
  • Start Small. Gently pet and hold newborn puppies for just a few seconds each day.
  • At 2 weeks of age, pick up and hold the puppies in different positions for brief periods every day.
  • By 4 weeks of age, intensify socialization:
    • Introduce new textures by playing with puppies on carpeting, tile, wood, blankets, rugs, concrete, etc.
    • Expose the pups to household noises such as blenders, doorbells, banging pots, washing machines, alarm clocks, stereos. Muffle very loud or harsh noises at first by covering the appliance with a towel or making the noise while the pups are in an adjacent room.
    • If there are no children living in or visiting the home, buy a CD with the sounds of children and play it frequently.
    • Place items, such as winter boots, skateboards, bags of groceries, and books on the floor for the puppies to investigate.
    • Offer a variety of objects for the pups to play with; include empty plastic bottles, paper towel cores, and cardboard boxes in different sizes, as well as commercial dog toys.
    • Continue to handle the puppies daily, including touching every part of their bodies.
    • Put the pups in a crate and go to a friend’s house for a brief play-and-cuddle session. If no one is available to host, simply go outside and come back in or go for a drive around the block. Play with the pups as soon as you return home.
  • Starting at 5 weeks of age, more people should be interacting with your puppies. Behaviorists recommend they meet at least 100 people during the primary socialization period. Expose the puppy to a variety of people for optimal socialization: young, old; male, female; wearing glasses; wearing a hat; light-skinned, dark-skinned; animated, laid-back; etc.

What if you adopt an older puppy that has not been socialized? Not all is lost. The pup can still benefit from the above but she will not learn as quickly and may not be as comfortable with as many things as a well-socialized puppy. Start by working on the two or three things that you believe are most important for her adult life and then add the others later. To learn more, please see our article on Socializing Your Adolescent Dog.

If you would like information from an Anti-Cruelty Behavior Specialist regarding this behavior topic, please call 312-645-8253 or email behavior@anticruelty.org.

Recent Articles

Back to Top
Chewing

Chewing is a normal dog behavior. However, it doesn’t have to be a destructive behavior. Redirecting your dog’s chewing onto appropriate items prevents your most prized possessions from suffering the wrath of your chewing pup. 

Puppies especially have an urge to chew. As responsible pet owners, it’s our job to

Separation Anxiety

Do you more often than not find yourself coming home to what looks like the aftermath of a hurricane, with your four-legged friend standing in the center of it? If so, your dog could be suffering from separation anxiety. 

Reasons as to why your dog may be suffering from separation anxiety can vary. Some dogs

Improper Attention Seeking in Dogs

Dogs are social animals that enjoy our company. They are also pretty smart. Put those two facts together, and suddenly you have a dog that quickly learns how to make you heed his call. Responding to your dog’s pleas for attention isn’t always a bad thing. For instance, you should take your dog outside to eliminate

Canine Enrichment

Canine enrichment is a great way to reduce your dog’s stress and boredom. Like puzzles do for us, canine enrichment offers your dog the opportunity to exercise his brain while also having fun. 

Canine enrichment can help with a wide variety of behavioral issues including destruction, barking, escaping, anxiety