Transcription
An Owner’s Manual for:PU PPY SOC IAL I ZATI O Nby theA M E R I CAN K E N N E L C LU B
ABOUT THIS SERIESAt the AKC, we know better thananyone that your dog can’t betreated like a car or an appliance, butwe’ve named this series “An Owner’sManual” because sometimes youprobably wish your lovable companionscame with one.These concise guides give you the tools,tips, and direction to be a responsibleand confident dog owner who brings outthe best in your dog. Give them a testdrive!AKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LPuppy Socialization 2
WHAT IS SOCIALIZATION?It’s just what the word implies:Allowing your puppy to meet peopleand other animals. Ideally, socialization should begin as soon as you getyour pup home—very carefully andgently at first, but steadily buildingup to such challenges as a houseful ofguests or a trip to the dog park. Antipov/ThinkstockAKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LPuppy Socialization 3
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?Owning a well-behaved, confidentdog is more fun and less bother thanowning an anxious, unruly one. It’sa simple as that. Socializing a pupduring his first year will help ensurethat he grows into a good dog, onewho can behave well around visitorsand go out in public without beinga nuisance. All it takes is some timeand a little help from your friends. Digital Vision/ThinkstockAKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LPuppy Socialization 4
A NEW WAY OF THINKINGYears ago, it was thought that pups shouldn’t beintroduced to the world until they were done withall puppy vaccinations, at about 5 months old. Butisolation often led to problem behaviors, like fearor aggression. Some isolated pups grew into adultswho lacked social skills that enable dogs to read cuesfrom their fellow canines.Today it’s widely acknowledged that isolationbetween 8 and 16 weeks old can contribute toor actually cause problem behaviors.AKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LPuppy Socialization 5
PARTY ANIMALSNow, here’s the good part: Socializationrequires little actual work. It does takesome thought and planning, much inthe way you might organize a party. Infact, socialization sessions are referredto as “puppy parties” or “puppy socials.”The idea is to invite people and dogs toyour home to interact with your pup ina relaxed but controlled setting. tkatsai/ThinkstockAKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LPuppy Socialization 6
SOCIALIZATION TIPSn Invite the right guests. For the earliestpuppy parties, expose your pup to oneor two calm, mild-mannered friendswho can be trusted to gently handleand play with a puppy. As the weeksgo by you can bring small children,boisterous adults, and larger groupsinto the pup’s social circle.AKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LPuppy Socialization 7
n Thisis vitally important. Anadult dog meeting your puppymust have a calm demeanor andbe current on all vaccinations.Both the visiting dog and the pupshould be leashed at all times.Also, not every dog is OK aroundstrange puppies. Choose yourpup’s grown-up playmates withgreat care. Bigandt Photography/ThinkstockAKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LPuppy Socialization 8
n atch the clock. In the beginning, a puppyWparty should last about a half hour. Laterthey can stretch to an hour before the pup isput into his crate for a breather.AKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LPuppy Socialization 9
n eople Food! Let your guests to give thePpup small bits of his favorite treat. It’s agreat way to imprint the idea that beingaround people can be rewarding. LouieBaxter/ThinkstockAKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LPuppy Socialization 10
n ocialization begins at home. A smallSpup feels more secure on his home turf.As he gets older, visit other homes andget him used to different sights andscents. From there your pup can graduate to visiting quiet public places, andfinally busy public places like a schoolsoccer match or a downtown shoppingarea. Antonio Diaz/ThinkstockAKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LPuppy Socialization 11
nI t never really ends. After puppysocialization, continue to exposeyour dog to new faces and placesthroughout his life.AKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LPuppy Socialization 12
IN AN IMPERFECT WORLD This manual assumes you’ve acquired a puppy at around 8 to 10 weeks old, when he’sat his most impressionable. But life doesn’talways work out that neatly. You might haveacquired an older pup or an adult dog. Thisdoesn’t mean it is too late for socialization.Fearful, aggressive, or neurotic behaviors insocial settings must be dealt with in all dogs.With an adult dog it’s harder to do, but by nomeans impossible. In such situations, seekthe guidance of an experienced trainer. Janie Airey/ThinkstockAKC OWNE R’ S MANUA LPuppy Socialization 13
TH E AM ER ICAN KE NNE L C LUBWHO AND WHAT WE ARE:The AKC is a not-for-profit organization and the largestpurebred dog registry in the world. We are thesports-governing body for over 22,000 dog events a year,including conformation (dog shows) and exciting sports likeagility, obedience, rally, tracking, lure coursing, earthdog,herding trials, among others.
TH E AM ER ICAN KE NNE L C LUBBut the AKC is so much more! Here are just some of the ways we support and enrich the lives of dogs—purebreds andmixed-breeds alike—and their families. We:nCreated the AKC Humane Fund, which supports breeddonated over 24 million to the CHF. (The AKC is the onlyrescue activities, assists shelters that permit domestic-abuseregistry that incorporates health-screening results into its per-victims to bring their pets, and educates dog lovers about re-manent dog records.)sponsible dog ownership.nnOffer the Canine Good Citizen program: A 10-step testthat certifies dogs who have good manners at home and inConduct thousands of kennel inspections annually to mon-itor care and conditions at kennels across the country andensure the integrity of the AKC registry.their community. Over 725,000 dogs across the United StatesOffer the largest, most comprehensive set of DNA programshave become Canine Good Citizens , and 42 states have passednresolutions recognizing the program’s merit and importance.for parentage verification and genetic identity to ensure reliable registration records.nFounded AKC Reunite, which has brought more than 400,000lost pets back together with their owners.nSupport one of the world’s largest collections of dog-relatedfine art and artifacts at the AKC Museum of the Dog, and wenCreated the AKC Canine Health Foundation, which fundsresearch projects and clinical studies. Since 1995 the AKC hashave the world’s largest dog library at AKC headquarters inNew York, both of which are open to the public.
TH E AM ER ICAN KE NNE L C LUBTHANK YOU FOR READING!We hope this information was valuable to you in helping your puppy live a long, healthy, happy life. Below, find additionalbooks in our Owner’s Manual series designed to strengthen the bond between you and your furry family member.5 TRICKS TOSHOW OFFCANINE BODYLANGUAGECANINE GOODCITIZENAGILITY FORBEGINNERSPUPPY NUTRITIONHOW TO CRATETRAIN YOUR DOGFIRST AIDFOR DOGSSELECTING A PUPPY5 BASIC COMMANDSLIFE WITH ASENIOR DOGWHY DOES MY DOGDO THAT?RESPONSIBLE DOGOWNER TIPSWHAT’S HE THINKING?PUPPYSOCIALIZATION
AK WNER’ AL Puppy Socialization 7 SOCIALIZATION TIPS n Invite the right guests. For the earliest puppy parties, expose your pup to one or two calm, mild-mannered friends who can be trusted to gently handle and play with a puppy. As the weeks go by you can bring small children, boisterou
