Importance of Socialization

Socializing your dog is critical to his or her happiness and wellbeing. Research suggests that a dog’s behavior is 35% genetics, with 65% comprised of socialization, diet, exercise, training, and management. Poorly socialized dogs can suffer from fearfulness, leading to negative behaviors like anxiety, aggression, destructive behavior, excessive barking, difficulty with training, and hyperactivity. Inadequate socialization can also lead to negative health outcomes, causing chronic stress that can result in digestive issues, a weakened immune response, and skin conditions. After all, stress is a major contributing factor for disease, for dogs and humans alike. Unfortunately, over 70% of dogs exhibit fearful behaviors, with over 30% exhibiting noise sensitivity and almost 20% exhibiting fear of other dogs. In a world where nearly 50% of dogs are rehomed due to these types of pet problems, socialization is critical to helping your pet integrate into his or her community as well as improving his or her health and quality of life.

Through socialization, dogs can learn proper social behaviors, reduce fear-based behavior like anxiety or aggression, and can better stay calm and well-behaved in unfamiliar situations. By exposing your pet to a variety of people, dogs and other animals, environments, and experiences, you are helping mold your dog into a more adaptable, resilient, and confident animal that can handle anything thrown his or her way. Adaptable dogs fare better in high stress circumstances like vet visits, moving, and traveling. Outings like visits to the local dog park or playdates with neighborly dogs also become more enjoyable and low stress for you and your dog.

Between the age of three weeks and sixteen weeks, puppies enter a critical socialization window that impacts how they engage with the world – for life. During this time, it’s crucial to gently handle your puppy and safely exposure it to as much of the world as possible. We recommend you keep treats handy (we have a great selection here) and praise your pet when introducing new sights, sounds, and smells, so he or she can associate these new experiences with positive outcomes. Puppy classes are also a great way to socialize your dog – just make sure your pet is adequately vaccinated.

We also want to talk about fear windows which can happen once or twice in the first year of your pet’s life. These windows are characterized by sudden behavioral changes and a fear of things your pet used to be comfortable around, such as other dogs or new objects. Fear not (pun intended!) and continue to expose your dog to as many positive experiences as possible. Fear periods occur periodically while the brain is developing, occurring around eight to eleven weeks initially and then once more at six to fourteen months. These fear windows can last two to three weeks, but if this change in behavior is gradual and lasts longer, we recommend consulting with your veterinarian, as this may not be a fear period.

And, contrary to popular belief, socialization is not just for young puppies and can (and should!) be done throughout your pet’s life. For pets that were adequately socialized as puppies, continued socialization helps maintain your dog’s confidence in new situations. For pets that weren’t adequately socialized as puppies and struggle with reactivity or fear, socialization can be tremendously beneficial. You can teach an old dog new tricks. We recommend you take it slow and remain patient throughout the process and begin with desensitizing your pet to scenarios that make them nervous. Be sure to bring lots of treats and reward him or her for staying calm. If you feel overwhelmed, consult your veterinarian or a trainer to help you.