Puppy Socialization (Under 20 weeks )

Service Description

Congratulations on becoming a new puppy parent! This is a very exciting time, and there are so many new things for both you and your puppy to learn. Teaching your puppy basic obedience, like “sit” and “stay,” is important, but can be done at any age. However, now is the time to socialize your puppy, as the critical time period for properly socializing your puppy is quickly running out. Your puppy’s socialization period began at 3 to 4 weeks of age and ends somewhere between 12 and 16 weeks of age, which means that by the time you brought your new family member home, the socialization period was already half over. This stage of puppyhood is a critical and finite period of time during which puppies are developmentally open to new experiences. Correct, positive socialization is so critical that the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviour (AVSAB) published a POSITION STATEMENT in which it states that “...it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive such socialization before they are fully vaccinated.” They recommend puppies have their first vaccines before starting classes. So what is socialization? Most people think that the phrase “socialize your puppy” means meeting lots of other dogs and people. This is important and should be done in a way to NOT overwhelm your pup. We often miss everything else in our environment: Sounds, surfaces, objects, cats and animals, dogs of all breeds and personalities, umbrellas, people in hats, people with beards and glasses, children, bicycles, strollers, shopping carts, cars, fireworks, Halloween costumes, recycling bins, and so on. Let’s get those little paws walking in the right direction for a lifetime of fun by your side!