2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21
What is dog socialization? This is the fundamental process of raising a puppy or already an adult. Dogs, like humans, have both innate and acquired instincts. All you give them is socialization: accustoming to life in society with people and other animals. In this article, we will consider the rules for socializing a pet in stages, because it is conducted from birth and throughout life. There are nuances here - raising a puppy, an adult dog that fell into your hands from other people or from a shelter.
Why do we need socialization at all?
If you want an adequate, safe and obedient dog, then you need to socialize it. We take children to kindergartens and schools, teach them the rules of behavior in society and at home, teach them to communicate with other people and animals. Only thanks to an adult the child will become social. So is the dog. Can't get goodan animal, if you just keep it in the house or in the aviary, walking it from time to time. The dog must be able to behave properly in the company of other animals and people.
Pet socialization at different periods
It is worth paying special attention to the socialization of the dog. To acquaint with the outside world and teach to live according to the established rules is not an easy task, but it is quite doable. Training and socialization depend on the period. The most fruitful for both the dog and the owner is at a young age, up to a year. If during this period some nuances are missed, then the probability of an adequate response to these trifles at an older age is almost zero. Do not think that the behavior of the dog and its mental abilities depend on the breed, it is not. The socialization of a dog directly depends on the owner.
Stages of socialization
The life cycle of an animal can be divided into several stages:
- From the moment of birth and up to three weeks, the dog lives according to innate instincts. All life processes follow unconditioned reflexes. By the 18th day of life, dogs have hearing, vision, they begin to react to the world around them, and by this time they already have little life experience. By day 21, the initial socialization of the dog appears - it can stand and move, reacts to stimuli - light and sound.
- From three weeks to one month, initial socialization continues to develop. Babies are already moving away from their mother, playing with each other, their behavior is forming.
- From a month tofour, the second stage of socialization begins to take shape. At this time, puppies can already exist on their own, they are friendly and happy to make contact with any person and animal. At this time, there are simply no "strangers" for animals.
- From four months to six months, puppies continue to shape their behavior and character, they are very active and restless.
- From six months to a year - the last stage of socialization. At this time, animals are already familiar with the world, for them there is the concept of "friends and foes", the character is finally formed, puberty sets in. During this period, the dog learns the potential dangers coming from both the surrounding world (plants, fire, water, and so on), as well as from people and animals.
- From one year to three years, behavior is finally formed. Almost completed physical and mental development.
- From three to eight years - a fully formed morally and physically being. During this period, potential opportunities may open up.
- From eight to twelve years old - an elderly dog that may have problems not only with he alth, but also with behavior. Often a dog starts to behave differently due to hidden or obvious diseases, and blaming him or his owner for lack of education is simply ridiculous.
Socialization towards people
There are differences in the socialization of a dog to other dogs and people, we will now consider this. Socialization in relation to people is the communication of the dog with the owner, its attitude towards guests and simplypassers-by on the street.
Direct communication between a dog and a person begins at the age of three weeks - if the puppy is born at home. The owner begins to pick up the baby not only for inspection and cleaning, but also for the initial acquaintance. This experience is necessary for a puppy, it will help in further communication with people, and in the future the dog will be able to become good, adequately responding to people.
Until seven weeks of age, this is a favorable period for the formation of a relationship with the dog. During this period, the puppy's behavior towards a person is laid - lack of fear, trust.
It is necessary to contact the animal as often as possible. If you want your dog to respond adequately to people, then up to a year it cannot be closed from society. It is necessary to teach the dog not to love everyone, but to at least react to strangers indifferently - without alertness, fear or aggression.
Safety for others
With a dog, you need to spend as much time as possible surrounded by other people. From puppyhood, walk in crowded places, the dog must see other people, and not just his owners and rare passers-by. This is the only way to achieve an indifferent attitude of the dog to those passing by, otherwise, at a more mature age, when the dog sees a new person for himself, he will start tearing off the leash to get to know him: sniff, play.
The dog will become as safe as possible for you and those around him only if he understands that he can live in the world of people according to certainrules - this is where training begins. A family dog must be obedient, otherwise it can be a danger to members of its family. If you need a dog not a companion, but a guard, then you need to train your pet more carefully. Without a command, the dog should be calm, friendly to family members and indifferent to guests and passers-by.
Socialization of the dog in the city
Often, puppies or adult dogs fall into the hands of new owners from a quiet and peaceful suburb, because kennels and shelters are located outside the city! In this case, the dog may show cowardice, inadequacy. It should be understood that at first this is the norm, but you need to quickly adapt the pet to new living conditions.
You can't be cruel when socializing a dog in the city. It is strictly forbidden to pull the leash while walking, to swear if the dog refuses to do something. Dog socialization courses with professional cynologists are ideal. Professionals will help the dog adapt to new conditions as quickly as possible.
If there is no opportunity or time for trips to cynologists, then three components will be required: love, patience, rigor. In no case do not let the dog take over you, pitying it, literally and figuratively carrying it in your arms. Walk more, with good behavior, treat with a treat, with bad behavior - scold. Show that the city is not scary, everyone around is friendly.
Socialization to other puppy animals
The socialization of a dog to other dogs starts withmothers and brothers. Puppies play, bite each other and thus understand what pain is, learn to calculate the bite force so as not to harm their brothers. This is the most fruitful stage for adapting to life with your own kind.
If you need your dog to react adequately to other dogs during walks, and not drag you on a leash to get to know them or, which is extremely dangerous, begin to show aggression towards your own kind, then from puppyhood visit parks more often where they walk dogs of different breeds. Attend exhibitions, even just as spectators, the dog must see and hear other dogs from childhood, be able to contact them.
Socialization to other adult animals
Socialization of an adult dog to other animals is difficult if the dog was kept without contact with other dogs and cats. The dog will be afraid of other people's animals, may react aggressively to them.
On the street, if you meet a dog or cat along the way, guide your dog in an arc, distracting from the object. If you passed quietly, then treat with a treat.
If you are not sure that the dog responds adequately to his fellows, then do not let him off the leash during walks. Walk at a time when there is no chance of meeting other walking dogs on the way. Take your pet to the place of walking, but do not start over the fence until you understand that the dog reacts adequately to other dogs - is not afraid and does not show aggression. If there is, then only professional cynologists can help.
Socialization of the dog fromshelter
As a rule, dogs adopted from a shelter adequately treat other animals, but not always people, as they have little trust in them. To adopt a dog from a shelter, you first need to go for walks with him for several days in the territory of his current home to get used to each other.
Already at home, you need to show that no one will offend or leave the dog, it is safe. But you also need to show that you are the leader, not the dog. At first, try to be at home - take a vacation or days without maintenance. Next, start leaving for a short time, and it is desirable that someone be in the house during this period.
On walks, dogs from the shelter cling to their feet, they are afraid to be on the street again, so the first walks should be short. Give your new pet treats while walking.
The socialization of a dog from a shelter, especially if it is already an adult, will be difficult. You need to be patient to succeed.
If the dog is taken from other owners
Some dog owners abandon their pets for a variety of reasons. If you decide to take an adult dog from other people to your place, then first of all find out the real reason for their refusal, so as not to face surprises already at home. For example, a dog may be deprived of any training, from walking to showing aggression towards guests or even family members.
If you are ready to shelter an objector, then at first be prepared for the cowardice of a pet or hisdirty tricks "out of spite". You will face two tasks:
- Show the dog is safe.
- Show who is the owner.
Cynologists to help
It is worth noting that turning to professionals will help solve a lot of all sorts of problems. So, for example, dog socialization groups in the Central District of St. Petersburg will help owners with the upbringing and training of not only puppies, but also adults. There are many such institutions: a sports and advisory center for dogs and their owners, SPD "Balkanskaya", "Granat" and many others.
In such groups they will help with the socialization of dogs: both puppies and adults, education and training, they will teach sledding, rescue work, and instill security qualities.
If you are not sure that you yourself are able to make an adequate, intelligent and well-mannered pet out of your dog, then entrust it to professionals, and you will never have problems with the animal!
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