Why is puppy socialisation important?

Socialisation involves having pleasant social interactions with adults, children, vets, adult dogs and other animals, as well as careful exposure to different situations in the environment, like traffic, crowds, travelling in the car, vacuum cleaners and any sights and sounds your dog will have to cope with in life. It is so important that this is done thoroughly and correctly when your puppy is still young enough to happily accept new things. Every single thing a puppy sees, hears, feels, smells and tastes, every meeting they have and every new thing they discover produces literally trillions of new brain connections in those first 16 weeks, and they will last for life. They are learning what things are a part of their new life and their new family, what is safe and who is in their social group.

Socialisation is one of the most important jobs for any new puppy owner. A well socialised puppy is more likely to grow into a calm, confident and most importantly of all, a friendly dog. The effects of a lack of socialisation or poor socialisation should not be under estimated; a poorly socialised puppy may grow into a nervous or fearful dog that might even use aggression to keep people or other dogs away. Socialisation can be described as the process whereby an animal learns how to recognise and interact with the species with which it lives. By learning how to interact appropriately with humans, dogs and other animals a well socialised puppy develops important communication skills which enable it to recognise and respond to the intentions of others. Puppies should be exposed to a wide variety of people including, men, women, children and people in uniform. Puppies should also have the opportunity to socialise with different breeds and types of dog including both adult dogs and other puppies. It is now your job to ensure that you expose your puppy to a wide range of positive experiences as soon as possible to ensure that they become a well socialised individual. A few good quality socialisation opportunities will be more likely to achieve a positive outcome than lots of poor socialisation experiences.

Socialisation involves exposing an animal to a range of experiences to help them prepare for and cope with different situations, interactions, and environments. Between 3 and 17 weeks of age (the critical socialisation period), a puppy’s experiences will shape their mental health, and how they behave into adulthood. It is essential for their development that you give them a wide range of positive experiences, particularly during this time. Expose your puppy to different sights, sounds, smells, people and other animals, to ensure they grow into a well-adjusted adult who relates well to others and the world around them.