What is the rule of 12 for puppies?

Puppies need a great deal of socialization at an early age to help them grow up into well-adjusted companions. The list of activities below was developed as a fun way to properly socialize your new pet. By the time a puppy is 12 weeks old, he/she should have: Experienced 12 different surfaces, played with 12 different objects, experienced 12 different locations, met and played with 12 new people, heard 12 different noises, been exposed to 12 fast moving objects, experienced 12 different challenges, handled by owner 12 times a week, eaten from 12 different shaped containers, eaten in 12 different locations, played with 12 different puppies, and been left alone safely 12 times a week. Each encounter should include treats and lots of praise. Slow down and add distance if your puppy is scared. Even if your puppy is over 12 weeks old he/she will benefit from these tips. Start socialization right away.

The critical period of socialization ends by three months of age. This is a crucial developmental stage during which puppies learn to accept and enjoy the company of other people and other dogs.

The Puppy Rules of Twelve is a respected guideline in the UK dog-owning community, created by professional dog trainer Margaret Hughes. It advises that by the time puppies reach about twelve weeks old, they should have been positively exposed to twelve different surfaces, objects, and locations. This early socialisation is crucial in helping puppies develop into confident, well-adjusted adult dogs. The rules suggest introducing puppies to a variety of textures and surfaces, such as carpet, wood, cement or pavement, dry grass, and wet grass, as well as 12 different toys and objects, including noisy toys, hard and soft balls, and interactive toys. Puppies should also be introduced to 12 different locations and environments, like homes, parks, and veterinary surgeries, and 12 different people, including adults, children, and people with mobility aids. Additionally, puppies should be exposed to 12 different sounds, such as doorbells, household appliances, and children talking, as well as 12 fast-moving stimuli, like cars, bicycles, and people jogging. The key to the Puppy Rules of Twelve is that each new experience should be positive, using praise, treats, and calm encouragement to build the puppy's confidence.

The rules of 12 are a general set of guidelines used to socialize elite dogs such as guide dogs, service dogs and search and rescue dogs. The objective of the rules of 12 is to complete at least all of the tasks below before your dog is 12 weeks old as after 12 weeks of age, dogs are more difficult to socialize to new things. For dogs that are older, it is never too late to start. The tasks include positive experiences gained from at least 12 different people, such as baby, toddler, elderly, large people, handicapped people, women, men, people with hats or glasses on etc. Positive experience gained from as many different places as possible is also required, including pet stores, Home Depot, parks, friend’s homes, the vet office, and groomer’s. Additionally, exposure to lots of different noises, surfaces, objects, and dogs is necessary to socialize a dog. Expose your dog to lots of different noises, and pair the sound with a treat if your dog seems tentative, such as keys, pots and pans, hair dryer, lawn mower, vacuum, smoke alarm, car alarm, and any other possibly offensive noises. Walk your dog over different surfaces, including tile, carpet, asphalt, brick, wet grass, a small body of water, gravel, bark, wood flooring etc. Expose your dog positively to any object that might seem out of the usual, such as boxes, hydrants, statues, garbage bags, garbage cans, cars/trucks, ladder, strollers, carts etc. In order for dogs not to be dog aggressive, they need to socialize with their own kind, preferably off leash, with dogs similar in size and temperament, but also expose your dog to other dogs of all shapes, ages and sizes.

The guideline states that a puppy by 12 weeks of age should have: The Puppy Rule of 12 Experienced 12 different surfaces: Walked on wood, wood chips, carpet tile, cement, linoleum, grass, wet grass, dirt, mud, puddles grates, uneven surfaces, on a table, on a chair, etc. Played with 12 different objects: Fuzzy toys, big & small balls, hard toys, funny sounding toys, wooden items, paper or cardboard items, milk jugs, metal items, etc. Experienced 12 different locations: Front yard (daily), other people’s homes, school yard, lake, pond, river, boat, basement, elevator, car, moving car, garage, laundry room, kennel, vet hospital (just to say hi and visit, lots of cookies, vaccinations) grooming salon (just to say hi) etc.. Met and played with 12 new people: (outside of family) include children, adults (male and female) elderly adults, people in wheelchairs, walkers people with canes, crutches, hats, sunglasses, etc. Exposed to 12 different noises: (ALWAYS keep positive and watch puppy’s comfort level-we don’t want the puppy scared) garage door opening, doorbell, children playing, babies screaming, big trucks, Harley motorcycles, skateboards, washing machine, shopping carts, power bost, clapping, pan dropping, vacuums, lawnmowers, etc. Exposed to 12 fast moving objects: Don’t allow to chase) skateboards, roller-blades, bikes, motorcycles, cars, people running, cats running, scooters, children running, squirrels, horses running, etc. Experienced 12 different challenges: Climb on, climb off, climb in, climb around a box, go through a tunnel, climb up and down steps, climb over obstacles, play hide and seek, go in and out of a doorway with a step up or down, exposed to an electric sliding door, umbrella, balloons, walk on a wobbly table, (plank of wood with a small rock underneath), jump over a broom, climb over a log, bathtub (and bath) etc. Handled by owners and family 12 times a week: Hold under arm like a football, hold to chest, hold on a floor near owner, hold in-between owner’s legs, hold head, look in ears, mouth, in-between toes, hold and take temperature (ask a veterinarian), hold like a baby, trim toe nails, hold in lap etc. Eaten from 12 different shaped containers: Wobbly bowl, metal, cardboard box, paper, coffee cup, china, pie plate, plastic, frying pan, Kong, Treatball, Bustercube, spoonfed, paperbag etc. Eaten in 12 different locations: Back yard, front yard, crate, kitchen, basement, laundry room, bathroom, friend’s house, car, school yard, bathtub, up high (on a workbench), under umbrella etc. Played with 12 different puppies (or safe adults) as much as possible, left along safely, away from family and other pets for 5 to 45 minutes, 12 times a week. Experienced a leash and collar: 12 different times in 12 different locations.

By the time your puppy reaches 12 weeks, they should have: Experienced 12 different surfaces – wood, mulch, grass, asphalt/concrete, glass, wet grass, gravel, mud, sand, puddles, metal grates, uneven surfaces, metal, crinkly foil, plastic wrap, board, chair, etc. Played with 12 different toys – furry toys, hard toys, large and small balls, toys that make funny sounds, wooden items, paper/cardboard items, milk jugs, metal items, etc. Been to 12 different places – front yard, other people’s homes, lake, pond, river, boat, elevator, stairs, car, moving car, veterinary clinic (just to say “hi” and have a positive experience), grooming salon, etc. Met and played with 12 different people outside the family – adult men, adult women, children, elderly adults, people in wheelchairs, people on crutches, bearded people, people with hats, people with sunglasses, etc. Been exposed to 12 different noises – opening garage door, doorbell, sirens, children playing, babies crying, jingling keys, hair dryer, large trucks, airplane noise, motorcycles, laundry machines, skateboards, rolling shopping carts, motorboats, clapping, loud singing, vacuums, lawnmowers, dropping pans, etc. Been exposed to 12 fast-moving objects (do not allow chasing) – skateboards, roller skates, bicycles, cars, trucks, boats, people/children running, cats, wild critters, scooters, vacuums, horses running, etc. Experienced 12 different challenges – climbing stairs, climbing on/off/around a box, going through a tunnel, climbing over obstacles, going in and out of doorways, walking on a wobbly table, playing hide-and-seek, jumping over something, getting a bath, etc. Handled by family members 12 times a week – held under the arm, held to the chest, held on the floor near the owner, held between the owner’s legs, head held, ears examined, paws held, held and temperature taken (with veterinarian’s assistance), held like a baby, held and toenails trimmed (with veterinarian’s assistance), held in the lap, mouth examined, etc. Eaten from 12 different containers – wobbly bowl, plastic cup, ceramic bowl, coffee cup, pie plate, plastic, frying pan, KONG toy, dog-safe puzzle toy, spoon-fed, etc. Eaten in 12 different locations – backyard, front yard, crate, kitchen, basement, bedroom, laundry room, friend’s house, car, school, bathtub, up high (supervised), under an object, etc.