What is the rule of 12 for dogs?

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's Rules Of Twelve emphasizes exposing your pup to a variety of things in the first critical time period. By the time your puppy is 20 weeks old, it should have: Experienced 12 different surfaces: wood, woodchips, carpet, tile, cement, linoleum, grass, wet grass, dirt, mud puddles, pea gravel, grates, a table (vet visits), etc. Been introduced to 12 different objects: toys, balls (big, small), funny sounding toys, metal items, balloons, etc. Experienced 12 different locations: front yard, other people’s homes, school yard, lake, river, basement, elevator, car, moving car, laundry room, kennel, etc. Met and played with 12 new people (outside the family): children, adults, elderly adults, people in wheelchairs, walkers, people with canes, crutches, hats, uniforms, etc. Exposed to 12 different noises: garage door opening, doorbell, phone ringing, children playing, crying baby, big trucks, motorcycles, skateboards, washing machine, clapping, lawnmowers, etc. Exposed to 12 fast-moving objects: skateboards, roller-skates, bicycles, motorcycles, cars, running people, running cats, running squirrels, running horses, running cows, etc. Experienced 12 different challenges: climb on/in/off/around a box, go through a cardboard tunnel, climb up and down steps, go in and out a doorway with a step, go through an electric sliding door, climb over a log, go into a bathtub (and bath), get in and out of a car, etc. Handled 12 different ways each week for 12 weeks: held under someone’s arm (football hold), hold on floor, held between owner’s legs, handle head, look in ears, look in mouth, look between toes, take temperature, held like a baby, file toenails, etc.

The puppy rules of twelve is a handy guideline for puppy owners of a selection of stimulus that puppies should have been exposed to by the time they reach around twelve weeks old. It was first conceived of by a professional dog trainer and behaviourist called Margaret Hughes, as a range of twelve different types of stimulus from different categories that the twelve week old puppy should get used to. By the time your puppy is twelve weeks old, they should have experienced walking on twelve different types of surfaces. The world is a very noisy place, particularly for the growing puppy who is new to everything, it is vital to get your puppy used to a wide range of sounds, both common sounds that they will hear often, and more unusual noises that might catch them unawares. Ensure that your puppy is given a wide range of different objects, games, puzzles toys and textures to play with. Until your dog has received all of their vaccinations and gets the ok from your vet to go out into the world where they will be exposed to the presence of other dogs, you may be rather limited as to what kind of stimulus you can expose your puppy to. However, when your puppy is twelve weeks old or soon after, they should have experienced a range of different environments and places. It is important to get your puppy used to the presence of other people, of all different varieties and from all walks of life, as your puppy will almost certainly come across all of them over the course of their life. Exposing your puppy to fast-moving things safely is important for a range of reasons, so that your puppy does not fear it, so that they learn not to chase things if they are so prone to, and so that they learn to stay out of the way and not walk into the path of something fast moving.

The Puppy’s Rule of Twelve is a general guide that can be used for socializing family, working, or sports dogs. 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.

By the time a puppy is 12 weeks old, it should have: -Experienced 12 difference surfaces: wood, woodchips, carpet, tile, linoleum, grass, wet grass, dirt, mud, puddles, deep pea gravel, grates, uneven surfaces, on a table, on a chair, etc. -Played with 12 different objects: fuzzy toys, big and small balls, hard toys, funny sounding toys, wooden items, paper or cardboard items, milk jugs, metal items, car keys, 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, veterinary office, grooming salon, etc. -Met and played with 12 new people (outside of family): include children, adults (mostly men), 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, motorcycles, skateboards, washing machine, shopping carts rolling, power boat, clapping, loud singing, pan dropping, horses neighing, vacuums, lawn mowers, birthday party, etc. Exposed to 12 Fast moving objects (don’t allow to chase): skateboards, roller-skates, bicycles, motorcycles, cars, people running, scooters, vacuums, children running, children playing soccer, squirrels, cats, horses running, cows running, etc. Experienced 12 different challenges: climb on, in, off, around a box, go through a cardboard tunnel, climb up and down steps, climb over obstacles, play hide and seek, go in and out 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 owner (and family) 12 times a week: Hold under arm (like a football), hold to chest, hold on the 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 how to do), hold like a baby, trim toenails, 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, spoon fed, paper bag, etc. Eaten in 12 different locations: back yard, front yard, crate, kitchen, basement, laundry room, bathroom, friend’s house, car, school yard, bath tub, up high (on work bench), under umbrella, etc. Played with 12 different puppies (or safe adult dogs) as much as possible. Left alone safely, away from family and other animals (5-45 minutes) 12 times a week. Experienced a leash and collar 12 different times in 12 different locations.

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. People- Positive experience gained from at least 12 different people. Places- Positive experience gained from as many different places you can think of. Sounds- Expose your dog to lots of different noises. Surfaces- Walk your dog over different surfaces and even do sit/down/stand on them so there will never be a time your dog will refuse to walk over a surface. Objects- Expose your dog positively to any object that might seem out of the usual. Dogs- In order for dogs not to be dog aggressive, they need to socialize with their own kind.