Socializing Our Puppies
Preparing Them For A Lifetime Of Interaction
Years ago when we first began our journey into breeding, we met renowned author, trainer and breeder, Jerry Hope. After attending Jerry’s seminar: A Breeder’s Guide To Raising Super Star Dogs at the ALAA conference in Atlanta, GA, we were convinced more than ever that puppies go through critical learning periods just as babies do. It is the breeder’s responsibility to capitalize on those growth periods and introduce as many different new sights, sounds, smells and situations as possible.
Jerry also advocated the Bio Sensor Program which you can find explained elsewhere on this site. Rest assured, when your puppy comes home he will have a solid foundation of socialization! Because our pups are whelped in our home as part of our family, they are easily introduced to a variety of experiences. From the child to the adult, the pups will have been exposed to both males and females alike. In addition, the pups will have knowledge of other animals and various floor surfaces and modes of transportation. They will be accustomed to noises both inside the home and out. This all works to ensure that you bring the best well-balanced pet available into your home.
As this philosophy of psycho-social developmental stages became more popular, other organizations took this theory and expanded upon it. Today, Avidog is the premier leader in the well-rounded development of puppies. You are encouraged to go to their site for more in-depth knowledge on how to continue this practice once your puppy is home. One of the most critical periods of socialization (between weeks 8-12) will occur when your puppy is under your care. Exposure to as many sounds, sights, textures, and scents are strongly encouraged during that time for the development of the emotionally stable temperament. Families used to be encouraged to keep their pet hidden indoors until vaccinations were complete at 16 weeks. However, we now understand how detrimental this can be to your puppy! The possibility of contracting Distemper or Parvo (both of which can be deadly) is a real concern. For this reason, you must expose your puppy wisely! You should never take your puppy that is incomplete on vaccines, to public parks, rest areas or pet stores where you can not be assured that every animal he comes into contact with is both healthy and vaccinated.
