There are many myths about dogs, and especially puppy socialisation, and I'm here to debunk them! Let's get those puppies starting out life right!
Myth #1: "Socialisation only happens in puppyhood"
While it is true that the puppy socialisation period is between 6 to 16 weeks of age, socialisation actually happens throughout their whole life. This was proven when perfectly behaved adult dogs became much more reactive and even dog-aggressive during / after the COVID lockdowns, as they had spent months without any social interaction.
Myth #2: "It’s all about dogs"
Yes, meeting other dogs is a part of socialisation, but it is only a very small part! Socialisation should include other animals, a variety of people, objects, noises, surfaces, weather, vehicles, and much more!
Myth #3: "Puppies can’t meet dogs or go out until after their vaccinations"
It is true that unvaccinated dogs can pick up diseases, however socialisation is absolutely crucial before the end of their socialisation period, and by the time they have been vaccinated, often you won't have much (or any) time left.
Here are some alternative ideas:
Puppies can be carried outside to see the world, or if they are too heavy, you can take them in a pushchair.
You can take your pup with you in the car.
You can take them to friend's houses and gardens, as long as their dog is vaccinated and they haven't had any unvaccinated dogs in their garden.
Vaccinated dogs can come to your house.
Myth #4:"Dogs that bark at other dogs weren’t socialised"
Many barky dogs had great socialisation, but they may have had a bad experience that has caused this barking. Alternatively, some dogs had socialisation, but not correctly (see myth #5).
Myth #5: "It's all about plenty of experiences"
I would much rather your dog have five polite and friendly introductions to a new thing, than 50 random introductions, where your dog doesn't learn how to be calm, polite, or gentle.
With Mucky Pups Dog Training, I offer two amazing puppy programs:
Very Important Puppies Program (in person)
Chaos to Calm Puppy Training (online)
Both include everything you need to know about puppy socialisation, including my Socialisation Checklist!
For more info, visit muckypups-dogtraining.com/services
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