wnc k9 - Western North Carolina Canine

Friday, 14 August 2020 12:22

When the socialization door closes ... does another one open?

Doors will be closing soon on puppy socialization skills

You know the saying, “when one door closes, another one opens?”

But with respect to raising a well-adjusted puppy, Alexander Graham Bell lied. Though experts disagree on ages, the door to socialization for your puppy opens at around 4 weeks and closes about 8 weeks later, when your puppy is 12 weeks old. The sooner the better.

To be a well-adjusted dog, your young puppy needs to get out of the house with you having some good tasty treats in a food pouch! He needs to meet people--tall people, fat people, people in wheelchairs, people in cowboy hats and people with umbrellas. And children. He needs to meet dogs--friendly, healthy dogs in safe places. He needs to experience so many things in such a short period of time--grass and gravel under his paws; elevators and stairwells; eating out of metal bowls and off paper plates; bicycles, strollers, a marching band. Throngs. No one said it would be easy. But it will be fun. (For a more information, see what is puppy socialization)

But my veterinarian says I should wait ...

In their socialization statement, the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior says that: "The Primary and most important time for puppy socialization is the first three months of life. During this time puppies should be exposed to as many new people, animals, stimuli and environments as can be achieved safely and without causing overstimulation manifested as excessive fear, withdrawal or avoidance behavior. For this reason, the AVSAB believes that it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive such socialization before they are fully vaccinated."

Personally, as I've held several hundred puppy classes throughout the years and had the preveledge of meeting a local vet tech who brought a 10 week old puppy to class. She informed me that she hasn't given this puppy any shots yet, but she did do a titer test and she had a very high antibody present in her serum. Continuing to explain to me that the titer test indicate she got enough immunity from her mother and the healthy environment she was raised in prior to coming home. This is not to suggest puppies do not need to get their immunity shots at your favorite veterinarian office, but to strongly urge you to seek out information about immunity shots that your puppy needs in order to go to a safe structured environment that slowly and carefully exposes them to new people, smells, sounds and other puppies.

What’s more heartbreaking than Parvo?

Here’s what you can learn from informative dog trainers and vets and the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB).

Behavioral problems should be more important then the fear of parvo. Behavior problems are the number one reason dogs are left outside, taken to the shelter, and/or abused and misunderstood.

The fact that your puppy may grow up fearful and anxious is higher, then your puppy getting parvo from a puppy class. There is as many diseases tracked into a pet store and your favorite veterinarian office, then a safe and structured puppy class.

A compromise and a plan

You have so many options for socializing your puppy in a safe environment to minimize his risk of yucky stuff.
Call Gail Hubbard at WNC K9 Dog Training at 828-712-4245 for suggestions if you have been given some information that has scared you.

First of all, avoid inappropriate places full of dogs with questionable vaccination status--dog parks, pet stores, dog events, the groomer ... and some vet offices.

Second, the compromise. You may choose to wait until his second set of vaccines (at 10-11 weeks old) to let him start meeting strange dogs in a controlled puppy program that you know have been vaccinated.

Third, enroll him in puppy school, sooner rather than later. Choose a facility that requires vaccinations and is clean and enclosed. Puppy school will go a long way towards exposing your puppy to lots of new people, other puppies, children. At a WNC K9, our Puppy Program will give your puppy the skills she needs to love life and greet every experience with a wagging tail. Click here to learn more and to sign up for one of several convenient puppy classes.

What did you do to socialize your puppy? Leave a comment below and let us know three things you think a puppy should experience before the door closes on socialization.

Published in Blog

Introduction to Dog Sports

Class Details: Introduction to Dog Sports

5-Weeks of FUN to introduce the fun of a dog sport. This class will mentally challenge you and your dog as well as physically.
It is critical that your dog has been in a structured class BEFORE coming into Intro to Dog Sports. If you have any questions, please call me. 828-712-4245

This 5-week class is highly recommended for folks new to any dog sport scene. We want all our students to get all they can out of their interactions with their dog. Dog sports are FUN and this class is designed to prepare owners for navigating and controlling their dog in any sport class. It also teaches you more fun things to do with your dog at home ... mentally stimulation with fun games that will keep them fit while showing them how to use their bodies in the space - proprioception. This class offers a little bit of physical challenges, so your dog should go home tired. Sport classes are generally more stimulating then average dog training classes and so the types of things you will learn over and above learning new sporty activities are:

Learn the art of shaping where the dog thinks and is more involved in the games we play
Learn tricks for foundation skills in treibball, agility, and scent games
Work on happy crate training techniques so that your dog loves any crate - especially at the vet office
Learn how being a team player in the class can enhance your experience and learning
Wellness fitness and conditioning games will show the dog proprioception, etc.

The sports that we review are: Agility - Treibball (Urban Herding) - Scent Nose Work (The Nose Knows) - K9 Fitness and Conditioning

If you have already taken this class, I can give you additional homework that will take you into the next levels of the sport you are most interested in. Call me to discuss the possibilities.

Cost: $165
5-Weeks of FUN ... with 4 dog limit. Please call with questions

Instructors: Gail Hubbard

NEW Start Date: Thursday, June 12 at 9:30 am
Mark Your Calendar: June 12, 19, 26; July 10, 17 [NO class on the 3rd of July]
Time: 9:30 am

THIS CLASS IS FULL Start Date: Saturday, April 5 at 9:30 am [no class on April 19]
Mark Your Calendar: April 5, 12, 26; May 3, 10
Time: 9:30 am

New Class:Intro to Dog Sports "Round Two" Agility, Scent Work, and Treibball (Urban Hearding)
Please contact me if you are interested. This is where we continue on with two different sports that people are interested in. It is fun and for those who want to have fun with their dogs.

Details: This Intro to Dog Sports class is for those who have taken a class before. So, your dog is used to working around other dogs in close proximity.

Location: 41 Edgewood Road Extension, Asheville NC 28803
This is a residence so play drive slowly. Please also know that there is plenty of parking on the right of the house so please pull all the way up the driveway. There are paw prints on the drive way to help you pull up the correct driveway as well as red posts with the number 41 on it to guide you. Follow the red doggie signs. There are red rockers on the porch and the red garage door. If you have any questions, please call me 828-712-4245.

What to Bring: Bring what motivates your dog (toy and small, soft food treats) and your enthusiasm!

Interested? Simply click the "Sign Up Now" bottom below.

Published in K9 Wellness Through Sports

Articles

When the socialization door closes ... does another one open?
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Doors will be closing soon on puppy socialization skills You know the saying, “when one door closes, another one…
What is Puppy Socialization?
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WHAT IS SOCIALIZATION? Dr. Seuss reminds us all about broadening our horizons with a little bit of humor and rhythm…

What's Next

Private Coaching
Puppy Program
K9 Manners - Basics thru Advanced
K9 Confidence Building and Conditioning
Dog Sports
Agility
Urban Herdin g - Treibball
K9 Scent Work
A Good K9 Camp (Board-n-Train)