SOCIALIZATION AND BITE INHIBITION

 What is the Socialization Period?

√ Between the age of 4-14 weeks your puppy is in her most important developmental stage. √ Within this time, your puppy develops the seek-avoidance blueprint she will use for the rest of her life when encountering novelty. √ Your puppy’s personality will not only be determined by her breed characteristics and parentage but almost equally by her socialization period. √ The experiences your puppy has during this important window of development will directly affect her personality as an adult.

 How Do I Socialize My Puppy?

It is your responsibility to introduce your puppy to as many experiences as possible and to make each experience pleasant. Your puppy runs the risk of being frightened or aggressive toward objects or situations that she was not exposed to or had a scary encounter with during her socialization period. Think of the socialization that you do now as “vaccinating your puppy against scary things”.

1. Your puppy’s thought process is pretty simple: food =good. 2. During your puppy’s socialization period never be without a food treat. Carry them in your pockets, purse, car, baby stroller or backpack. 3. Allow your puppy to approach, investigate and observe new experiences at her own speed. 4. Talk confidently to your puppy when she encounters a new object (something as simple as a leaf blowing across the sidewalk can be scary to a puppy!), person or event and give her one of the many treats you have in your pocket.

 What Should I Do If My Puppy is Fearful of Something?

If your puppy becomes fearful during an encounter be careful about what you may be communicating to her when she is afraid. 1. Do not try to comfort her. This will only reward your puppy’s fearful behavior and convince her that it is good to be afraid. 2. Instead, use a confident voice and coax your pup to approach whatever it is that is spooking her. 3. Reward any confident behavior with a treat. 4. A reliable sign that your puppy is very frightened or overwhelmed is if she will not take a tasty treat. o If such a situation occurs get your puppy out of the situation and reduce the level of the scary event and start again. o Ask your puppy to “sit” and reward the behavior. You are substituting a behavior that you can reward for her fearful response.

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Even the gentlest, most mild mannered has the potential to bite. get stepped on, or become fearful and feel they have no other option but to bite. A dog that can inhibit her bite may some day bite, but not leave a mark on the person bitten: this could very well save your dog’s life.

TEACHING YOUR PUPPY TO CONTROL HER BITE Puppy biting is a normal, natural and necessary puppy behavior. Puppies rarely bite with the goal of hurting someone. When puppies mouth humans they are trying to play. Because puppies have sharp teeth but little jaw strength, puppy-hood is the ideal time to teach bite control.

 STEP ONE: HOW TO CONTROL HOW HARD PUPPIES BITE pies learn how to control their bite strength from playing with other puppies and dogs. When a puppy plays and bites too hard, the other puppy yelps. If the puppy bites too hard again, the other puppy ends the play. You are going to mimic this behavior.

1. Allow your puppy to mouth your hands. When she begins to bite to the point it is mildly painful, say “ouch”. The volume on the “ouch” will depend on your puppy. Some puppies only need a quiet tone; more robust pups will need a louder “ouch” to get their attention. 2. Allow your puppy to mouth your hands again. If your puppy bites too hard again, the game ends. Completely ignore your puppy as if she were invisible, stand up and walk away. If at all possible, close yourself in another room for 30-60 seconds. Wait at least 10 minutes before trying the game again.

 STEP TWO: HUMANS ARE BIG BABIES! e your puppy is mouthing your hands with only gentle pressure – due to practicing Step One on a regular basis – it’s now time to teach her how wimpy humans are. You want your puppy to think that human skin is the most fragile thing in the world and that touching it with her teeth is not rewarding. 1. Allow your puppy to mouth your hands gently. When her teeth barely make contact with your skin, yelp like she’s maimed you! 2. Allow your puppy to mouth your hands again. If her teeth make contact with your skin again, the game ends. Completely ignore your puppy as if she were invisible, stand up and walk away. If at all possible, close yourself in another room for 30-60 seconds. Wait at least 10 minutes before trying the game again.

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Week Week Socialization Experience Socialization Experience 1 2 3 4 5 Environments 1 2 3 4 5 Men (cont.)      Go to a park      Meet a man smoking a cigarette/cigar      Go to a shopping center      Meet a man wearing a coat & tie      Go to a vet’s office      Meet a bald man      Go to the downtown mall      Meet a man with an accent      Go to a an office complex      Meet a man with a piercing/tattoo      Go to a grocery store      Meet a man wearing a heavy coat      Go to a gas station      Meet a man with red hair and glasses      Go to a college campus Children      Go to a restaurant      Meet baby in Mother's arms      Go to a lake      Meet a toddler in snow suit      Go to a forest      Meet a baby in stroller      Go to a friend’s house      Meet a toddler wearing a hat      Go to an industrial park      Meet a young boy with baseball cap      Go to a farm      Meet a young girl pushing baby buggy      Go to a puppy socialization class      Meet a kid on skateboard Women      Meet a kid pulling a wagon      Meet hiker wearing backpack      Meet a kid chewing gum      Meet a woman pushing a shopping cart      Meet a young girl wearing sunglasses      Meet a woman wearing a baseball hat      Meet a kid wearing a rain coat      Meet a woman carrying an umbrella      Meet a toddler wearing sneakers      Meet a woman wearing sunglasses      Meet a young boy riding a scooter      Meet a woman pushing a stroller      Meet a baby in a baby carrier/papoose      Meet a woman with a pony tail      Meet a kid on bicycle      Meet a woman wearing a coat Objects      Meet a woman carrying bags      A vacuum cleaner      Meet a woman on a bicycle      A big-screen television      Meet a woman wearing a skirt      A mirror      Meet a woman with boots on      A large pasta/stock pot      Meet a woman with ponytail      A large potted plant      Meet a woman in high heels      A computer      Meet a woman with glasses on      A garden sculpture Men      An outdoor grill      Meet a man with a beard      A broom      Meet a man with an umbrella      A fireplace      Meet a man wearing sunglasses      A snow shovel      Meet a man with a ponytail      A bicycle      Meet a man with a mustache      A ladder/step stool      Meet a man wearing sneakers      A running washer/dryer      Meet a man wearing cowboy boots      A green car      Meet a man carrying bags Animals      Meet a man wearing sunglasses & a hat www.caninecampus.com SOCIALIZATION SCAVENGER HUNT

     Meet a Week Socialization Experience 1 2 3 4 5 Animals (cont.)      Meet a      Meet a Jack Russell      Meet a Black Lab      Meet a Golden      Meet a Bouvier Des Flanders      Meet a horse      Meet a cow      Meet a Great Dane      Meet a black & tan multigree      Meet a Cocker      Meet a Boxer      Meet a Pug      Meet a Husky      Meet A German Shepherd Potpourri                                                                                                              

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