Mr. Goodpuppy's Not-So-Silent Night
Socialization Is Not Just Exposure
Karen Arnoff ©1990, © revised 2010
A puppy may seem like a perfect gift for the family at Christmas, Chanukah or another special occasion. During these special times, however, owners may unwittingly over-stimulate their puppy with family, friends, feasting and frenzy. And, these overwhelming assaults on a puppy's senses can make him defensive (fearful or aggressive). To understand how over-stimulation causes improper socialization, let's imagine one holiday scenario from "Mr. Goodpuppy's" point of view.The Not-So-Silent Night
So that Mr. Goodpuppy could remain a secret from their children, Mr. and Mrs. Wellmeaning keep him in the basement, the quietest, darkest and loneliest part of the house. At just the right time, Mr. Wellmeaning brings Mr. Goodpuppy to meet the children for their best holiday surprise ever! When the children see Mr. Goodpuppy, they scream with glee and grab and pull at him and pass the dangling darling little pup back and forth between them. The Wellmeanings scold, the children cry, and all becomes quiet... for a while. Mr. Goodpuppy is sure glad that's over.But, just as he begins to relax, a hoard of friends and family come over for dinner. Friendly Fanny (the BIG lady with the giant hat and purse) goes to scoop up Mr. Goodpuppy. As she does, her huge purse accidentally slips off her shoulder and smacks him in the head. So, Mr. Goodpuppy runs away and....uh, oh, he bumps into Smoky Uncle Sam. When Sam reaches for Mr. Goodpuppy, cigar ashes fall into the puppy's eyes. As the night goes on, there's more... flashing feet (nowhere to retreat), screaming, squealing, scolding; slippery floors, poking and more; restraint (which people call holding). And also there are telephone ringers, doorbell dingers and buzzers from the stove, smoky rooms, and strong perfumes... but, at last, in an out-of-the-way hall Mr. Goodpuppy stumbles upon a big, seductive-smelling box. With just a little poking of his nose, he discovers the rapture of cookies and candy and is completely absorbed in a wonderful world of his own... until he hears someone saying, "BAD PUPPY!" and is suddenly grabbed and toted to the darkest, loneliest corner of the house where, sadly, he is now relieved to be. Poor Mr. Goodpuppy!
Socialization Is More Than Exposure
The kind of socialization that results in a happy, well-adjusted dog involves much more than merely exposing a puppy to people and environments. Frequently we hear that owners, often those with shy puppies, mistakenly try to socialize their dogs by taking them to shopping centers, little league games or group obedience classes for exposure to other people and dogs. But in fact, strange people, cheering and jumping, and barking and lunging dogs with tense owners can, if not properly managed, be just as overwhelming and negative as MR. GOODPUPPY'S NOT-SO-SILENT NIGHT.Proper Socialization
A proper socialization process includes three elements: 1) gradual progression, 2) positive exposure and 3) appropriate timing.GRADUAL PROGRESSION: When socializing a puppy, owners must introduce him to people and things in a way that won't overwhelm him. At first, sounds must be soft; motions, slow; people and things, few and distant. In addition, owners must be sensitive to their puppy's feelings and behaviors to determine when it is time for louder, faster, closer and more. These factors and/or the amount of stimulation should be changed one at a time and/or increased gradually, and only when he is relaxed and has no stress reactions at the current level.
For example, a vacuum cleaner involves at least three variables that affect a dog: the object, the noise, and the movement. Introduce the puppy first to the silent, still vacuum cleaner (object variable). Next, turn it on but don't move it (noise variable). Then, move the vacuum without turning it on (movement variable). When the puppy is at ease with each variable, combine them by turning on and moving the cleaner far from him. Remember to keep the movement slow and the puppy distant at first; then gradually increase the speed and/or decrease the distance.
POSITIVE EXPOSURE: One way a puppy learns whether people and things are positive or negative is by "reading" the facial expressions, body language, general demeanor, etc., of the people around him. Owners who want their puppy to approach new people and things with a positively attitude should maintain a positive attitude themselves. A puppy learns not only by direct experience but what goes on around him as well. So, The Wellmeanings must put Mr. Goodpuppy in situations where he can only succeed and receive praise. It is not a positive socialization experience if he is put in situations where he’s most certain to get himself into trouble and experience negatives, directly and/or indirectly . Owners must also protect their puppy from unintentional mishaps such as those which occurred in."Mr. Goodpuppy’s Not So Silent Night”.
APPROPRIATE TIMING: In order to use gradual progression and positive exposure most effectively, it's important to take first things first. This means that owners should first introduce Mr. Goodpuppy to people and environments in which the stimulation can be greatly controlled before exposing him to less predictable and possibly overwhelming situations.
For example, a puppy learns to trust people by first becoming comfortable with his primary family (the most controllable environment) and then being introduced to people who are willing and able to follow the proper socialization process (gradual progression and positive exposure). The same timing used with people should also be used for environments. First, owners should expose their puppies to the separate environments of their home (kitchen, family room, bedroom, etc.) and then other less-controlled but friendly environments (Grandma's house, a dog-lover's home, etc.). Eventually, the puppy is ready to go anywhere and everywhere with the expectation that all environments will be safe and friendly.
By experiencing this process for socialization, a puppy will come to expect all people and places to be positive. Should he then come across an occasional negative (chaotic kids, careless kicks, countless crashes, etc.), he is more likely to see these experiences as exceptions while still keeping his trusting and non-defensive disposition.