If you are a dog owner, you’ve probably heard about the socialisation of dogs. You may also have wondered why anxiety in our dogs seems to be increasing. Dave Marcellino from The Pawfessionals gives Pet Problems Solved his advice on socialisation versus anxiety in dogs…

Socialisation versus Anxiety in Dogs

One of the most important and formative parts of a puppy’s life is socialisation. The period of time, from 2 weeks up until 12 weeks of age, is regarded as a ‘critical’ period of socialisation for a puppy. This time period can vary slightly from breed to breed.

If social exposure is not maximised during this period, the risk of behavioural problems for a dog increases later in life. This risk outweighs the risk associated with disease exposure, according to the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviour (as outlined in their Position Statement).

puppies in bucket

Some vets and breeders are still advising clients not to take their puppies out until they have had their second vaccination (at 12 weeks). Vets will recommend you attend puppy pre-school, often at the vet surgery, where there is a risk of your pup being exposed to disease.

This is harmful, out-dated and ill-informed advice, which is setting up dogs to fail later in life, through no fault of their own. As Jessica Perry Hekman PhD, says you wouldn’t wait until your child is 16 years of age before sending them to school.

Puppy owners need to be sensible and careful about where they are taking their puppy during the critical period of socialisation. They should aim to minimise disease exposure by sticking to footpaths, avoiding long grass and not allowing their puppy to sniff dog faeces.

What is socialisation and what it is not

Socialisation does not mean going to a dog park to “learn” how to behave. The only thing a puppy will learn there is how to be fearful. Fear can turn into aggression, which may not be evident until much later in a dog’s life.

I advise clients not to go to a dog park until their puppy is around 6 months of age – why – because if something does happen, the puppy will have a better chance of recovering from a negative experience.

To socialise your puppy correctly, you must slowly introduce it to a variety of people, different animals, different environments, sounds and situations that it is likely to encounter over its lifetime. Repetitive exposure to people, animals, sounds, surfaces etc is key.

Doing this correctly means being aware of the puppy’s mental state and whether they are showing signs of stress or anxiety. Owners need to be able to read their puppy’s body language to understand how it’s feeling.

I strongly urge you to familiarise yourself with the body language of dogs. A great place to start is Dr Sophia Yin’s website.

socialisation versus anxiety in dogs

How to help your dog

If you notice any of these signs, move your puppy away from what is causing the anxiety. Encourage the puppy to come to you and give it a pat for comfort and for protection.

When meeting other dogs, make sure it is one-on-one and that the other dog is calm and vaccinated. Do not allow your puppy to run or pull toward another dog or person. Make sure your puppy is calm upon approach and preferably sitting. If the puppy jumps or is over-excited, move them away and start again until it understands what behaviour is desired.

The American Veterinary Medical Association supports enrolling your puppy in well-managed puppy socialisation classes as a ‘good way to socialise your new pet within the sensitive period.’

Separation Anxiety in Pets

Preventing Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Preventing separation anxiety is another important part of beginning life with your new puppy.

Think about your puppy’s start to life, the majority spend the first 8 weeks on a peaceful property with their litter mates. Contact with people is minimal until a stranger (you) comes along, puts them in a car and takes them away from their mother and comfort zone.

Suddenly, in its new environment, the puppy is experiencing new smells, faces and noises, not to mention being doted on! A stressful time for an 8-week-old puppy. Owners often take time off work to be with their new puppy. While well-intentioned, this can cause separation anxiety for the puppy, which is difficult to overcome.

One way to avoid separation anxiety, is to leave the house for short periods, so the puppy is left alone. It is important not to signal to the puppy that you are leaving. So avoid petting, saying goodbye or looking at the puppy. Just leave. When you return, do not immediately acknowledge your puppy. Wait a few minutes and only acknowledge if it’s in a calm state.

Socialisation versus anxiety

Did you know that in 2017/18 there were 5577 dogs euthanised (after surrender) in Australia.  Nearly 60% of those dogs were euthanised because of behavioural issues, compared to the 1.9% euthanised due to an infectious disease (RSPCA Report on Animal Outcomes).

Correct socialisation and training of puppies during the critical 2 to 12-week time period could greatly reduce this statistic.

Summary of socialisation versus anxiety in dogs

Remember socialisation and training begins the day you bring your new puppy home. Expose your puppy to as much as you can without over stimulating them. Allow your puppy to be left alone for short periods. Get to know your puppy, watch their body language and act on it. Patience, persistence and practice is the way to ensure that your puppy grows into a calm and well-behaved dog.

For more information on help with your dog’s needs including enrolling in Puppy Preschool and one-on-one training, see The Pawfessionals.

I hope this article has helped you understand the considerations of socialisation versus anxiety in dogs. Enjoy your pup!

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