Avoid Young Puppy Socialization: Necessity or Myth?
Full Vaccination Before Puppy Socialization: Necessity or Myth?
Kris Hampton & Rhiannon van Lidth de Jeude Roemer
Welcoming a new puppy into your home is exciting, but one of the biggest questions new pet parents face is: when and how should I start socializing my dog? Before they’ve had all of their vaccinations, or after? With so much conflicting advice online, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to go it alone! Proper socialization isn’t just important—it’s essential for raising a well-adjusted, confident dog. In fact, studies show that dogs who miss out on early socialization are more likely to develop anxiety and aggression.[1] So, before you dive in, let’s explore why this process is crucial and how to get it right.
What Exactly IS Puppy Socialization?
Most people have heard the term ‘socialization’ - but what does it really mean?
Socialization is about so much more than just puppy playtime (although that is key!). Your puppy’s socialization period is a small window of time between 3 and 18 weeks of age where sociability outweighs fear, and is therefore a critical period of time for a young dog to adapt to new sights, smells, sounds, and surfaces, as well as to new people and dogs.
Think of socializing as ‘padding’ your dog with positive experiences. We want to introduce them to new environments in monitored settings, so that we can teach them that the world is a safe place.
This time period is also primary for the acquisition of social skills and bite inhibition, in other words, ‘learn to play nicely and watch your biting!’
So…Should I Wait Until my Puppy is Fully Vaccinated?
There’s lots of contradictory advice out there regarding when and how to socialize your dog, which can leave new pet-parents feeling confused and exasperated.
According to the American Veterinary Society for Animal Behaviorists, in general, puppies can (and should) start socialization as early as 7-8 weeks of age, after they have received a minimum of one set of vaccines and a first deworming.[2]
A long-standing argument against early socialization has been the fear of young puppies catching diseases when meeting other dogs or even simply leaving the home before their vaccinations are complete. Those who argue against early socialization would advise waiting to expose your puppy to the world until he or she is between 15 to 18 weeks old, when their socialization period is over.
Whilst infectious disease is a consideration for young dogs, behavioral issues, not disease, are the number one cause of death in dogs under 3 years old. Good experimental evidence shows us that extreme omission (i.e. dogs that have no social contact) results in profound fear,[3] which can lead to a lifetime of behavioural challenges and heartache.
Why Early Socialization is Critical
Four tasks that are crucial to accomplish with your puppy before 12 weeks of age are bite inhibition training, socialization to people, socialization to dogs, and tolerance of novelty.
Dealing with painful puppy nipping? It is widely thought that bite inhibition depends on sufficient ability to rehearse as a puppy. Does your puppy play too rough? Social skills are developed in safe play settings with - you guessed it - other dogs.
Veterinarians who specialize in behavior suggest that puppy owners take every safe chance to introduce their young pups to the many different experiences they’ll encounter throughout their lives. Joining professionally-monitored puppy classes before they turn 3-5 months old is a fantastic way to enhance training, deepen the bond with your furry companion, and help them socialize in a safe environment where the risk of illness can be minimized.[4]
Why You Need Experts
Knowing how, and when, to properly socialize your dog, is not something to improvise on. A clean and supervised space, led by educated dog experts, is the perfect environment for a puppy to safely socialize in a low-risk setting.
In Raintown puppy classes, our trainers are there to ensure that your little one is being monitored as they socialize, and to explain to you exactly what is happening as they play and train. At Raintown, we offer two options for puppy training and socialization. Both our Puppy Preschool classes (for ages 7-12 weeks) and our Puppy Kindergarten classes (for ages 11-21 weeks) emphasize lessons on healthy and unhealthy play behaviors, bite inhibition lessons, and exposure to novel sounds, sights, and surfaces.
Option 1: Puppies Under 12 weeks
Puppy Preschool
Remember, a puppy’s socialization window begins as early as three weeks of age, meaning by the time they enter your home, they are ready to see the world!
Our Puppy Preschool course is specifically tailored to support you and your pup during those first few weeks together before your Puppy Kindergarten journey, setting them up as confident canine citizens and giving you direct support from educated professionals. Preschool classes bring new pet parents together and allow your puppies to socialize, kicking off your training journey with a supportive community of dog-lovers.
Option 2: Puppies Under 21 weeks
Puppy Kindergarten
Need some time to settle in with your puppy before joining a class? Or, after taking our Preschool classes, do you want to take your puppy’s training to the next level?
Puppies between 11 and 21 weeks of age can head straight into our Puppy Kindergarten course, designed with an emphasis on socialization and building basic skills.
Kindergarten classes are always a blast, with plenty of trainer-supervised playtime, structured training lessons, and a warm class atmosphere.
Whether enrolling just days after bringing your puppy home or waiting until they’re slightly older, group classes are a must for socialization. At Raintown, our trainers find such joy in watching your little ones blossom into confident young dogs.
Begin your dog journey at Raintown by checking out our puppy classes below.
References
1) The effects of socialization on dogs by Sara Swanson B.S., Park University, 2017
2) AVSAB Position Statement On Puppy Socialization
3) Freedman DG, King JA, Elliott O. Critical period in the social development of dogs. Science. 1961;133:1016–1017. [PubMed]
