January 2014                                                                                       Volume 5, Issue 1

                   

Woof!

Elaine   

by RVT Patricia McHan

Socialization of your puppy is extremely important, especially in the first four months of life. Those first few weeks after you bring your puppy home, usually at 8-16 weeks of age, can have a huge impact on behavior in your pup. What is socialization? It is exposure to as many different environments, people, sounds, situations, and other animals as possible.

Realizing that they won't have had all their vaccinations until age 16 weeks, use your best judgment as to the situations and animals they encounter, but don't wait until they have completed their vaccination series to begin this process. Birth until 16 weeks is the critical period in a dogs life where fears begin to develop which can lead to not only fearful, but also possibly aggressive behavior later in life.

Why should you socialize your puppy? Socialization makes your dog friendlier, more confident, and basically a better-rounded dog. It allows you to have a dog that you can take into any new situation and have him be confident enough in himself to remain calm and adjust to the situation as necessary. It can prevent future behavior problems and aggression issues.

How do you socialize your puppy? By constantly exposing them to new situations and stimuli. It means making changes in routine from time to time so they learn to adjust, it means meeting as many people and being in as many new situations as possible.

In short, socialization is one of the most important things you can do for your puppy!

About the Author

Patricia McHan, RVT is a North Carolina native. She is a lifelong animal lover and finally fulfilled her dream of being able to work with animals on a daily basis by attending the Veterinarian Technician program at Central Carolina Community College in Sanford NC and graduating in May 2013. After subsequently taking the national and state boards and having passed both, she is now a Registered Veterinary Technician.

Her previous education includes a BS and Master's in Business Administration.

She is currently working at the Animal Hospital of Peak Plaza in Apex.

She is married and has two teenage sons. Additionally she has one dog and three cats.

                                                      By Elaine Pendell

• The most important thing to remember - Practice leadership wherever you take you dog so he will know he's safe and you're in charge. Rules and boundaries apply no matter the place just like good manners are expected by everyone regardless of where we are! Be sure that your dog is following your rules for greeting others respectfully and be ready to calmly remind him, if necessary.
• Next, be mindful of your environment so you can proactively make calm, thoughtful decisions. For example, if someone is approaching with their lunging, barking dog then take proper action and steer clear. 
• Always be ready for children to approach your dog without your permission, or their parents for that matter, so that you can quickly and thoughtfully intercede those little, excited hands from your dog. Most dogs simply don't respond well to excitement and will react in kind with excitement of his own such as jumping and knocking little ones down to the ground. 
• Folks may approach you with their own dog and ask if yours wants to say "hi" but before you answer affirmatively, ask the dog owner if their dog has ever bitten another dog. If there's any hesitation, you've got your answer. You must advocate for your dog by asking that tough question!
• Finally, if you decide to opt for the dog park, be careful and be selective! My advice is that you walk your dog mindfully and with leadership to drain excess energy just prior to entering the dog park. The dog park should only be a once-in-a-while treat not a substitute for migration with pack leader. That said, keep in mind that most of the dogs at the park will enter and behave with explosive excitement since their humans don't see it the same way you do. Unfortunately, their playtime at the park is given in lieu of a structured walk. This type of excitement almost always leads to a fight. So, have your dog's back and be ready to interrupt any over-excitement that your dog may be exposed to so that you, as his pack leader, can keep him safe and good decisions can be made by both of you. The best dog park is one where humans are paying attention to their dogs with proper supervision and responding appropriately whenever needed.  
• Bottom line - create positive, healthy experiences that you, as pack leader, have in your control to do! The time we share together with our loving, furry companions are gifts so, let's enjoy them and create happy memories for the year ahead!