2020-what a year it has been!

 

For us, at Redfern, it has been the year of the puppies! We started out the year with Labs born on February 15 and are ending the year with Labs born on September 20! For us, one of the biggest challenges has been socializing our puppies while dealing with a Pandemic. According to the position statement of the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), a puppy's first 3 months are the primary and most important opportunity for proper socialization. This is the time that a pup's sociability outweighs his fear and creates the best opportunity to adapt to all things new-people, animals, experiences, etc. Lack of, incomplete, or improper socialization during this 3-month period increases the risk of future behavioral problems. (Is your pup older than 3 months? Check out the closing paragraphs of this article!)

 

Socialization should start from birth with the pups being handled and exposed to as many people, animals, experiences, situations, and events as possible. (Think vacuum cleaner, nail trimming, children small or large, men and women, walking on uneven/wobbly surfaces, different scents, etc., etc., etc.)

 

Proper socialization should always be a positive experience for the pups. Be sure to reinforce with treats or toys and stay away from settings that cause fear, over-arousal, or avoidance. If the pup does react with fear, avoidance, or over-arousal, immediately step back and slowly reintroduce the situation from a comfortable distance.

 

When providing socialization opportunities for young puppies, always balance the possibility of infection with the limited time span for optimal introduction to the 'BIG WORLD'. For that reason, AVSAB recommends beginning puppy classes as early as 7-8 weeks IF the pup has had one set of vaccines and a first deworming at least 7 days prior to the first class. Redfern would also add that EVERY puppy in the class should have the same vaccines and deworming and that the training space should be clean and easily disinfected.

 

If your new (or not-so-new) pup is over 3 months, do not despair! Continue to socialize them to people, pets, locations, and experiences as much as possible but be very careful to make everything a positive, happy event!

 

A last word of advice-if you feel like you are in over your head, do not hesitate to seek guidance from your vet or a behavioral specialist! Look for certified professionals in the following organizations:

Betsy