Puppy Rearing 2: New Puppies and Socialization
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©1996, 1997 HomeVet
Genetic
Heritage
All
domestic dogs are descended from wolves. Despite sometimes
being very different in shape, size, and color, domestic
dogs have retained about 75 percent of their behavior
patterns. It is this part of our dogs that we need to
understand if we are to enjoy our lives together.
In the wolf pack,
there is a definite hierarchy which is strongly maintained
and defended. This is how it will be in your family-pack.
Adults first, then children, then dog. Dogs are very
conscious of hierarchy and will attempt to find their
own place if you do not do it for them.
It is important
that your dog thinks that he is at the bottom of the
pack. Suppose he is on the sofa and you want him to
get off. If he is below you in the pack he will do so
without argument. If he thinks he is on equal terms
you will have to make him. If he considers himself above
you he may try to bite because he feels you have no
right to tell him what to do.
The greater the
difference in hierarchy between yourself and your dog,
the more respect he will have for you. The more respect,
the more likely he is to comply with your wishes. Setting
the ground rules from the start is therefore very important.
How you treat
your dog in the first few months will make all the difference
to the way he sees his place in your family hierarchy.
Even if you have had well behaved dogs before, I strongly
advise you to follow these guidelines for at least six
months.
Dominant wolves
will choose the safest, warmest place in the territory
to sleep. It is usually elevated so that they can look
down over the rest of the pack. In your house, of course,
this is your bed. If you allow your dog to sleep in
bed with you then he is immediately on an equal footing
with you. For similar reasons it also pays to keep him
off the furniture.
In the wolf pack,
the dominant wolves will eat first, the rest waiting
until after they have finished. For most dogs, dinner
time is one of the highlights of their day. Therefore,
it is important that your dog be fed after your family.
Tidbits should not be given from the table as this can
be easily misinterpreted by dogs as being a weakness
on your part rather than benevolence. It also prevents
the bad habit of begging at the table.
Dominant wolves
will present themselves to subordinates for grooming.
They will lick their faces and generally pay them attention.
A dominant wolf would not be approached by a subordinate
uninvited. In order to reinforce your status, it is
important to groom your dog every day initially. This
also gives you a chance to give him a quick health check,
and ensures that you will be better able to handle him
if he needs veterinary attention.
If you have children,
it is important that they also follow these guidelines.
Keep the dog out of the children's bedrooms, do not
let him take food from them or beg under a high chair.
The children should assist you in grooming but this
should be done only when the dog completely accepts
you doing it. Children should then only groom the dog
under supervision.
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Socializing
Your Puppy
The activities
below will help your new puppy become a part of your
household. Your puppy will become strongly attached
to your family between 6-12 weeks of age. This bond
will last a lifetime. It is important that your puppy
learn that he is a subordinate member of your family.
This will minimize the potential for bad habits and
behavior problems such as dominance or aggression.
It is important
that everyone in the family practice these exercises.
Young children should have adult supervision.
While your puppy
is small, pick him up frequently.
Look into the
puppy's eyes until he looks away.
Rub your puppy's
stomach while he is on his back.
Use moderate
pressure while grooming or petting.
Don't allow the
puppy to stand on or over you during play.
Avoid tug-of-war
games. Encourage fetch and retrieval.
Practice taking
food away at mealtime.
Teach your puppy
to relinquish toys or objects on command ("Drop it").
Praise your puppy
for good behavior or when resting quietly.
Never use a command
unless you are sure the dog will obey or unless you
can make it obey.
Have your puppy
obey commands prior to everyday activities such as feeding,
playing and going out. ("Nothing in life is free.").
Effective punishments
when saying "No!" alone doesn't work:
1. Ignore
your puppy, or leave the room.
2. Gently
grab the scruff of the neck, and say"No!". In addition,
it is important that you expose your puppy to places,
situations and things that he will have to deal with
in his adult life: e.g., riding in the car, going to
the park (after 16 weeks), schoolyards, vacuum cleaners,
cats, crying babies, loud noises, and others. Extremely
important to proper socialization is allowing your dog
to play with other dogs. This helps accentuate the difference
between people and dogs, and teaches proper play behavior.
Also see How
Dogs Think . Use your browser's BACK BUTTON
to return to this page.
Please note:
The information provided here is meant to supplement
that provided by your veterinarian. Nothing can replace
a complete history and physical examination performed
by your veterinarian. - Dr. Jeff
I greatly value your feedback. Please let me know what
you think of this site and what you would like to see
on it. drjeff@homevet.com
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