How Can I Tell If My Puppy Is Socialized?

If you purchase a puppy that has behavior problems at a young age, especially anxiety, there was probably a lack of socialization in its early life. If you purchased the puppy from a puppy mill or large breeder, yes – there was a lack of socialization, as there was little physical contact with the puppy other than worming, shots, and weaning. If you purchased it from a pet shop – you won’t know unless you have a pet shop that will give you the breeder information, or you can tell if the puppy is lovable and friendly, which requires prior knowledgeable.

About Socialization in Puppies

From the moment a puppy is born, it is being socialized. It is born with its eyes closed and its ears unable to hear, but it can feel the caress of the mother’s tongue and body. It can feel your hands when you pick it up, holding it and loving it. About two weeks later or so, when its eyes open and it can hear, the mother and you will be the first things it can see … other than the siblings in the same nest! That is what the beginning of socialization is about.

The mother, if she is a good breeder, is the most important teacher of all – in addition to you. She gently and firmly will correct the puppy, bringing into effect the hierarchy and pack modality that dogs instinctively have inside of them. The hardest thing for a caring person to do is not step in when she does this. Let her do what is natural and right for dogs, not humans. This is very important days in a puppy’s life, and makes them who they are in the future. And if the mother is cared for correctly, and is allowed out to exercise, given love, and lots of caring, this early training will be done correctly, as puppies naturally mimic their mother. 

If the mother has been neglected and lacks in care, she will possibly turn mean or neglectful, eventually beginning to attack her puppies or turning away from them, biting and snapping when they approach her. Some of the puppies will also become aggressive and mean from fear, and also by imitating her. The others, at the lower end of this pack, will become fearful, shy, and may eventually turn into biters, as they are so afraid. They have not been taught to trust or love.

Older Puppies

When puppies are kept back longer than they should, they are socialized with the breeder, not their new owner. The main socialization is over at this time, and it will be harder on the puppy for socialization at this later date.

They are called “orphan puppies”, as they have been weaned from their mother, and their siblings are gone onto new families. Usually it is because they are too big, too small, not pretty, shy, or the wrong color – whatever the reason, they are left alone. Large breeders keep them back for breeding if they are a female, and sell them at cost to other breeders if they are a male, so they don’t have to care and feed them. Personally, I begin training them with the basic commands, to sell them at a higher price due to the training process: we name them, begin toileting #101, learn to “sit”, “no”, and “stay” for a few simple ones. The training process is what throws most new owners, so this is enough of an asset for the little puppy to sell them at 12 weeks, or older, partially basic trained.