The Puppy’s Rule of Twelve - Socialization Info

The Puppy’s Rule of Twelve

Positive Paws Dog Training © 2002

Margaret Hughes - mags@positivetrainer.com

Adapted with permission from Pat Schaap’s “RULE OF 7’s” for 7 week old puppies. Make sure all experiences are safe and positive for the puppy. Each encounter should include treats and lots of praise. Slow down and add distance if your puppy is scared!

By the time a puppy is 12 weeks old, it should have: (if your puppy is over 12 weeks start right away with this socialization guide.)

• Experienced 12 different surfaces: wood, woodchips, carpet, tile, cement, linoleum, grass, wet grass, dirt, mud, puddles, deep pea gravel, grates, uneven surfaces, on a table, on a chair, etc.
• Played with 12 different objects: fuzzy toys, big & small balls, hard toys, funny sounding toys, wooden items, paper or cardboard items, milk jugs, metal items, car keys, etc.
• Experienced 12 different locations: front yard (daily), other people’s homes, school yard, lake, pond, river, boat, basement, elevator, car, moving car, garage, laundry room, kennel, veterinarian hospital (stop by sometimes just to say hi & visit, lots of cookies, no vaccinations), grooming salon (just to say hi), etc.
• Met and played with 12 new people (outside of family): include children, adults (mostly men), elderly adults, people in wheelchairs, walkers, people with canes, crutches, hats, sunglasses, etc.
• Exposed to 12 different noises (ALWAYS keep positive and watch puppy’s comfort level – we don’t want the puppy scared): garage door opening, doorbell, children playing, babies screaming, big trucks, Harley motorcycles, skateboards, washing machine, shopping carts rolling, power boat, clapping, loud singing, pan dropping, horses neighing, vacuums, lawnmowers, birthday party, etc.
• Exposed to 12 fast moving objects (don’t allow to chase): skateboards, rollerskates, bicycles, motorcycles, cars, people running, cats running, scooters, vacuums, children running, children playing soccer, squirrels, cats, horses running, cows running, etc.
• Experienced 12 different challenges: climb on, in, off and around a box, go through a cardboard tunnel, climb up and down steps, climb over obstacles, play hide & seek, go in and out a doorway with a step up or down, exposed to an electric sliding door, umbrella, balloons, walk on a wobbly table (plank of wood with a small rock underneath), jump over a broom, climb over a log, bathtub (and bath) etc.
• Handled by owner (& family) 12 times a week: hold under arm (like a football), hold to chest, hold on floor near owner, hold in-between owner’s legs, hold head, look in ears, mouth, in-between toes, hold and take temperature (ask veterinarian), hold like a baby, trim toe nails, hold in lap, etc.
• Eaten from 12 different shaped containers: wobbly bowl, metal, cardboard box, paper, coffee cup, china, pie plate, plastic, frying pan, Kong, Treatball, Bustercube, spoon fed, paper bag, etc.
• Eaten in 12 different locations: back yard, front yard, crate, kitchen, basement, laundry room, bathroom, friend’s house, car, school yard, bathtub, up high (on work bench), under umbrella, etc.
• Played with 12 different puppies (or safe adult dogs) as much as possible. [This does NOT mean at the dog park.]
• Left alone safely, away from family & other animals (5-45 minutes) 12 times a week.
• Experienced a leash and collar 12 different times in 12 different locations.

Baby Birddogs! The BOYZ and their first bird wing!

The BOYZ had fun playing around and pointing the "bird wing on a string" with one of their future families (Anna and Rob).  Everyone was interested in the wing and showed natural instincts. Nice going BOYZ!

See the full photo album here:  http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/n-c9B6f/i-twGSbvs

Puppy Development - Weeks 5 to 7

Socialization Period (weeks five through week seven)

The more things the puppies can be introduced to during this period the better socialized the puppy will be and the less fearful of day-to-day encounters.  The BOYZ have had many visitors and have heard neighborhood noises like garbage trucks, tree trimmers, dogs barking, met another dog and have had tons of new experiences in and around the house. 

Under socialized dogs are shy and fearful; I work hard to make sure my puppies are well socialized. This process goes on for months after our adoptive families take their puppies’ home. As responsible owners, it is the responsibility of the new owners to continue this process and not just keep their new puppy at home.

It is VERY important that new puppy owners continue the socialization process to assure a well socialized dog when they mature.

Will Spaying /Neutering Your Dog Increase Its Risk Of Cancer?

Summary of "Evaluation of the risk and age of onset of cancer and behavioral disorders in gonadectomized Vizslas" 

Objective:

To investigate associations between age at gonadectomy and estimated risk or age at diagnosis of neoplastic and behavioral disorders in Vizslas. 

Design: 

Retrospective cohort study. Animals 2,505 Vizslas born between 1992 and 2008. 

Procedures: Data on demographics, gonadectomy status, and age at diagnosis of disease or disorder were obtained with an anonymous online survey and analyzed. 

Results: 

Dogs gonadectomized at ≤ 6 months, between 7 and 12 months, or at > 12 months of age had significantly increased odds of developing mast cell cancer, lymphoma, all other cancers, all cancers combined, and fear of storms, compared with the odds for sexually intact dogs. Females  gonadectomized at ≤ 12 months of age and males and females gonadectomized at > 12 months of age had significantly increased odds of developing hemangiosarcoma, compared with the odds for sexually intact dogs. Dogs gonadectomized at ≤ 6 months of age had significantly increased odds of developing a behavioral disorder. The younger the age at gonadectomy, the earlier the mean age at diagnosis of mast cell cancer, cancers other than mast cell, hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma, all cancers combined, a behavioral disorder, or fear of storms. 

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: 

Additional studies are needed on the biological effects of removing gonadal hormones and on methods to render dogs infertile that do not involve gonadectomy. Veterinarians should discuss the benefits and possible adverse effects of gonadectomy with clients, giving consideration to the breed of dog, the owner's circumstances, and the anticipated use of the dog. 

From: BioPortfolio, http://www.bioportfolio.com/resources/pmarticle/928848/Evaluation-of-the-risk-and-age-of-onset-ofcancer-and-behavioral.html. Study originally published in J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2014 Feb 1;244(3):309-19. doi: 10.2460/ 

javma.244.3.309.

19 Dog-Friendly Stores Where You Can Shop With Your Pup

With the intensive socialization required for Vizsla puppies --- this is helpful info.

19 Dog-Friendly Stores Where You Can Shop With Your Pup

http://barkpost.com/dog-friendly-stores/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post

Canine Maternal Behavior -- VERY important

The BOYZ are learning valuable lessons from Zene.  Last night, I watched her take one of their chewies from their puppy playpen and instead of take it away to chew it, she sat right down in the middle of them all -- almost taunting and teasing them with it -- but also in an effort to show them it was hers (low growls) and that they should respect her.  I love seeing this approproiate behavior and I know how important it is for the puppy to have some "basic doggie language skills" before they head home.  

The below exceprt was posted in a Facebook Vizsla Group, and I was happy to see a well-known breeder on the East Coast comment that she refused to breed one of her girls because she was afraid she would not have any maternal instincts/be a poor brood bitch; much respect for her decision.   

Canine Maternal Behavior 

Maternal behavior is, thus, almost identical in wild a canids and domestic dogs. Immediately after birth, the mother dries the puppies, keeps them warm, feeds them and licks them clean. The maternal behavior right after birth is controlled by hormonal processes and problems may occur if the female gives birth too early. On the other hand, pseudo-pregnancy causes females to undergo hormonal changes which may elicit maternal behavior in various degrees. Maternal behavior seems to be self-reinforcing. Studies show that the levels of dopamine increase in the nucleus accumbens (a region of the brain) when a female displays maternal behavior. 

When the puppies become older, the mother begins to educate them. She gives them the first lessons in dog language about the time weaning begins. Growling, snarling and the various pacifying behaviors are inborn, but the puppies need to learn their function. 

The canine mother has three main tasks: (1) to feed the puppies, first with her own milk, then by regurgitation, (2) to keep them clean and warm, especially when they are very young, and (3) to educate the puppies. 

A good canine mother is patient and diligent. When the puppies grow, dog owners often misunderstand the mother’s apparently more violent educational methods. She may growl at them and even attack them, but she never harms them. Muzzle grabbing is fairly common. Without the mother’s intervention, the puppies would never become capable social animals and would not be able to function properly in a pack (a group of wild dogs living together is in English called a pack). When the puppies are about 8-10 weeks old, the mother seems to lose some of her earlier interest in them. In normal circumstances, the rest of the pack, then, takes over the continuing education of the puppies, their social integration in the group (which probably mostly consists of relatives) and their protection.

Entire article: http://rogerabrantes.wordpress.com/2014/11/11/canine-maternal-behavior/ 

Potty training breakthrough!!!!

Woohoo a potty training breakthrough --- The BOYZ held it through the night at 6 1/2 weeks old. I was getting worried I'd be cleaning this mess up every morning until go home day. Thank you BOYZ.