Critical Socialization

​Lets take a minute to talk about Socialization.
Socialization is NOT taking an older pup or dog out and meeting every person or animal.
Socialization is NOT bringing a young puppy out and letting them meet every person or animal.
Socialization is NOT letting your puppy eat out of stranger's hands.
Socialization does NOT start and end with meeting people, dogs or going in public.
These are common issues we see with socially stunted or socially inept dogs.
Critical Socialization begins at 4 weeks and ends at 16 weeks. Anything after 16 weeks is no longer socialization, it is simply desensitizing dogs to certain stimulus.
Socialization is letting your puppy see, hear and smell the world without having any negative experience. In Critical Socialization, a bad experience will stick with them for life, unless you have professional guidance on the situation before 16 weeks.
We carry our puppies to be in full control. This also allows them to have the best chance of staying disease free at these susceptible ages.
Socialization allows your dog to experience the way of the world at a young age, so it normal to them and not a shocking or scary experience.
Some things to consider socializing your puppy to:
-Surfaces in a safe environment. Slippery, metal, different terrain.
-Water (large bodies, streams, rivers)
-Noises. Cars, trucks, motorcycles, the noises of a city, gun fire if possible.
-People. Seeing all types of people, from all cultures. Even elderly and young children or babies.
-Animals. Other dogs, cats, farm animals, small animals such as birds, fish, rodents and reptiles.
These are things we do with young puppies at TWFP when you elect to work with them younger. This gives them their best possibility at living a rounded life well adjusted.