From birth to about 16 weeks puppies have this phenomenal ability to assimilate new information and new experiences. Whatever they see around them and have positive experiences with at this time will have life-long consequences.

Unfortunately, if they DON'T see much (like a puppy farm dog) or they have a BAD experience (the first visit to the VET, at 8 weeks perhaps?), the fear generated may also last for life. When socialising your puppy you need to be aware of their Critical Periods. A good book to read is Jean Donaldson's "The Culture Clash" or Gwen Bailey's "Perfect Puppy".

After 16 weeks this socialisation window closes for good. Socialising an adult dog can be a very long-winded process, if, indeed it is do-able at all.

At the CFA we instigate the following socialisation programme from about 4 weeks of age. The aim is to have each puppy have a positive experience with each of the items on the list.

The CFA Socialisation Programme (Green = Done, Red = Not done yet)
	Surfaces	Play Items	Locations	Eaten (From)	Eaten (in)	People	Tests
1	Grass	Glass Jar	Patio	Metal Plate	Crate	Women	Climbed in a box
2	Vetbed	Tennis Ball	Back Garden	Plastic Tray	Back Garden	Men	Climbed off a box
3	Linoleum	Leather Football	Kitchen Sink	Weanafeeda	Living Room	Babies	Go through a tunnel
4	Newspaper	Metal Spoon	Living Room	Cardboard	Whelping Box	Toddlers	Climbed up steps
5	Tiles	Squeakers	Car	China	Car	Juniors	Climbed down steps
6	Concrete	Wooden Toy	Bathroom	Glass	Play Pen	Teenagers	Climbed over obstacles
7	Gravel	Fabric Toy	Crate	Paper	Kitchen	Olds	Played hide and seek

 

Puppy Socialisation Programme Cont... (Green = Done, Red = Not done yet)
	Sounds	Grooming	Sounds Cont	Dogs Met		Paper Trained
1	Radio	Bath (Sink)	Hammer	Border Collie	Great Dane
2	Television	Blow Dryer	Drill	Jack Russell	Cocker Spaniels
3	Vacuum	Blaster	Electric Saw	Welsh Collie	Curly Coated Retriever
4	Children in playground	Pin Brush	Breaking Glass	Bassett Hound
5	Dogs Barking	Comb	Bolster & Hammer	Lab (Black)
6	Lawn Mower	Nail Clippers	Paslode (Gun)	Staff X Terrier
7	Electric Quad Bike.	Nail Grinder	Angle Grinder	Am. Cocker Spaniel

 

 

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