58 Saber Tails Fall 2017
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America
U
nder socialized dogs will often be shy and skittish. And unfortunately, many shy and skittish dogs will learn that ag-
gressive posturing is just the behavior to ensure they are not forced into a situation they can’t control or know the
outcome. Over time many dogs will learn that the best defense is a good offense. High quality socialization does not
guarantee a behavioral problem-free life with your dog, but your odds of trouble go way down!
I
t’s a good idea to discuss with the breeder of your puppy what they
did early in life to begin the socialization process. The breeder can be-
gin working on socialization concepts with puppies around 3 weeks old
when their eyes first open and they become aware of the world outside
the whelping box.
What Are the Risks of Socialization?
U
nfortunately, your puppy’s prime time for socialization coincides with
the timeframe when puppy is receiving vaccines and is not fully inocu-
lated against a list of very scary diseases. The typical vaccine protocol in-
volves vaccines administered from six weeks to four months. Puppies must
be safeguarded against Parvovirus and other deadly diseases until at least
one week after their final vaccine. Traditionally, vets would recommend not exposing your puppy to other dogs and
keeping your dog close to home until they had completed their vaccine regimen. However, in recent years, their posi-
tion has changed dramatically. According to the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, “Behavioral issues,
not infectious diseases, are the number one cause of death for dogs under three years of age.” Thankfully, our amiable
PBGVs rarely exhibit such extreme cases of behavioral problems that they can’t be rehabilitated, but you can imagine
how disastrous under-socialization could be with a dog such as a Tibetan Mastiff or Cane Corso.
I
t is a good idea to avoid certain places frequented by other dogs until your puppy has completed his vaccines. Dog
parks, trails designed for dog walking, rest stops along the highway and other places
designed for exercising dogs or other places where you see animal poop are best avoided.
Truth be told, when we take a new puppy to the vet’s office we carry the puppy in and
don’t let others in the waiting room too close. It may be overkill, but sick dogs go to the
vet. It stands to reason there might be some nasty germs lurking in the nooks and cran-
nies.
B
ut there are a lot of places you can take your puppy.
Many new experiences they can see, smell and do
without unnecessary risk.
How Do You Socialize Your Puppy?
I
t’s important to remember here that puppy socialization means exposure to a wide
variety of unfamiliar experiences and not simply learning how to behave around oth-
er dogs. Your puppy needs to have exposure to different types of people, places and
things. A list of the types of experiences you should facilitate for your puppy follows.
T
he most important part of this socialization period is that the puppy has a positive
experience. This is the time for a lot of rewards.
•
Tasty treats can help establish a positive association most of the time. Boil some
chicken and give small pieces in the presence of whatever it is you are introducing.
You could also use training treats. Don’t forget your puppy is quite small and not used
Con’t on p 70