WARNING: This web site is
protected by Federal  Copyright
Laws. Unauthorised reproduction or
distribution of pictures or any
portion of it may result in severe
civil and criminal penalties and will  
be prosecuted to the maximum
under the law.
But what exactly is "proper socialization"?  
Socialization is the process of exposing a puppy from
early on to as wide a variety of environments,
situations,animals, and types of people as can be done
safely and without causing trauma to the pup.
Canine-behavior researchers have found that there are
several crucial "socialization windows" in the first year-
limited periods during which the pup is receptive to the
lifelong benefits of exposure to new things. Of these
periods, the earliest- the first 12 weeks of life is the
most critical. According to the American Veterinary
Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB), sociability
outweighs fear during this period, making it "the
primary window of opportunity for puppies to adapt to
new people, animals, and experiences."This period is
web the pup first learns to accept and enjoy the
company of people, to behave appropriately around
other dogs, and to experience the differing aspects of
the world around him without fear So after 12 weeks,
most pups will enter a fear-prone period in their
development. After this point, if the pup has not been
well socialized it may be at best permanently difficult
for him to adapt to certain unfamiliar experiences.
"Basically, an adult dog's temperament and behavior
habits, both good and bad, are shaped during puppy
hood," says veterinarian and leading animal behaviorist
Dr. Ian Dunbar, author of Before & After Getting Your
Puppy. Further, Dunbar notes that behavior issues are
the number-one cause of relinquishment to shelters.
Thus it is essential that as a breeder you understand
the importance of socialization. Although its benefits
continue throughout (and beyond) the first 18 months
of the dog's life, remember that the most critical
socialization period ends at 12 weeks, so the bulk if not
all of this most vital groundwork is up to you.

100 People by 12 Weeks:

Most important of all is to expose the pups to as wide a
variety of people as possible- people of differing ages,
sizes, skin color, and dress. Many dogs can be
particularly apprehensive of men and very small
children if they were not exposed to them during the
early socialization period. Dunbar recommends that a
puppy meet at least 100 different people by age 12
weeks. "Not only is this easier to do than it might
sound," he explains, "its also lots of fun." Breeders can
arrange to have small groups of friends and family visit
the pups, and take pups to public areas such as
pet-supply stores and school grounds.

The American Kennel Club, suggest The Importance of
Puppy Socialization:

From the very start, a puppy learns important lessons
through his experience of the world around him. Even in
the first few weeks as he snuggles with his dam,
wrestles with his littermate's, and is handled by his
breeder each day, the personality traits and social
skills that he will have all his life are beginning to form.
As the weeks go by, exposure to a variety of
experiences is crucial to his well-rounded adult.
Studies have shown that a puppy's experiences in the
first three months of life strongly influence what kind of
companion he will grow to be and how he will react to
the world. Will he shy away from children? Will he be
afraid of people in hats? Will he be aggressive toward
other dogs? Or will he be easygoing and adaptable in a
variety of situations? Perhaps surprisingly, failure to
properly expose a young puppy to certain situations or
types of people during his brief early period can result
in his being forever fearful of them as an adult. Early
socialization or the lack of it is a vital determinant of a
dog's lifelong behaviors. Without proper socialization, it
is unlikely that a pup will become the adult dog he
could have been, whether as a competitor in canine
events or as a happy, well- adjusted pet.