The critical socialization stage closes around 4 month of age. It's not exactly the same for every dog, for some dogs it closes earlier and others later. No dog will ever get that time back. During the critical socialization stage your dog should be safely and positively subjected to everything that they will see later on in life. The general rule is that you touch on 6 categories:
1. People
2. Animals
3. Handling
4. Sounds
5. Textures
6. Objects
It is not enough that your dog is in the presence of things in these categories. Your puppy must also feel comfortable and enjoy the environment for a positive association to occur. Join us in Enrichment Classes and Puppy Socials to learn how to fully take advantage of this time period. Most behavior problems in adult dogs are a result of lack or improper socialization.
