Having a puppy that is well socialized is essential for a happy, emotionally adult dog and, let’s be honest, a happy owner. From the time a dog opens their eyes and has developed its’ basic motor skills, they have begun learning.
Beginning from three days old, the breeder will start the “imprinting” process. For more information on how to find a reputable breeder, look at www.akc.org/marketplace. At 8 weeks, your puppy has begun play fighting and bite inhibition with their litter mates. It’s imperative that your pup comes in contact with men and children, as typically dogs, noticed by owners, at an older age, that their one time happy, loves everyone puppy is now fearful or “aggressive” towards strangers. Boys from 5-8 are the highest at risk for bites. Exposing puppies to auditory, sensory, tactile, proprioceptive, and visual. A lot of handling is important but never overdo it. There is a protocol that breeders can join and follow that I recommend, www.puppyculture.com is an awesome resource.
Once the puppy is eight weeks old, he or she should be ready to come home. Take it easy the first few days, he will most likely sleep a lot, introduce him to a crate immediately if the breeder did not already, www.diggs.pet are great crates and more on crate training to come. Once your puppy settles in, contact a fear-free trainer in your area, a great resource is www.petprofessionalguild.com and www.akc.org/cgc for Canine Good Citizenship Evaluators. Do not go by the “old way” and wait until the pup has all of their shots, it’s too late. The American Veterinary Society Animal of Behavior www.avsab.org outlines that under socialization puts a pup at a much higher rate of being returned to breeder, shelter, re-homed vs. waiting on all vaccinations.
A puppy typically leads with curiosity not fear if your puppy is able to socialize with different sizes/types of dogs and people it will mold your puppy as an adult. Ultimately deciding if your puppy will be “dog-friendly”, “people-friendly,” or “cat-friendly”. If you give your puppy the right training and building blocks, you will have a puppy who likes dogs, cats, and people
Thinking about getting a puppy from a reputable breeder? Visit them, speak to owners that have a relationship with them, health guarantees, visit them! Ask them how they plan on socializing the puppy during those few weeks prior to you taking it home.