The door for socialization closes at 16 weeks. It may be cracked a hair for some individual dogs, but for most, it is closed. After that, you are treating a behavior problem and you don't want to be in that situation. You can find out more about socialization here (and here).
The fact is, “when she's older” will be far too late. Scientifically, here's the reason why: puppies go through a critical socialization period from 6 to 16 weeks of age that will dramatically impact their behavior for the rest of their lives.
Puppy socialization begins with the breeder and continues with you. Expose your puppy to different people, places, sights, and sounds. Well-run puppy classes are a good way to socialize your pup with other dogs.
After sixteen weeks a dog's socialization window has closed and raising a well-adjusted dog becomes far more difficult. The reason many puppy owners are told to wait until the dog has all of his shots is due to a perceived risk of Parvovirus and Distemper.
At 5 months old, your puppy is still a puppy, but lots of big changes are afoot. You may notice their puppy fur is giving way to their adult coat. And it might be occurring to you that puppy progress isn't a straight line—there's a little zigging and zagging involved (as it should be.
Undesirable behaviours such as barking, chewing, counter surfing, house-soiling and jumping up commonly begin to occur at around 3-6 months of age.
Stage 5: Adolescence (6 – 18 months) This can be the most difficult time during a puppy's development – adolescence. Your cute little puppy is becoming a teenager and will start producing hormones which may result in changes in behaviour.
Without proper socialization, dogs may become anxious and fearful of anything unfamiliar. This could give rise to serious behavioral problems, such as aggression or nervous behavior.
While the ideal age to socialize your puppy is between 6 and 16 weeks old, dogs will benefit from socialization at any age.
According to the American Kennel Club, puppies younger than 10 weeks cannot be left alone for more than an hour. From 3-6 months, they should not be left longer than their age in months (for example, 3-month-old puppies cannot be alone for longer than 3 hours).
It's never too late to socialize an adult dog. If your woof lacks experience in the world, take them outside and get started today. We wish you the best of luck and, when your pooch is ready, we'd love to see them at Hounds Lounge for doggie daycare! While we're on the topic, get social with us.
The good news is that all hope is not lost! No matter the reason your dog is unsocialized or under socialized, you can still do quite a lot to help them feel more comfortable and confident.
Young puppies under six months shouldn't really be left alone for more than two hours. And it's a good idea to build up the time they spend alone gradually to prevent separation anxiety from setting in. When you do leave your puppy alone, it's a good idea to crate train them, or leave them in a puppy-proofed room.
You might feel stressed, scared, or embarrassed by your dog's behavior. You are not alone in wanting to understand why your dog is acting aggressively. Aggression doesn't always come from a lack of socialization, but undersocialized dogs are at increased risk of aggression.
When You Shouldn't Ignore Your Dog's Bad Behavior. There are some behaviors you don't want to ignore, such as puppy nipping or pulling on leash. Any behavior that feels good to your dog, is naturally calming (such as licking or chewing), or is fun to do is not likely to go away when ignored.
Without proper socialization as a puppy, your dog won't know how to interact with other dogs, leading to fearful, anxious, or aggressive behavior around them later in life.
Reward Calm Behavior
Instead, try rewarding good behavior and moments when your dog is calm. Once a dog starts to pick up on this positive reinforcement— be it with treats, bones, or even just words— they'll start to trust that things will be okay the next time a similar situation arises.
Behavior Changes
She may be less eager to please and more likely to test the rules. She's also enjoying a big dose of hormones that may cause willful or rebellious behaviors — just like a teenager. Your potty-trained puppy may start having accidents in the house. Be patient and consistent, and reinforce training.
From 1 to 2 Years
Your dog has graduated from puppyhood. As your puppy nears age one (up to two years for a large breed), they're beginning to look and act more mature. They will probably still be playful, but now they've learned the ropes and are much better at following the rules.
It is okay to have feelings of regret about getting a puppy. It doesn't make you a bad person and it doesn't mean you shouldn't have your puppy. Feeling inadequate as a pup parent is quite common, but luckily there are things you can do to help with those feelings!
In conclusion, one can learn things about a puppy's temperament as early as 4-5 weeks, although the older they get the more you can learn and the more reliable a temperament test. By 6-8 weeks, a breeder should be able to tell you many details about your pup's personality.