07/04/2026
Socialisation does not mean...
❌Pushing your puppy into uncomfortable situations
❌Forcing them to be involved in activities that are overwhelming to them
❌Going for 'volume' of encounters without assessing your puppies needs or the quality of those encounters
❌ Making on-lead dogs approach each other when one of them is clearly backing off or showing signs of discomfort
(search our previous posts on canine body language to learn more about the subtle signs of unease)
The first three to four months of a puppy’s life are known as the socialisation or sensitive period — a critical developmental window where puppies learn what is safe, normal, and predictable in the world around them. What puppies experience during this time, whether positive or negative, can have profound effects on their behaviour later in life.
Research shows that dogs who are not properly socialised as puppies are at a higher risk of developing problematic behaviours in adulthood, including fear, anxiety, aggression, and separation-related issues.
For example, puppies given additional socialisation were later reported by owners to show:
✅ less fear towards humans
✅ improved emotional bonding
✅ greater confidence at one year of age
Puppy socialisation is not simply “meeting lots of people and dogs.” It is the process of building a foundation of safe, positive experiences, helping puppies develop into calm and resilient adult dogs.
During this period, puppies are naturally more curious. Once this window closes, it becomes much harder to reverse negative associations.
Unfortunately, due to the high prevalence of low welfare dogs (and other animals), time and time again people are buying puppies whose parents are bred in poor welfare, stressful conditions, and do not receive the essential life experiences that a good breeder should provide from the day they are born. Importantly, research highlights that the socialisation period begins while puppies are still in the breeding environment. Because puppies are typically homed from 8 weeks onwards, responsibility for early exposure starts with the breeder, not just the new owner. This is increasingly important as more puppies are being bred in large commercial (or illegally imported from) breeding establishments. Dogs sourced from such facilities are reported to show increased risk of behavioural disorders later in life, including:
➡heightened fear
➡aggression
➡anxiety
➡separation-related behaviours
➡attention-seeking behaviours
➡sensitivity to touch
Furthermore, despite the importance of this stage, socialisation is often misunderstood or done incorrectly. Here are some of the most common mistakes:
1. Overwhelming Experiences
Introducing too many new people, environments, or noises at once can flood a puppy emotionally. Instead of learning confidence, puppies may learn fear. Socialisation should always be gradual, calm, and controlled.
2. Allowing Negative or Frightening Encounters
A single frightening event — such as being attacked by another dog or forced into an uncomfortable situation — can leave long-term emotional consequences. Negative early experiences are strongly linked to anxiety-related behaviours later in life.
3. Inconsistent Exposure
Socialisation is not a one-off event. You have not 'done traffic' after one outing on a road. Sporadic exposure can result in puppies failing to build confidence, leaving them uncertain in unfamiliar situations as adults. Consistency can help here: short, positive, repeated experiences may work best.
4. Ignoring Individual Differences
Not all puppies respond the same way. Some are bold and curious, while others are naturally more cautious and need more time to adjust.
5. Waiting Until Vaccinations Are Fully Complete
Many owners delay socialisation until after vaccinations, but this risks missing the most sensitive learning period. Safe socialisation starts from the moment these puppies are born and while they grow up with the breeder - and can continue in the household and some safe areas/interactions before the vaccination courses is fully done - as this can be 12-14+weeks of age and you have 'missed the boat' so to speak.
6. Focusing on Quantity Over Quality
Socialisation is not about how many dogs or people a puppy meets. It is not about forcing you puppy to cuddle children and accept people petting them when they are clearly uncomfortable. A few calm, rewarding encounters are far more valuable than many chaotic ones.
The goal is not to overwhelm — but to teach puppies that the world is safe. You can start that by picking high welfare puppies, but after that is is not about forcing or overwhelming your puppies.
McEvoy V, Espinosa UB, Crump A, Arnott G. Canine Socialisation: A Narrative Systematic Review. Animals (Basel). 2022 Oct 22;12(21):2895. doi: 10.3390/ani12212895. Erratum in: Animals (Basel). 2022 Dec 26;13(1):81. doi: 10.3390/ani13010081. PMID: 36359020; PMCID: PMC9655304.
