Shaping Temperament

Part 4

This month I will continue to present the critical developmental periods through which each and every puppy progresses as they mature. It would benefit each breeder and puppy buyer alike to understand these periods as each period presents a unique opportunity to shape an individual puppy's temperament.

The socialization period(s) is by far the most important and influential period of a puppy's entire life. This period extends (roughly) from 3 to 12 weeks of age. This period allows for the development of many important and lasting social and learning skills. Behaviors concerning appetite, social affinities, aversions, patterns of active/passive reactivity, sexual behavior, pack behavior, play, reactivity to separation and other emotional stimuli, explorative behavior, fear and avoidance patterns, learning and problem-solving patterns and trainability are all set during this impressionable period. The treatment and experiences a puppy has during this stage will strongly affect virtually every functional behavior system.

The primary socialization period extends from 3 to 5 weeks of age. Many inter-related emotional tendencies and behavior patterns develop at this time, opening the door for active social awareness and responsiveness. At this time, puppies begin to exhibit heightened signs of distress, such as vocalizations and (physical) efforts to reunite when separated from the mother and littermates. Group activity and play behaviors appear at this time. Playful sexual and aggressive behaviors frequently occur among littermates. Predatory behaviors such as stalking, pouncing and shaking also appear. Such behaviors are directed toward both littermates and inanimate articles that provoke curiosity. Sparring between siblings occurs readily during this stage although subordinate/dominant positions are unstable and shifting. This period may be an important one for a puppy's acquisition of bite inhibition as puppies display a great deal of mouthing and biting behavior between siblings. Puppies that are weaned too early or are born to a single puppy litter may display a harder than normal bite as they have not been given the opportunity to learn proper inhibitions.

This period is vastly important for the development of a stable emotional temperament. Removing a puppy too early from its mother and litter is believed to be the cause of many social and emotional difficulties displayed in adulthood. Behavior problems seen often include over-reactivity, emotional rigidity and increased anxiety. Puppies removed too early are also prone to develop problems with excessive barking, separation distress, compulsive destructive behaviors and aggression directed toward other canines as well as humans.

The mother leaving the whelping is more frequent and for greater periods of time during this period. Puppies tend to wander farther and leave the nesting area to eliminate on their own. At this time, puppies can be taught to eat semi-solid food. At this time, puppies begin to display more involved explorative behavior such as sniffing, pawing, chewing and tearing, picking up and carrying a wide variety of objects. Puppies become enthusiastic to new social situations but also display preference toward familiar individuals. Puppies also begin to display expressive tail wagging at this time. Between 5 to 7 weeks of age, a fear of strangers appears. This develops over several weeks and ends with the close of the socialization stage at 12 weeks.

The secondary socialization period extends from 6 to 12 weeks of age. For many puppies this marks the transition from living with its siblings and mother to living with his/her new adoptive family. This transition is peered by the mother's increasing irritability toward her pups whose sharp teeth work to discontinue her desire to feed them. It is not surprising that maternal punishment peaks around this time. Also peaking are the antagonistic behaviors displayed between littermates. Distress vocalization and reactive behavior exhibited during brief isolation from littermates peaks at about 7 weeks and rapidly declines at week 10 approaches. A puppy's willingness to approach strangers also peaks at this time. Puppies also display confidence in approaching novel objects within the environment. Probably the strongest support encouraging adoption at 7 weeks is that the progressive potential for fearfulness toward social approach occurs at this time and ends with the close of the socialization period at 12 weeks of age. These two opposing social patterns (fear and attraction) intersect during week 7. Puppies appear to be most efficiently prepared for social development during a short period around 7 weeks of age. This does not suggest, however, that puppies younger or older can not benefit from socialization.

It is not necessary to delay socialization until 7 weeks of age. 5-week-old puppies are more outgoing and less fearful of social contact than 7-week-old pups. It would benefit breeders to initiate secondary socialization prior to the (norm) adoption age of 7 weeks. Daily handling of each puppy and adding novel visual, tactile and auditory stimuli to the puppies' environment can increase acceptance to novel environmental stimuli later in life.

Throughout life an individual dog will move in and out of critical periods of learning and development. Often overlapping, these periods occur rapidly in young individuals and then taper as an individual matures. We have discussed the most important periods pertaining to the development of temperament. Breeders would be wise to learn as much as they can about these critical periods as such knowledge can help to shape the positive development of each new generation. Further, by empowering puppy buyers with such knowledge breeders can help to ensure the proper follow-through of acceptable temperament development.

There is so much more information available than is possible to give in this forum. At the end of this series, I will provide a list of literature that will help to support further study.

Next month I will introduce the "laws of learning" that pertain to all animals. After concluding with this information, I will bring the elements of genetics, critical learning/growth periods and learning theory together to present a practical and complete view of the shaping of temperament.

Linda J. Brodzik, Behavior Therapist/Trainer
Unleashed Behavior and Training Services
763-577-0761
www.unleashed.animaltrainers.com

Part 5 ... continued


Home Email Available Puppies Adults Site Map		Shaping Temperament Part 4 This month I will continue to present the critical developmental periods through which each and every puppy progresses as they mature. It would benefit each breeder and puppy buyer alike to understand these periods as each period presents a unique opportunity to shape an individual puppy's temperament. The socialization period(s) is by far the most important and influential period of a puppy's entire life. This period extends (roughly) from 3 to 12 weeks of age. This period allows for the development of many important and lasting social and learning skills. Behaviors concerning appetite, social affinities, aversions, patterns of active/passive reactivity, sexual behavior, pack behavior, play, reactivity to separation and other emotional stimuli, explorative behavior, fear and avoidance patterns, learning and problem-solving patterns and trainability are all set during this impressionable period. The treatment and experiences a puppy has during this stage will strongly affect virtually every functional behavior system. The primary socialization period extends from 3 to 5 weeks of age. Many inter-related emotional tendencies and behavior patterns develop at this time, opening the door for active social awareness and responsiveness. At this time, puppies begin to exhibit heightened signs of distress, such as vocalizations and (physical) efforts to reunite when separated from the mother and littermates. Group activity and play behaviors appear at this time. Playful sexual and aggressive behaviors frequently occur among littermates. Predatory behaviors such as stalking, pouncing and shaking also appear. Such behaviors are directed toward both littermates and inanimate articles that provoke curiosity. Sparring between siblings occurs readily during this stage although subordinate/dominant positions are unstable and shifting. This period may be an important one for a puppy's acquisition of bite inhibition as puppies display a great deal of mouthing and biting behavior between siblings. Puppies that are weaned too early or are born to a single puppy litter may display a harder than normal bite as they have not been given the opportunity to learn proper inhibitions. This period is vastly important for the development of a stable emotional temperament. Removing a puppy too early from its mother and litter is believed to be the cause of many social and emotional difficulties displayed in adulthood. Behavior problems seen often include over-reactivity, emotional rigidity and increased anxiety. Puppies removed too early are also prone to develop problems with excessive barking, separation distress, compulsive destructive behaviors and aggression directed toward other canines as well as humans. The mother leaving the whelping is more frequent and for greater periods of time during this period. Puppies tend to wander farther and leave the nesting area to eliminate on their own. At this time, puppies can be taught to eat semi-solid food. At this time, puppies begin to display more involved explorative behavior such as sniffing, pawing, chewing and tearing, picking up and carrying a wide variety of objects. Puppies become enthusiastic to new social situations but also display preference toward familiar individuals. Puppies also begin to display expressive tail wagging at this time. Between 5 to 7 weeks of age, a fear of strangers appears. This develops over several weeks and ends with the close of the socialization stage at 12 weeks. The secondary socialization period extends from 6 to 12 weeks of age. For many puppies this marks the transition from living with its siblings and mother to living with his/her new adoptive family. This transition is peered by the mother's increasing irritability toward her pups whose sharp teeth work to discontinue her desire to feed them. It is not surprising that maternal punishment peaks around this time. Also peaking are the antagonistic behaviors displayed between littermates. Distress vocalization and reactive behavior exhibited during brief isolation from littermates peaks at about 7 weeks and rapidly declines at week 10 approaches. A puppy's willingness to approach strangers also peaks at this time. Puppies also display confidence in approaching novel objects within the environment. Probably the strongest support encouraging adoption at 7 weeks is that the progressive potential for fearfulness toward social approach occurs at this time and ends with the close of the socialization period at 12 weeks of age. These two opposing social patterns (fear and attraction) intersect during week 7. Puppies appear to be most efficiently prepared for social development during a short period around 7 weeks of age. This does not suggest, however, that puppies younger or older can not benefit from socialization. It is not necessary to delay socialization until 7 weeks of age. 5-week-old puppies are more outgoing and less fearful of social contact than 7-week-old pups. It would benefit breeders to initiate secondary socialization prior to the (norm) adoption age of 7 weeks. Daily handling of each puppy and adding novel visual, tactile and auditory stimuli to the puppies' environment can increase acceptance to novel environmental stimuli later in life. Throughout life an individual dog will move in and out of critical periods of learning and development. Often overlapping, these periods occur rapidly in young individuals and then taper as an individual matures. We have discussed the most important periods pertaining to the development of temperament. Breeders would be wise to learn as much as they can about these critical periods as such knowledge can help to shape the positive development of each new generation. Further, by empowering puppy buyers with such knowledge breeders can help to ensure the proper follow-through of acceptable temperament development. There is so much more information available than is possible to give in this forum. At the end of this series, I will provide a list of literature that will help to support further study. Next month I will introduce the "laws of learning" that pertain to all animals. After concluding with this information, I will bring the elements of genetics, critical learning/growth periods and learning theory together to present a practical and complete view of the shaping of temperament. Linda J. Brodzik, Behavior Therapist/Trainer Unleashed Behavior and Training Services 763-577-0761 www.unleashed.animaltrainers.com Part 5 ... continued