Franc x Odessa puppies - July 11th

Franc x Odessa puppies - July 11th
Franc x Odessa puppies - July 11th

Monday, August 16, 2010

Rule of Seven

The Rule of Seven is a tool to help people understand how to socialize puppies. The critical socialization period is from 4 to 16 weeks of age. During this time, puppies should be given the opportunity for as many positive unique experiences as possible.

By the 7th week, puppies should have:

  • walked on 7 different surfaces (grass, wood, concrete, gravel, sand, dirt, pebbles, wood chips/mulch, carpet, vinyl, etc)

  • played with 7 different types of objects (rubber ball, fuzzy toys, paper, cardboard, plastic bottle, sticks, metal object, vinyl toy, etc.)

  • been in 7 different locations (kitchen, laundry room, garage, car, yard, bathroom, basement, etc.)

  • played with 7 new people - men, women, children (young and old, bonus if anyone is in a wheel chair or uses a cane)

  • eaten from 7 different containers (metal, plastic, glass, china, paper, frying pan, pie dish, wobbly bowl, etc.)

  • exposed to 7 different noises (baby crying, music, vacuum, washer/dryer/dishwasher, doorbell, whistle, nature sounds, etc., bonus if they eat in 7 different locations)

  • been exposed to 7 different challenges (climbing in a box, going thru a tunnel, walking on a tippy board, climbing steps, climb over obstacles, walking thru a doorway, run around a tree, etc.)
In addition to the above, they will get to experience as many things as I can think of, such as...
  • opening an umbrella
  • wearing a collar and walking on a leash
  • weird noises such as Halloween sounds
  • objects falling

The more a puppy is exposed to in a positive manner, the better chance they have of being a stable animal to live with. While I will start each puppy on its path of socialization, the new owners must continue this to ensure the puppies grow into the best dogs they can.

Tonight's adventure is to explore a new room all by themselves. (Well, I'll be there to supervise, but no momma or littermates as it is important that they learn to explore on their own and to be confident dogs.)

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