Socialisation of pets: Why your pet needs to be exposed to life at an early age
Ask any behaviourist what the single most important thing they consider that you can do for your new pet and the answer will almost always be socialisation of pets. Getting socialisation right prevents all sorts of problems down the track.
Socialisation of pets, however, is not all about being social, as many new owners mistakenly believe. It is about experiencing life – in a positive way. Socialising, as we tend to view it where our pet meets others of the same species, is important but it is only part of the socialisation experience.
What is socialisation?
Socialisation of pets is the process of introducing a young animal to all the events, in a positive manner, that they will encounter throughout their lives. This process is vital to ensure that the animal accepts these encounters and regards them as positive whenever they experience them again.
Socialisation is especially important for puppies as they are required to be safe and courteous members of society. The process may be less important in cats who are taken out into society less often but is still required within the home and veterinary environment.
Broad categories of socialisation include:
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How to socialise your puppy or kitten
Make a list of all the events, experiences and encounters that your animal would ideally accept throughout their life. Then try to expose your pet to all of these experiences, in a positive manner.
For instance, if it is important that your pup accepts children (and it should be for all dogs), then let your puppy watch a child play from a distance away. Praise them for calm behaviour. If your dog will be around livestock, expose them in a controlled manner to the cows, horses or sheep that they will encounter throughout life.
Although you cannot take your young pet outside onto grass or expose them to unknown pets, due to the risk of disease, it is still important to get your young animal out and about. Take them to your friend’s home, in your car and to your vet clinic.
What age is best for socialisation?
As soon as you obtain your young animal, it is time to socialise them. Ideally, the person who has bred or cared for them will have started this process. Introductions to humans are especially important at a young age, preferably before 8 weeks of age.
The ideal period of socialisation is tapering off by 14 weeks of age, so it really is important to ensure your new pet has a variety of encounters. In my house, whenever we get a new pet and periodically throughout their lives, we play sounds over our speakers; sounds of all sorts of things – lawnmowers, elephants, babies crying. When these are paired up with pats, dinner time or play time, your young pets associates these sounds with positive emotions.
What happens when an animal is not socialised well?
Every animal is an individual and some take new experiences in their stride while others are fearful of anything new. If your pup has not encountered certain aspects of life, they may be fearful when they first come across them.
A dog who has been kept outdoors all their life may be fearful of the vacuum cleaner when they come indoors. A cat who is never taken out in the car may be extremely stressed each time they have to visit the vet.
People who adopt a new pet often assume that they have been abused as they act frightened towards certain people or objects like brooms. Often, no physical abuse has occurred. The abuse, if any, is the neglect to socialise.
Frequently asked questions about socialisation of pets
My dog is an adult. Is it too late to socialise?
It is never too late to socialise or re-socialise. If you have a behaviour problem with your pet, chances are this is what you have to do. Or if you have adopted your new pet from an animal shelter, you may wish to expose them to a variety of events to see how they react. You may need some expert help in getting the process right, however. It is important that your pet does not endanger anyone and that they are not fearful. For more advice contact an animal behaviourist.
My cat does not go anywhere. Do you really need to socialise a cat?
Cats will benefit from being socialised to all the things in life that they are likely to encounter. Perhaps one day you will have a child or a dog or have guest over in your home. Your cat needs to be socialised to these.
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My newly adopted dog is scared of so many things. Is this due to a lack of socialisation?
Your dog may be scared due to a lack of socialisation at an early age or due to negative encounters in the past. Read more about dog anxiety or cat anxiety to learn about fears and phobias.
More on young pets
Training dogs: Learning and teaching styles
Training your puppy
How to introduce dogs and puppies to other animals
Caring for a new kitten
Our podcast and video channel
Join us on Twitter
Dr Jo Righetti’s Puppy Socialisation Chart
This puppy socialisation chart can be used to socialise puppies or to give adult dogs exposure to events and encounters.
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