Socialization is the process during which a puppy or kitten develops relationships and bonds with other living things in its environment.
Your pet’s experiences during the first four months of life, most critically from birth through the first few weeks, will dramatically affect its personality and sociability.
It is very important for these young pups and kittens to have frequent, positive experiences with people, including children and other dogs and cats.
One of the main reasons that young pets adopted out of our veterinary hospital do so well is because of their intensive socialization while at the hospital. These animals are constantly being handled by a multitude of people – staff, clients, kids and the mailman.
They are always exposed to all kinds of creatures and noises. These “stimulated” animals will be highly sociable toward people and other pets, and be less excitable or agitated in new and different situations (like a visit to the doctor!)
Dogs and cats that were once homeless strays often had early lives of unpredictable events and real challenges that developed in them a character akin to “rolling with the punches,” which is one reason I think they become such great pets.
On the other hand, young animals that are isolated or deprived of sufficient early handling and exposure will likely become overly fearful and difficult to properly socialize.
A common example of such a maladjusted pet is the young kitten that becomes the sole indoor pet in the very quiet home of an older person. The often tranquil, predictable environment of such a household provides little stimulation to the growth in a kitten.
This kitten becomes the fearful cat that cannot be taken outside the house (to the hospital, to a kennel for boarding, etc.) or accept newcomers (human or animal) into its environment (whether short- or long-term) without great strife for all concerned.
The kitten is frightened of anything new or different, and often reacts to the change with unpleasant behavior.
It is important for every puppy and kitten to meet as many new people as possible in a variety of situations. Encourage each person who meets your puppy to give it a biscuit; this will teach the pup to look forward to meeting people and discourage hand shyness, since it will learn to associate new friends and an outstretched hand with something positive.
Once the puppy has learned to sit on command, have each new friend ask it to sit before giving the treat; this will teach a proper greeting, and the pup will be less likely to jump on people.
Kittens, too, should receive as much exposure and contact as possible with other species and people of all ages, races, appearances and gender. Kittens that develop social relationships in the first weeks of life will often maintain their ability to develop other relationships for the rest of their lives.
