Puppy social classes aren't enough— Why you should be exploring outdoors with your puppy
Brie Blakeman, CBCC-KA,CPDT-KA
─ Noble Woof Dog Training Portland, Oregon
…that it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive socialization before they are fully vaccinated, but most standard veterinarians are not required to take any classes on behavior to get their degree.
Bringing a new puppy into your life is an exciting and joyful experience. Those first few months are filled with love, playfulness, and lots of learning—for both you and your puppy. But beyond the adorable antics, there’s a crucial developmental window that every dog owner needs to understand: the socialization period, which lasts from approximately 8 to 20 weeks of age.
During this time, your puppy is like a sponge, absorbing everything around them. The experiences they have—or don’t have—during this period will shape their behavior and temperament for the rest of their lives.
The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior believes that it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive socialization before they are fully vaccinated, but most standard veterinarians (non Veterinary Behaviorists) are not required to take any classes on behavior to get their degree. This can mean they have extensive knowledge on protecting against disease, but little to no knowledge regarding what is best for your puppy behaviorally. Many Veterinarians go above and beyond to educate themselves on behavior, and those Veterinarians will absolutely recommend you take special care in socializing your puppy, but some Veterinarians still might recommend avoiding socializing your puppy until after they get all of their shots. Unfortunately, no puppy is fully vaccinated until they are 20 weeks old, and a puppies critical socialization period lasts from 8 to 16 weeks of age. You cannot socialize a puppy after 16 weeks old, and a lack of experience can be just as detrimental as a negative experience.
During this sensitive period of learning it is essential that puppies experience the world in a safe, positive way as their brains are just starting to solidify what is safe or unsafe in their world. Anything they have not experienced after this period will likely be perceived as dangerous. Anything that a puppy has had negative experiences with, or has had no experience with by the time they are 16 weeks often become objects of life long behavior problems such as fear and aggression. It is a natural survival instinct for any dog that is 20 weeks or older to respond with fear or aggression at anything they have not experienced during their critical socialization period, and because the brain is less spongy and susceptible to change after 16 weeks old, this sense of fear/aggression is often carried through the dog’s entire life. This is why behavior professionals recommend taking safe and calculated risks of disease exposure in the name of socialization.
That being said, the risk of exposure to diseases such as parvo is absolutely risk and one that should be taken seriously. So, how do you both protect a puppy from disease while making sure they are learning good things about the world they live in. Here are some suggestions.
Enroll your puppy in reputable puppy socialization classes with certified dog trainers leading them.
We minimize the risk of exposure to disease by deep cleaning the space we run our socials in, using a parvo killing cleaner called Rescue. Read more about how it works HERE. This is the same cleaner we used at The Oregon Humane Society when I worked there. We ran classes with dogs of all ages. I never once experienced a parvo or disease outbreak of any kind in my 3 years there and we had hundred of dogs coming through. That being said, it is always a risk. This is why we also require all puppies to have at least one round of DHPP vaccine.
While puppy socialization classes are a fantastic start, they are not enough. To truly prepare your puppy for the world, they need to be out and about, exploring new environments, meeting new people, and encountering the many sights and sounds of modern urban life.
Socialization strolls Are a must!!!
While puppy socialization classes are a valuable part of your puppy’s early education, they are limited in what they can offer. These classes typically take place in controlled, indoor environments that don’t fully reflect the world your puppy will live in.
In addition to enrolling in puppy classes we strongly recommend you take your puppy out into the world for short 10-15m outings to see the world. During your outing give them treats and toys every time something new occurs in the environment so they to associate it will good stuff.
Real-life exposure to the outside world is irreplaceable. Your puppy needs to learn how to navigate the unpredictable elements of urban life, from the rumble of a city bus to the rustling of leaves on a windy day. Though paramount for safe contact with other puppies, a classroom environment simply can’t replicate these experiences.
Moreover, puppies need to learn how to navigate a variety of environments, not just the inside of your home or a training facility. They need to understand how to walk on different surfaces, how to stay calm in the presence of distractions, and how to interact confidently with the world around them.
Building a Confident, Well-Adjusted Dog
By taking your puppy out into the world during this critical window, you’re helping them build confidence, resilience, and the ability to adapt to new situations. These outings are not just about preventing fear; they’re about giving your puppy the tools they need to navigate life confidently and happily.
In the end, the benefits of early and safe socialization far outweigh the risks. By thoughtfully exposing your puppy to the world, you’re laying the foundation for a lifetime of positive behavior and a strong, trusting bond between you and your dog. So grab a leash (or even better, a 10ft long line), pack some treats, and take your puppy out for an short adventure—they’ll thank you for it!
Be sure to read up on dog body language to ensure they aren’t feeling uncomfortable when you take them out. This two-minute video might help.
You can also help them learn about new surfaces and sounds from the comfort of your home, just as the video below demonstrates.
For more ideas we recommend watching the short video below.
Click here to explore our puppy social program.
Here are some additional recommendations by the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior.
Puppies should be encouraged to explore, investigate, and manipulate their environments. Interactive toys and games, a variety of surfaces, tunnels, steps, chutes, and other stimuli can enrich the puppy’s environment.
Each puppy should have up-to-date vaccinations and be disease and parasite free before entering the class. Where possible, classes should be held on surfaces that are easily cleaned and disinfected (e.g. indoor environments). Visits to dog parks or other areas that are not sanitized and/or are highly trafficked by dogs of unknown vaccination or disease status should be avoided.
Classes and at-home training should be based on positive reinforcement with frequent rewards praise, petting, play and/ or treats. Positive and consistent training is associated with fewer behavioral problems and greater obedience than methods that involve punishment and/or encourage human dominance.
Early and adequate socialization and programs of positive training can go a long way to preventing behavior problems and improving bonding between humans and dogs.
Other puppy socials we recommend in Portland, Oregon include:
Noble Woof Puppy Socials (This is us!)
PupStar Puppy Socials
Wonder Puppy Puppy Socials
Doggy Business Puppy Socials
SubUrban Pooch Puppy Socials
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