Cats Will Be Cats, Dogs Will Be Dogs
Early Socialization Makes All The Difference
Socialization is a big deal, but, as pet owners, it is an area full of myths and mistakes we make that can lead to persistent issues with our dogs and cats. Know that at any age, many behavior concerns can be corrected with training, desensitization and counterconditioning. But there is a critical window with young animals that can prevent many bad behaviors from developing.
The most important window for proper socialization for puppies and kittens, per many research references, is the first three months of life. The next most important window is from age three months to sexual maturity. What does – or doesn’t – happen in those key windows of time has a significant impact on future behaviors, especially interactions within species, with other species and, of course, with humans.
When abnormal or fearful behaviors are not addressed early, they can worsen over time and lead to relinquishment and rehoming for many pets. Training is also not one and done, but most continue daily until a pet is one year of age or older.
For puppies, first we need to bust a detrimental myth that they must be fully vaccinated before they start training and socializing. False!
In general, puppies can start a puppy socialization class at eight weeks of age after receiving an initial set of vaccinations against Distemper-Parvo and Bordetella. Research shows that they have no higher risk of contracting disease than puppies that stay home. Attending classes also helps to train owners as we need to practice rewarding good behavior, using redirection and ignoring bad behavior, and reading pet body language.
Puppies need to learn how to be dogs. In the first six months of life, your puppy should meet at least 20 other dogs and at least 100 humans. They need to go out and about to learn about the world, hear loud noises, and experience many new places and situations. Start with socialization and obedience classes, along with play dates with friends’ dogs. Then as they get older, take them with you to practice training and see all kinds of new things like a child’s soccer game, a coffee shop and more. And, don’t stop practicing until at least a year of age.
For kittens, remember they don’t and cannot raise themselves. Young kittens need daily attention and hands-on interaction to develop into well-socialized adult cats. This is includes handling by many people, carrier training, acclimation to riding in the car, and lots of play – maybe even visit the vet’s office just for fun and treats.
All mammals are trainable, especially cats. You can learn from a variety of resources to train wanted behaviors, even tricks with clicker training. Focusing on socializing and training your kitten or cat also helps to add enrichment to keep their brains healthy and engaged. Every owner should train their kittens and cats to their carrier to make life easy when going to the vet or other places.
We are lucky to be in the Denver metro area where there are many great trainers and opportunities. Ask your veterinarian for their recommendations, as they will guide you to reputable, positive trainers for dogs. For kitties, visit goodkittybehavior.com for training options and a great feline-focused blog.
Dr. Margot Vahrenwald is the owner of Park Hill Veterinary Medical Center at 2255 Oneida St. For more information, visit www.parkhillvet.com
Resources
Kittens
1. Cats International Kitten/Cat Resources: catsinternational.org/can-you-socialize-a-kitten-2/
2. Hill’s Pet Nutrition: hillspet.com/cat-care/training/cat-training-the-easy-way
3. Jackson Galaxy: jacksongalaxy.com/blog/the-best-and-worst-way-to-train-your-cat/
4. Petfinder: petfinder.com/cats/cat-behavior-and-training/how-to-teach-a-cat-tricks/
5. Catfriendly.com – carrier training: catfriendly.com/be-a-cat-friendly-caregiver/cat-carrier-mistakes-avoid/
Puppies
1. American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior: avsab.org/resources/position-statements/
2. Cattle Dog Publishing: drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/dr-yins-top-10-dog-training-tips/ — Book: Perfect Puppy in 7 Days by Dr. Sophia Yin