| It is widely believed that any given breed of dog is | | | | essence that dog will take appropriate protective |
| born with a strong genetic predisposition to | | | | measures to ensure that no harm befalls the sheep, |
| behaviorisms characteristic of that breed. Thus it | | | | even against human beings. |
| should follow that the livestock herding and guarding | | | | Problematic Dogs |
| dog breeds, of which the various sheepdogs and | | | | Have you ever encountered a dog that just doesn't |
| shepherds are good examples, must be born with an | | | | get on with other dogs, strangers or with any animal |
| inherent tendency to guard or herd livestock. Also in | | | | for that matter? Such a dog is that way because it |
| the same vein it should also follow that gundogs | | | | was never properly socialized within the timeframe of |
| must have a natural propensity to tolerate loud | | | | the critical period of socialization. Before I continue |
| noises such as gun shots or rifle reports. However, as | | | | along this thread however there's a point I wish to |
| so often happens, things are not quite so simple! | | | | stress here. Because of years of selective breeding, |
| The Critical Period | | | | certain dog breeds are naturally predisposed to |
| The critical period of socialization is that time when a | | | | exhibiting specific behavior and mannerisms that are |
| certain set or patterns of genetically oriented | | | | hereditary in nature. Thus for example, the retriever |
| behavior must be performed or presented to a | | | | breed of dogs will have a natural and inherent |
| developing animal (in this case a puppy) in order for | | | | tendency to retrieve whether or not such behavior is |
| such behavior to manifest in the animal when it is | | | | encouraged during the critical period of socialization. |
| older. The inability to initiate such genetically | | | | Certain breeds of dog are natural water lovers for |
| programmed behavior during the critical period can | | | | the mere fact that over the years of selective |
| result in the complete corruption of hereditary | | | | breeding such a trait has been greatly magnified. Such |
| behavior characteristic to that particular species of | | | | dogs will, in appropriate circumstances, exhibit those |
| animal. The critical period in dogs varies for the | | | | inherited traits whether or not they were performed |
| different dog breeds, but as a species in general, the | | | | when the dog was still a puppy. |
| critical period of socialization in dogs extends from 2 | | | | When I was a kid we had a Labrador mix dog that |
| weeks to 16 weeks. After sixteen weeks if a puppy | | | | once trailed us to the campus swimming pool. One |
| has not been properly socialized in the desired | | | | moment my siblings and I were happily splashing |
| manner, that dog will not exhibit appropriate behavior | | | | about in the pool with the other kids, next |
| in the future! | | | | thing…we heard shouting and yelling and a right ole |
| For example, in certain species of birds, unless the | | | | ruckus. We soon knew why. Our Labrador mix, |
| parents sing the specific birdsong for attracting a | | | | named Nip, had followed us to the swimming pool |
| mate to the growing chicks within the critical period, | | | | and saw absolutely no reason why he shouldn't join |
| those birds will never be able to attract a mate when | | | | us (his primary social companions) in the pool for a |
| older for the simple fact that they are unable to | | | | dip. Nip was about 7 months at the time and other |
| reproduce the necessary mating call (birdsong). | | | | than his bath times (which he detested) he had |
| Imprinting | | | | never been introduced to water nor had he ever |
| One of the more significant factors of the critical | | | | shown any particular affiliation for it. Yet on that day, |
| period of socialization is that known as imprinting. | | | | there he was doggy paddling towards us in the pool |
| Imprinting is the process whereby a young animal | | | | like a pro, as if for all the world that was what he |
| gets to self-identify as a species; in other words | | | | had been destined to do! |
| imprinting is the process during the socialization period | | | | The point I'm making here is that certain traits in |
| when the young animal gets to align itself with a | | | | certain breeds of dog cannot be totally switched off |
| particular species. Normally in most cases the species | | | | for the fact they have been exaggerated through |
| with which a young animal identifies usually happens | | | | selective breeding over the span of multiple |
| to be the species to which the animal actually | | | | generations and in appropriate conditions those traits |
| belongs. However rarely in the wild, cases do occur | | | | will manifest! |
| where an animal imprints on an entirely different | | | | Take the case of the so-called dangerous dog |
| species altogether and ultimately identifies with that | | | | breeds, of which perhaps the Pitbull and the |
| species as being its own. | | | | Rottweiler spring foremost to mind. There is an |
| Cases of artificial or manipulated imprinting abound in | | | | element of truth warranting the dangerous-dog |
| domesticated animals, and one of the most | | | | moniker for these dogs for the simple reason that |
| celebrated cases of imprinting manipulation was that | | | | some unethical dog breeders have selectively bred |
| conducted by Austrian ethologist Konrad Zacharias | | | | their dogs for the aggressive trait. Why? So their |
| Lorenz who was awarded a Nobel Prize for his | | | | dogs may be more vicious and efficient fighters in |
| efforts. Using graylag geese Konrad Lorenz | | | | the dog pit! Like the case of my dog Nip, in certain |
| definitively illustrated the significance of the primary | | | | circumstances those inherited aggressive traits may |
| period of socialization by getting graylag goslings to | | | | one day manifest seemingly out of nowhere. |
| imprint on him as opposed to their mother. The result | | | | Why You Should Socialize Your Dog Early On |
| was that the goslings identified with Lorenz and not | | | | Whether or not your dog is going to be an |
| with geese which resulted in the rather novel | | | | apartment dweller or an animal living on a farm, it is |
| situation whereby Lorenz was trailed by his flock of | | | | important to socialize your dog within the critical |
| young goslings wherever he went. | | | | period. This is especially true for apartment dwelling |
| Okay, you may be thinking what has some dude | | | | dogs that live in the city because they are routinely |
| with a bunch of geese following him have to do with | | | | going to rub shoulders with other dogs, other animals |
| you and your pet dog? If you're thinking along such | | | | as well as people. Obviously if you wish to avoid |
| lines those are valid thoughts indeed, so let me | | | | having to pay out hefty fees and penalties (and |
| illustrate some of the practical applications of | | | | perhaps seeing your dog be put down) because your |
| imprinting manipulation conducted in dogs. | | | | anti-social pet keeps attacking other pets and people, |
| Imprinting Manipulation In Dogs | | | | then it is of vital importance to take the appropriate |
| Over the span of many generations, shepherds have | | | | measures to see that your dog is properly and timely |
| routinely manipulated the process of imprinting in their | | | | socialized. |
| livestock guarding dogs. The shepherd introduces the | | | | If your dog is to co-exist with other animals in the |
| future livestock guardian dog as a puppy to the | | | | household such as a cat, then for purposes of a |
| appropriate target animal which for simplicity reasons | | | | harmonious coexistence, that dog as a puppy, should |
| in this case will be the sheep. At its most extreme, | | | | be introduced early on to the other animal whereby it |
| this imprinting manipulation may be stimulated by | | | | will regard that animal as a social companion and not |
| getting the puppies to suckle from a pregnant ewe. | | | | as prey or foe. Early socialization of one's dog has |
| More routinely though, the dogs are removed as | | | | both subtle and in-your-face manifestations. The |
| young puppies and reared with the sheep but not | | | | subtle manifestations could be the difference |
| necessarily suckled by sheep. | | | | between a confident and outward-going dog to one |
| Contact and socialization with people is kept to a | | | | that is shy and unusually submissive. I've already |
| minimum as is that with other dogs excepting those | | | | discussed some of the overt (in-your-face) |
| littermates that are destined for the same vocation. | | | | manifestations of socialization which include |
| The dogs are fed in the presence of sheep, sleep | | | | identification of social companions and getting along |
| with the sheep, socialize and communicate with the | | | | with others. |
| sheep and age permitting allowed to follow the sheep | | | | Many dog breeders have also noticed that early |
| about during their grazing. By the time sixteen weeks | | | | handling and petting of very young puppies appears |
| are up that dog(s) will now identify with sheep as its | | | | to boost the confidence and friendliness level of the |
| primary social companions; not dogs…not people! In | | | | animal when it matures into an adult dog. |