We did everything we could to give Lincoln new experiences . We went to pet stores, Home Depot, Vets office, Tractor supply. We walked around grocery store parking lots. He met lots of new people. We went to 4 weeks of puppy socialization group and 5 weeks of Obedience class. We did it right up to 16 weeks. So my question is will it benefit him to do all these things going forward.? I mean we'll do them anyway ... We just want to raise a happy well adjusted dog especially since he's going to be about 80 pounds.
Hi @Jade yes. I'd keep up the obedience class. Helps for him to learn to be steady around other dogs. The socialisation window means it is easy in terms of handler effort to get the dog to cope with the new things in life. When it closes it means you have to put in many, many hours to get the same effect as would have occurred during the critical period. And for that reason one doesn't speak of socialisation in the same terns as the pup ages. But the process of you displaying leadership. making sure your young dog is not traumatised by another dog or human/other species--that the dog is not sensitised--is on-going.
Yes, there actually is research showing that although the 'easy' socialisation window has closed, it benefits dogs to continue exposure to new things throughout the first year of their life. It just doesn't need to be done as intensely/every day - as within the socialisation period, but maybe twice a week or something, to ensure their idea of 'normal' remains wide and all-accepting...
