Canine Socialisation: A Narrative Systematic Review

Abstract

There are over 10 million pet dogs in the UK alone, and they have become a member of modern human families. If not properly socialised as puppies, dogs have a higher risk of problematic behaviours during adulthood, yet socialisation studies are lacking. Much of the experimental research was carried out at least 50 years ago, and the importance of socialisation was demonstrated so clearly that further studies with unsocialised controls would be deemed unethical. In this review, the aim was to evaluate all literature relevant to canine socialisation. This review used PRISMA-P guidelines to identify 29 studies: 14 were questionnaire-based studies (two of which also had a testing element), 15 included some form of experimental manipulation relating to socialisation, and one was a purely observational study. Based on this literature review, we recommend future research into minimum necessary socialisation levels, as well as breed differences in the timing of effective socialisation. Such studies will help owners and breeders produce well-adjusted adult dogs.

Welsh hospital admissions due to dog bites and strikes (2014-2022)

“…18 These factors are important as lack of enriched and safe early-life environment and adequate, structured socialisation of puppies is a risk-factors for multiple behaviour and health problems, including human-directed aggression. 19–22 It has been hypothesised that the rise in the pet-dog population post the COVID-19 pandemic (an estimated 2.5 million dogs were acquired during the COVID-19 pandemic, 23 the pre-pandemic population was estimated at 12.6 million dogs in 2019 24 ) has led to a rise in dog bites, due to the increasing volume of human-dog interactions. However, it must be noted that there is no discernible change in the trajectory of dog bite incidence post COVID-19.…”

Puppies Raised during the COVID-19 Lockdown Showed Fearful and Aggressive Behaviors in Adulthood: An Italian Survey

“…Moreover, some of the analyzed dogs displayed conspecific aggressions, behavior that was already documented in a previous report, where 14% of seized dogs had seriously wounded or killed another dog, most likely either because of poor interactions with other dogs during the socialization period [ 55 ], or because of the characteristics of intraspecific socialization and the age of adoption of the dogs involved. The primary socialization period for dogs begins at three weeks of age, peaks at six to eight weeks, and progressively reduces by twelve weeks [ 26 , 56 , 57 ]. In addition, puppies generally exhibit pro-social behaviors in both intra- and interspecific interactions during this period, as well as a decrease in their tendency to fear or avoid unfamiliar environments.…”

“…Lockdown puppies also exhibited increased non-social fearfulness attitudes; this is unsurprising, considering that a recent study reported that lockdowns in Spain led to an increase in the fear of loud or sudden noises [ 32 ]. Dogs with recurrent non-social fears generally experienced a poor socialization process during puppyhood, thus suggesting that puppies should be introduced to stimuli and conditions they are likely to encounter as adults, improving the plasticity of their behavior, in order to create well-balanced adult dogs who are able to cope with new contexts [ 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 ]. In the light of the severe developmental alterations in puppies born during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, which have compromised their physiological behaviors, it is imperative that we find alternative strategies that allow “patients” to cope with such psychosocial disorders.…”

Ethical Concerns about Fashionable Dog Breeding

“…Studies have also indicated that they may display behavioural deficiencies and molecular alterations similar to those observed in individuals with schizophrenia [ 233 ]. Later, as puppies, social isolation may cause lifelong disturbances and compromised learning abilities [ 234 , 235 , 236 ].…”