Critical Period in the Social Development of Dogs

Freedman, Daniel G.; King, John A.; Elliot, Orville

doi:10.1126/science.133.3457.1016

Cited by 217 publications

(126 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…AC is good for command training, but too late for socialization. Previous studies have indicated that a dog's experience during the socialization period has a strong influence on future behavioral development [1,6,17,19]. Scott and Fuller defined the period of socialization as between 3 and 12 weeks from the results of a study on complete isolation in laboratory animals [17].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Importance of Puppy Training for Future Behavior of the Dog

et al. 2013

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ABSTRACT. In this study, we attempted to clarify whether puppy socialization and command training class, which was limited to puppies approximately 4 months of age, prevented behavior problems in dogs. We evaluated the behaviors of 142 dogs with 4 types of training experience by using a behavior test and the Canine Behavior Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ). Dogs in the puppy class (PC) group (n=44) attended the class for 1 hr each week for 6 weeks, dogs in the puppy party (PP) group (n=39) attended a 1-hr "puppy party," dogs in the adult class (AC) group (n=27) undertook basic obedience lessons for adolescent/adult dogs for 1 hr each week for 6 weeks, and dogs in the no class (NC) group (n=32) underwent no formal training. The behavior test evaluated each dog's response to commands, owner's recall, separation, a novel stimulus and strangers. The C-BARQ evaluated 15 canine behavioral factors. The behavior test results indicated that the PC and AC groups showed significantly higher response to commands than the PP or NC group. Thus, participation in puppy and adult classes improved the obedience behavior of dogs, regardless of age. Positive response to strangers in the PC group was significantly higher than that in the AC and NC groups and tended to be higher than that in the PP group. Therefore, PC may help prevent canine behavioral problems such as disobedience or fear of strangers.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Importance of Puppy Training for Future Behavior of the Dog

et al. 2013

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“…Although we should point out that, if early human contact is provided, many individuals of even a wild species can be socialized to humans, dogs' long evolutionary history places them in a unique position. In contrast to wolves, whose socialization to humans has to begin before day 10 (eye opening) (Klinghammer & Goodmann, 1987;Frank, Frank, Hasselbach, & Littleton, 1989), the time window for socialization in dogs (Scott & Fuller, 1965), probably closes at around 12 weeks (Freedman, King, & Elliot, 1961). Social attraction to humans develops even after 20-minute encounters twice a week, or daily eye contact with humans (Scott & Fuller, 1965).…”

Section: Naturalistic Socialization With Humansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative Social Cognition: From wolf and dog to humans

Kubinyi¹

2006

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Dogs' special domestication processes, their natural socialization to humans, and the possibility of tracing evolutionary changes by comparing dogs' behavior to that of wolves, make dogs altogether unique for studying the evolution of complex social behavior. Here the authors report some much needed comparisons between the behavior of dogs and wolves. The authors reveal some dog-specific behaviors, especially with regard to their interactions with humans, by comparing dogs and wolves hand-reared identically. This approach ensures that behavioral differences between dogs and wolves will be due to species-specific (genetic) differences, and not to differences in experience. The results indicate that social attraction, presumably synchronizing behavior, and communicative abilities of dogs changed markedly during the process of domestication. The authors suggest that this model of dog behavior has the potential to provide new insights into the evolution of human socio-cognitive behavior.

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“…mounting) first emerge during the socialization period that begins at 3 weeks and ends at approximately 12 weeks of age (Freedman et al 1961;Scott & Fuller 1965). During this time, puppies learn social skills and form bonds with other dogs (Lindsay 2000), and play-partner preferences may begin to form.…”

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confidence: 99%