Shih Tzu - Canine Social Behavior


Dogs in general, under free-ranging conditions, will live in
mixed-sex, mixed-age social
groups.

Social ranking is
determined by age, although sex may play a role. Females seem to
be responsible for leading more often than males. Social ranking
is maintained primarily by deference, not by agonistic
interaction. Sexual maturity in domestic dogs (including the
shih tzu) occurs between 6 to 9 months of age (later for giant
breeds), while social maturity begins to develop at 18 to 36
months of age.


At social maturity, a hierarchy depends upon age, sex, size and
temperament. In a free-ranging group, dogs that challenge the
established social hierarchy may leave and form their own groups if
they do not succeed in altering the extant social order. Social
maturity is also the time when problems such as aggressions and
anxieties develop. Roaming, mounting, urine marking, and
intrasexual fighting are caused by the sex hormones, particularly
testosterone.

These problems can often be prevented or greatly
reduced by neutering, especially in males, in households with
several pets, males and females, or a
household with all males.
Between 3 and 8 weeks of age, dogs tend to focus on other dogs
(if available) for their social stimuli. Between 5 and 12 weeks of
age they seem to start to focus more on people if people are
available. Dogs are most receptive to learning about how to deal
with new or different environments until about 16 to 20 weeks of
age.

This is not to say an older dog would never adjust to a change
in environment. It is just to say the adjustment is easier before
this age. With time and patience any dog of any age will adjust to
change just as people do.
It is not critical to switch the focus of exposure either to
other animals or to people at any one specific period.

Given the
adequate opportunity, puppies will learn about the social and
physical environments when they are ready. Trying to introduce them
to a specific situation is not critical to producing a
well-socialized puppy or adult dog. Of great importance is to avoid
extremely fearful stimuli.
Dogs kept exclusively in cages and kenneled and not exposed to
people at all after 14 weeks of age may have severely undeveloped
social skills.

If you are purchasing an older dog from a private
breeder, this problem is not likely to surface. The type of older
dog I am talking about here would be one that was raised
exclusively in kennels with cage after cage and perhaps 3 or 4 or
maybe more dogs sharing the same cage. Maybe their only contact
with people would be the short presence of someone passing by with
water or food. Usually dogs that are raised by individuals in
private circumstances have adequate and quality contact with
people.


Regardless of the age of a puppy or dog, that life needs to be
shown a daily caring atmosphere from their human caretakers to be
able to provide them with the ability to adjust readily and easily
in new homes or environments. Without human interaction and caring,
the dog may experience social problems and behavior problems that
otherwise would have not surfaced.
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com
Connie Limon publishes a FREE weekly newsletter. A professional
newsletter with a focus upon health and wellness for you and your
pets. Discounts on shih tzu puppies are offered to subscribers.
Sign up at: .

stainglassshihtzus.com

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