Canine social behaviors aren’t the only interactions we are shaping as our puppy grows. We are also shaping their behavior and emotions toward other humans.
Puppies are always learning. If young dogs are exposed to kids that run up and startle them, this may cause them to be unsure about how children will behave in the future. The puppy may start to shy away from kids or bark at them, warning them to “stay back”.
A puppy who witnesses an adult dog who is leery of strangers may also become unsure. This is why it is a good idea to take your puppy out alone, or maybe sometimes with a confident/stable adult dog. However, always be mindful that the puppy should have some exposures without other dogs for them to “rely on” for confidence.
Puppies who think every person is a friend with treats may become over aroused when they see new people - I know I might get more excited about new people if they always showed up with tacos! A more shy or aloof dog may become stressed - how might an introvert feel if every time they saw a person, that person came up and hugged them? They may become anxious about the interaction. Again, it’s about balance and planning.
I am selective about which kids and adults my puppies meet. I have a friend with two girls who are great. They can get excited around them, but for the most part they are calm and will allow the pups to investigate them. They hold puppies who come up to them, but they don’t chase down the puppies who prefer to give the kids more space. I want my puppies to not be afraid of kids, but I also do not want them to get so excited about kids that they become rude and jump all over them.
I plan for and dictate how much interaction each adult will have with my puppies. Ones I know are savvy about dog behavior have more interaction than those who just want to see the cute puppy. My fellow trainers have a bit more latitude in interaction than the neighbor who walks by my yard and asks to come say hello. I often say “not today” or “not right now” when someone from the street asks to see pups. Sometimes I let them come in the yard and pet pups through the ex pen bars. This allows puppies to control if they want to say hi or if they want to sit back and watch.
You can learn a lot by watching, and that will be our next topic - watching the world.