The world can be a scary place for a small puppy. They’ll be faced with new experiences, new smells, strange animals and dogs, strange people, and more. Socialization helps introduce them to new experiences and situations early on so they can be confident and comfortable in new situations later in life. This is the time where it is critical that they know they are okay when faced with something or someone new and that they don’t need to be afraid.
Early socialization helps a dog with healthy psychological growth and with developing coping skills. Dogs who are socialized properly as puppies tend to exhibit healthier behaviors, are more outgoing and confident and tend to be more stable overall. A well-socialized dog will be curious about new situations and take them in stride while a poorly socialized dog will tend to react with anxiety and fear, which can lead to aggressive responses. Socialization alone won’t result in a well-behaved dog, as you need to train your dog and teach them rules and boundaries, but it certainly helps.