The Crucial and Formative Years Can Make or Break You
My new puppy provides deep insight into important growth patterns
As I sit back and read a new chapter in a book that I picked up, Your Golden Retriever Puppy, I can’t help but make the connection between dogs and children. My two daughters are almost adults now but as I read how certain things affect the personality of a puppy, it makes sense when thinking of little humans, also.
Puppies develop their personality traits between the ages of 8 and 12 weeks. Socialization is key during this formative month, and I have been following a checklist to get my puppy used to different scenarios, people, and sounds.
I want a well-rounded and happy puppy that is not nervous around other people, or animals, and especially hope that he can handle some loud noises. During this formative time, he can develop fears that might stick with him throughout his life. Puppies that aren’t exposed to a slew of different things can end up being aggressive, nervous, territorial, or have intense separation anxiety.
However as I was thinking about the crucial and formative years of my puppy, I started to make mental notes about how our younger years affect us as humans. While I already know that our childhoods can deeply engrain and affect our adult lives, I find…
