Early life experiences play a fundamental role in shaping a dog’s behavioral development. In this study, Rita Lenkei and colleagues explored how different rearing environments and breed traits affect social behavior toward humans in eight-week-old puppies. Two breeds were compared: Labrador Retrievers, known for their sociability, and Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs, which retain some ancestral wolf-like traits.
Puppies were tested in a series of scenarios representing typical interactions in family environments. The researchers measured activity levels, exploration behavior, and social engagement, such as gazing at humans and proximity seeking. Results showed that Czechoslovakian Wolfdog puppies were significantly more active and exploratory than Labradors, spending more time investigating their surroundings and objects.
Interestingly, the tendency to gaze at humans varied by breed and context. Labradors tended to maintain stronger eye contact in communicative settings, while Wolfdog puppies focused more on their environment. The study also found that rearing conditions influenced social tendencies: puppies raised in kennels stayed closer to the human experimenter, whereas those raised in homes showed more independence and toy interaction. Puppies separated earlier from their mothers displayed greater toy engagement, suggesting that early environmental structure shapes behavioral expression.
The findings demonstrate that both breed predispositions and early rearing environments play crucial roles in shaping a puppy’s developing social world. Understanding these factors helps breeders, trainers, and caregivers provide optimal early experiences that support healthy social and emotional development in dogs.
Source: Lenkei, R., Pogány, Á., & Fugazza, C. (2019). Social behavior in dog puppies: Breed differences and the effect of rearing conditions. Biologia Futura, 70, 134–142. Published April 1, 2019.
