Puppy socialization and command training are crucial for shaping future canine behavior. Kutsumi, Nagasawa, Ohta, and Ohtani (2013) investigated whether structured puppy training prevents the development of behavior problems in dogs.
The study assessed 142 dogs divided into four groups based on their training history: puppy class (PC), puppy party (PP), adult class (AC), and no class (NC). The puppy class involved structured training sessions once per week over six weeks, while puppy parties were shorter social gatherings. The researchers used a behavior test (response to commands, recall, reaction to separation, novel stimuli, and strangers) along with the Canine Behavior Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) to evaluate outcomes.
Results showed that dogs in both the puppy class (PC) and adult class (AC) groups demonstrated significantly higher obedience than those in the PP or NC groups. Importantly, the PC group also displayed a more positive response to strangers compared to AC and NC dogs, and tended to perform better than PP dogs. This suggests that early structured training provides advantages beyond obedience, particularly in preventing fear of strangers and social anxiety.
The authors conclude that puppy classes can prevent behavioral problems such as disobedience and fear, underlining the importance of early-life structured training as part of preventive behavioral care.
Source: Kutsumi, A., Nagasawa, M., Ohta, M., & Ohtani, N. (2013). Importance of puppy training for future behavior of the dog. Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 75(2), 141–149. Authors: A. Kutsumi, M. Nagasawa, M. Ohta, N. Ohtani. Journal: Journal of Veterinary Medical Science.
