Even if your puppy did not have the benefit of
plentiful early handling in his original home, handling exercises are easy at eight weeks of age.
Although this means the «window» of development and imprinting for these animals is longer than that for guinea pigs,
early handling still has a profound and beneficial impact on their relationship with humans later on.
However,
early handling exercises and frequent trips to the vet for cookies and attention can really make a difference on how your puppy perceives them.
(One of
his earlier handling experiments had him regaining his balance after a sideways blow from a wooden stick.)
Early handling and events that occur during the first 2 to 4 months of life, are critical factors in the social development of the dog.
The opposite could be true as well: an individual dog of a generally friendly breed can be either shy or dominant, depending on its genetics and
early handling.
Raising a tame cat who's social and outgoing requires a combination of a good upbringing, even from the time the kitten is in the womb,
early handling, and a mom cat with a good temperament.