Critical Periods in the Development of Social Behavior in Puppies

Abstract

The existence of a critical period for the establishment of primary social relationships is a well-established phenomenon in social animals. This paper deals with the physical and hereditary basis of the critical period in the dog. Hereditary variability of the exact time of onset of the critical period exists both between individuals and between breeds. However, the functional variability appears to be smaller than that in the accompanying anatomical changes. In the period immediately following birth the puppy is strongly protected from psychological influences. During the critical period it becomes highly sensitive, at a time when the sense organs and nervous system are still not completely developed. The exact effects of experience during this time are still to be determined. These data suggest facts which must be ascertained in order to establish the existence and duration of a similar critical period in human infants.