This is accomplished by keeping the litter together with their mother until they are at least 8 weeks of age.

The siblings will naturally learn from each other and their mother, said Wendy Mah, animal behaviorist with Sirius Puppy Training.

New puppy owners are happy to see how easy it is to create a well-behaved, calm and happy dog just by daily socialization as a pup.

There are some things that a dog can learn at a later age, but if a puppy is separated from the litter before 8 weeks, he is starting with a disadvantage, Mah said.

After five or six weeks of sleepless nights and cleaning up after a litter of puppies, some people are tempted to offer them for adoption and separate them. They're getting pretty rambunctious by then. But those last weeks together make such a big difference for the rest of their lives.

During those weeks, the puppies should be meeting all kinds of people — men, women and children — who will interact and handle them gently. I like to see the litter grow up inside a home so the puppies get accustomed to hearing normal household noises.

You'll end up with emotionally stable pups who take activities in stride.

Kittens orphaned or separated from their mother or littermates too early sometimes fail to fully develop their personalities. By playing together, kittens increase their physical coordination, develop social skills and learn to understand limits such as when to stop biting.

By interacting with their mother and siblings, and being handled every day by people from birth on, animals grow up to be more playful, learn more quickly and bond with their humans.

The same goes for any young animals — "rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, as well as puppies and kittens," said Marty Hutchins, coordinator of the shelter animal behavior program at the Hawaiian Humane Society.

Socializing your young pet is probably the most important thing you can do during the first few weeks of his or her life. This is the time when young ones learn to bite with a "soft mouth." It is natural for the siblings to playfully bite each other — and they'll know when the biting gets too rough.

After the youngster is adopted and a human family becomes his "pack," the "soft mouth" training must continue so biting is not tolerated, Hutchins said.

Socialization should be reinforced throughout every stage of the pet's life into maturity. Don't keep your pet locked away. Get on the proper schedule with vaccinations, and when your veterinarian says it is safe, take your puppy to the park to meet other dogs or enroll him in puppy classes. Consider getting a Cat Walking Jacket and training your cat to walk safely outdoors on a leash. Invite friends over to meet your kitten, rabbit or bird to introduce them to new experiences.

Adoptables

Lily
Tag No. 28020

Nikkou
Tag No. 692