Socialization
Socialization refers to getting a puppy used to as many different things as you can so that you will be less likely to end up with an aggressive or nervous dog.
Things that dogs need to be socialized to include, children, the elderly, baths, men, women, teenagers, other dogs, cats and small animals. Some dogs are raised without any other dogs, so when they meet one they don't know how to act or react, and can get into a fight, just because they can't say hello. Even dogs raised with other dogs need to meet stranger dogs or can be unpredictable around other dogs.
Socialization could be as simple as walking your dog every day, and bringing a bag of treats strangers can give him. That way, your dog will assume people mean good things rather than harm. If you want your dog to be a watchdog this is even more important (though you will want to skip the treats), so they will not be scared of everyone approaching. You do not want a watchdog who runs from everything, and is too afraid to bark. You especially don't want one that assumes everything is out to get him and barks at everything. Neither is a really useful dog.
Dogs that are not properly socialized often end up with behavioral problems. Many "abused" dogs are afraid of men, because when they were puppies they never met one. They aren't abused, and many of them were never beaten, they just never saw any during their critical socialization period. Improperly socialized dogs are also often given up at shelters because they can be neurotic, or even aggressive in their fear of something.
You can work dogs through socialization issues with differing levels of success. I personally act as if the dog has a phobia. He is afraid of something merely because he has never seen it before, so reacts as if it is deadly. In nature this might save an animals life. If they panic every time you bring out the broom that is different.
I have a 5 yr. old dog who was definitely under socialized as a puppy. Likely the litter spent all it's time outside until they were given to a rescue. I got him at 14 weeks old. He is alarmed by plastic bags, brooms and other stick like items, vacuum cleaners, anything falling bigger than a leaf and the bathtub. Nothing outside scares him. I can throw sticks past his head with no reaction. Drop a broom in the kitchen and he will bolt, sliding across the floor in his haste.
he panics a lot less than he used to, but most of his phobias are still here. With a lot of dog food and peanut butter I got him in the bathtub, but I hit a snag with the water part, so he still isn't particularly clean. Mind you when this dog panics he first flees and if that doesn't work he shuts down and urinates all over himself. He is so much fun at the vet.
