A puppy's first few months of life are among the most important they'll ever experience.

 

Between 3 and 16 weeks of age, puppies experience what behaviorists call the critical socialization period. During this time, every positive experience helps shape how they see the world for the rest of their lives.

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The Rule of 7 is a simple guideline that encourages breeders to expose puppies to many different people, places, sounds, surfaces, and experiences before they go home. The goal isn't to overwhelm puppies. ​The goal is to teach them that new things are normal.

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At Rocky Mountain Irish Setters, we intentionally expose our puppies to a wide variety of experiences before they ever leave for their new homes. One of the most well-known frameworks for accomplishing this is called The Rule of 7.