SheepOfBlue
Premium Member
Puppy class. Sca was always pretty sure the world was his pal (except explosive barking strange dogs) but I have seen other pups in his class really warm to other dogs during class.
Socializing a puppy
- Thread starter corbinam
- Start date
romeosangiovese
Forums Enthusiast
Just be sure all socialization is positive, ie. the pup doesn't go away freaked out. That will have a lasting impact on the dog. Don't overwhelm and make sure if you let your pup meet another dog, that dog isn't going to go all mental and scare the pup - it need not be aggressive towards the pup, but just being all jumpy and over the top can freak a pup out.
Justicemom
Forums Celebrity
I guess here were I'm different. This is probably not a popular opinion but, I don't socialize with dogs I don't know. When I'm walking down the street, I don't want my dogs sniffing other dogs or wanting to play with them. Leash walking is for exercise and bonding time between us. I teach my dogs to ignore dogs on leash.
Training classes are also for working not playing. My dogs are going need to be able to control themselves in a building with hundreds of dogs as adults so they need to focus on me not the dogs. I'm really fussy about other dogs interacting with mine. I will do puppy play in kindergarten but if another is over the top with mine, I'm out of there. I know plenty of stabile socialized adult dogs with which to socialize my dogs/puppies. I had too many bad experience with dogs and the street who were supposely friendly and they try to take my dogs face off. Its differnet if I have met the dog a few times, we make a play date. My current dogs have no aggression issues and love other dogs.
When I want my dogs to play with strange dogs, I take them to the dog park.
Now with people, unless they seem like a weirdo I encourage socialization at all times.
Training classes are also for working not playing. My dogs are going need to be able to control themselves in a building with hundreds of dogs as adults so they need to focus on me not the dogs. I'm really fussy about other dogs interacting with mine. I will do puppy play in kindergarten but if another is over the top with mine, I'm out of there. I know plenty of stabile socialized adult dogs with which to socialize my dogs/puppies. I had too many bad experience with dogs and the street who were supposely friendly and they try to take my dogs face off. Its differnet if I have met the dog a few times, we make a play date. My current dogs have no aggression issues and love other dogs.
When I want my dogs to play with strange dogs, I take them to the dog park.
Now with people, unless they seem like a weirdo I encourage socialization at all times.
Last edited:
HopeShelties
Forums Enthusiast
That's how I am with mine Justicemom, and for the same reasons.
take4roll10
Moderator
I guess here were I'm different. This is probably not a popular opinion but, I don't socialize with dogs I don't know. When I'm walking down the street, I don't want my dogs sniffing other dogs or wanting to play with them. Leash walking is for exercise and bonding time between us. I teach my dogs to ignore dogs on leash.
Training classes are also for working not playing. My dogs are going need to be able to control themselves in a building with hundreds of dogs as adults so they need to focus on me not the dogs. I'm really fussy about other dogs interacting with mine. I will do puppy play in kindergarten but if another is over the top with mine, I'm out of there. I know plenty of stabile socialized adult dogs with which to socialize my dogs/puppies. I had too many bad experience with dogs and the street who were supposely friendly and they try to take my dogs face off. Its differnet if I have met the dog a few times, we make a play date. My current dogs have no aggression issues and love other dogs.
When I want my dogs to play with strange dogs, I take them to the dog park.
Now with people, unless they seem like a weirdo I encourage socialization at all times.
I wish I did this when Bailey was younger. Now, when I walk her she lunges and barks at other dogs. I'm trying to break her out of this habit, but it seems to be a difficult one.
I would definitely recommend not overwhelming your pup. I don't really buy into that whole thing of "reinforcing fear," because I believe that fear is not a rewarding emotion. Dogs, like people, don't like feeling scared and stressed out. They're generally not going to think, "If I shake and look sad I'll get a treat and a pet, so I'd better shake and look sad." No, they're thinking "Oh no! New place! Scary!"
Here's an article that lays it out pretty clearly.
http://www.thebark.com/content/both-ends-leash-fear-reduction
Whenever Buffy is scared of something we just wait calmly until it is over. I let her stop and check things out as long as she needs to. Sometimes I talk to her. When she was a puppy, I would sometimes pick her up when she was in a scary situation (e.g. the train going by). I would give her treats and pets and whatever. Most of all I just tried to be patient and get her used to the things she was afraid of.
Buffy has never really been afraid of people or other dogs; her fears are always machines. Loud, big vans, airplanes, trains, motorcycles, etc. And she was scared of flags at some point. We have tried to expose her to this stimuli consistently until her fear reaction decreases and eventually goes away. The important thing is that you remain calm and happy, and not get nervous, frustrated, or worried.
Developmentally, there is a fear period right around 12 weeks. I remember this clearly with Buffy. One day she was fine on walks and the next day she was scared of everything. She has gotten over that now. Once in a while she will stop if she hears something, but she doesn't freak out anymore.
Here's my husband's blog post about Buffy's fear period.
http://purplereaction.blogspot.com/2009/09/buffy-is-scared-of-lot-more-than.html
I think no matter what you do, Lexi will get over being scared of things. Good luck!
Here's an article that lays it out pretty clearly.
http://www.thebark.com/content/both-ends-leash-fear-reduction
Whenever Buffy is scared of something we just wait calmly until it is over. I let her stop and check things out as long as she needs to. Sometimes I talk to her. When she was a puppy, I would sometimes pick her up when she was in a scary situation (e.g. the train going by). I would give her treats and pets and whatever. Most of all I just tried to be patient and get her used to the things she was afraid of.
Buffy has never really been afraid of people or other dogs; her fears are always machines. Loud, big vans, airplanes, trains, motorcycles, etc. And she was scared of flags at some point. We have tried to expose her to this stimuli consistently until her fear reaction decreases and eventually goes away. The important thing is that you remain calm and happy, and not get nervous, frustrated, or worried.
Developmentally, there is a fear period right around 12 weeks. I remember this clearly with Buffy. One day she was fine on walks and the next day she was scared of everything. She has gotten over that now. Once in a while she will stop if she hears something, but she doesn't freak out anymore.
Here's my husband's blog post about Buffy's fear period.
http://purplereaction.blogspot.com/2009/09/buffy-is-scared-of-lot-more-than.html
I think no matter what you do, Lexi will get over being scared of things. Good luck!
Abby's Dad
Forums Enthusiast
When Abby had all her shots we went to the dog park and I started about 500' away and let her watch for about an hour. Then the next day we went 400' for about an hour. She was scared each day - hiding behind me. After 4 days she was ready to be at the fence. She has never and will never go inside but loves to visit each day. Take your pup places like petco and carry her around.
corbinam
Moderator
Thanks everyone for all the input! I was looking for the "best way" but it sounds like there are a lot of different ways that work. As long as I don't force her when she's scared, or reinforce any fearful behavior, it looks like I should be fine.
She gets all her shots on the 20th, so I'll be sure to let everyone know how the socializing is going.
She gets all her shots on the 20th, so I'll be sure to let everyone know how the socializing is going.
sheltiegirl91
Forums Regular
I use to work at my local animal shelter and my job was to socialize with the animals of all ages but it was mostly the new puppies so i can tell you what we would do that worked and you could try it.
You said that your puppy is most relaxed when you are at home which is normal because puppies with be most relaxed in a familiar place ( the puppies at the shelter were relaxed in their kennels). I don't think you are pushing her but i do think you should take it a bit slower. When you take her back to the field instead of holding her, put her on the ground before she sees anyone else or any other dogs and let her investigate. After she investigates take her to the place where she will other dogs and people and again place her on the ground. Make sure your crouched with her so she can feel more comfortable. If she starts to shake and seem scared tell her to relax and she will be okay and you wont let anything happen to her in a sort of cooing voice. Make sure to pet her the whole time and slowly move closer to the people and animals.
If she starts to relax a little praise her and tell her good girl, if she starts to freak out tell her it's okay and then take her home and pick up where you left off the next day. Place her down let her investigate and she will remember where she is and maybe be a little more relaxed and go to the same spot where you left off last time. In my experience i don't think it's a good idea to let other people hold her and pet her until she is comfortable and relaxed because if she is not comfortable in a place she does not know then she will freak out and become scared and shake. It's a long slow process but just be patient and she will come around. You can see if this works it always did with our puppies.
You said that your puppy is most relaxed when you are at home which is normal because puppies with be most relaxed in a familiar place ( the puppies at the shelter were relaxed in their kennels). I don't think you are pushing her but i do think you should take it a bit slower. When you take her back to the field instead of holding her, put her on the ground before she sees anyone else or any other dogs and let her investigate. After she investigates take her to the place where she will other dogs and people and again place her on the ground. Make sure your crouched with her so she can feel more comfortable. If she starts to shake and seem scared tell her to relax and she will be okay and you wont let anything happen to her in a sort of cooing voice. Make sure to pet her the whole time and slowly move closer to the people and animals.
If she starts to relax a little praise her and tell her good girl, if she starts to freak out tell her it's okay and then take her home and pick up where you left off the next day. Place her down let her investigate and she will remember where she is and maybe be a little more relaxed and go to the same spot where you left off last time. In my experience i don't think it's a good idea to let other people hold her and pet her until she is comfortable and relaxed because if she is not comfortable in a place she does not know then she will freak out and become scared and shake. It's a long slow process but just be patient and she will come around. You can see if this works it always did with our puppies.