Being sociable

[Moobli]

I live in the middle of nowhere and am fairly antisocial. I made a big effort (for me!) to socialise Tay as a puppy and we visited pubs and cafes, the barbers when son had hair cut and other “dog friendly” shops, and I made a concerted effort to get her comfortable being around strange dogs but without taking too much notice of them. I didn’t allow her to play with any other than those I knew well and who could be trusted not to frighten or hurt her.
Then she grew up (she’s now 3 years) and I kind of got out of the habit. That anti social side of me, cost of fuel to go places, Covid etc all played a part.
She’s quite a vocal girl (even by shepherd standards!) and is super nosey so likes to investigate everything, usually at 100 mph! My friend recently suggested we start meeting up and walking together again as it had been ages. I was a bit concerned how Tay might be, having been isolated for so long (other than with our own pack of course) but I put my brave pants on and we went.
After her initial “omg! Who is that? Why are they here? Do I know them? Where are we going? What are we going to do? Can I bring my ball?” excitement, she calmed down and we’ve had a couple of lovely social walks with two lots of different dogs.
There’s really no point to this thread, other than to say I need to keep pushing myself out of my comfort zone for Tay’s benefit but I also realised how much I’d missed the company of other likeminded people. The internet is great for keeping in touch, but there’s nothing like a long walk and a natter with people you have plenty in common with.

 

[MuddyMonster]

Love this post. Good for you for pushing yourself & being sociable

 

[Moobli]

Love this post. Good for you for pushing yourself & being sociable

Thank you! It’s probably not a big deal to a lot of people but I’ve found as I’ve got older and spent less and less time with people other than my immediate family, I’ve got more anxious about being out of my comfort zone. My resolution is to keep it up!

 

[Bellasophia]

Your dogs and photos are awesome.I am drawn to the middle dog in second photo, his expression is so impelling.
Our police are using these dogs more and more and it’s is really lovely to see them.
You should write a book ,full of your glorious dogs ,landscape and lifestyle.It would be unique and certainly sell well.

 

[Moobli]

Your dogs and photos are awesome.I am drawn to the middle dog in second photo, his expression is so impelling.
Our police are using these dogs more and more and it’s is really lovely to see them.
You should write a book ,full of your glorious dogs ,landscape and lifestyle.It would be unique and certainly sell well.

Thank you ?. I’m not sure my photos would be of interest to anyone but me really ? but that’s a lovely thing to say.

 

[AmyMay]

Thank you ?. I’m not sure my photos would be of interest to anyone but me really ? but that’s a lovely thing to say.

Your photos are always of interest - they’re so fabulous.

I rarely walk with another person (I prefer it tbh). But meeting up with like minded friends is always enjoyable- as long as it’s not too often ?

 

[Moobli]

I rarely walk with another person (I prefer it tbh). But meeting up with like minded friends is always enjoyable- as long as it’s not too often ?

precisely ?

 

[P3LH]

Thank you ?. I’m not sure my photos would be of interest to anyone but me really ? but that’s a lovely thing to say.

Your photos and their content are always of interest. You don’t post nearly enough. I’m always very envious when you do though. I thought of you the other day funnily enough as met an old lady or a GSD who reminded me so much of your Flame. Funny isn’t it how you only know dogs online, yet even all these years letter if I found a pup or young dog like her I think I’d have to snap it up.

 

[Moobli]

I am drawn to the middle dog in second photo, his expression is so impelling.

He’s absolutely lovely! Only a youngster but his temperament is stellar! I’m so impressed with him and my friend’s older dog from the same breeder that I’m planning to get my next pup from them ?

 

[Moobli]

Your photos and their content are always of interest. You don’t post nearly enough. I’m always very envious when you do though. I thought of you the other day funnily enough as met an old lady or a GSD who reminded me so much of your Flame. Funny isn’t it how you only know dogs online, yet even all these years letter if I found a pup or young dog like her I think I’d have to snap it up.

That’s such a lovely thing to say. She was definitely a dog with a star quality wasn’t she ?. I’m still in touch with her breeder but sadly she doesn’t breed GSDs any more, just English springers. Flame saw me through so many changes in life that she’ll always be a special girl to me. She was healthy and long lived too. I lost her in 2015 at 14 years of age. ?

 

[dogatemysalad]

I love your photos because seeing the scenery and dogs with the little backstories makes me smile.
I too live a quiet rural life, where my dogs mostly only do stuff with my husband and I. Our collie, by nature, is a party girl. She adores children, people and animals and her best days are when we go hiking or camping with family and their dogs. She gives me the motivation to be more sociable too. Our happiest times have been sitting on rocks while sharing sandwiches and flasks of hot chocolate, bracing against the wind, with a few happy dogs hoping someone remembered to bring sausage rolls.

 

[Moobli]

I love your photos because seeing the scenery and dogs with the little backstories makes me smile.
I too live a quiet rural life, where my dogs mostly only do stuff with my husband and I. Our collie, by nature, is a party girl. She adores children, people and animals and her best days are when we go hiking or camping with family and their dogs. She gives me the motivation to be more sociable too. Our happiest times have been sitting on rocks while sharing sandwiches and flasks of hot chocolate, bracing against the wind, with a few happy dogs hoping someone remembered to bring sausage rolls.

That sounds perfect to me ?

 

[Mynstrel]

If her socialisation experiences so far have only ever been good ones for her then she's nothing to worry about, even if you haven't done it for a while. Sounds like you're doing a really good job with her ?

 

[CorvusCorax]

I recognise those heads and I hope Starmark are getting commission!

 

[Bellasophia]

Talking of heads..had a go at whizzing him off this afternoon..hope it’s close enough.

 

[MurphysMinder]

And from those pics I know who you were walking with , her lad is the double of his litter brother who my friend owns . Sounds like Tay is a very well balanced girl .
I’ve been doing more walking round towns, sitting in cafes etc with my pup than I’ve done for years . She’s at the shouting to say hello stage currently so still a work in progress !

 

[MurphysMinder]

I recognise those heads and I hope Starmark are getting commission!

He’s Norms double isn’t he ?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Thank you ?. I’m not sure my photos would be of interest to anyone but me really ? but that’s a lovely thing to say.

Your photos are fabulous! Gorgeous dogs in beautiful scenery

 

[CorvusCorax]

He’s Norms double isn’t he ?

And the young dog is very typey too, a good foundation female behind them both.

I go to a lot of markets. Socialising for her, I can eat a lot of Hungarian stodge and the stallholders keep sneaking her biscuits and sausages ?

 

[Moobli]

Talking of heads..had a go at whizzing him off this afternoon..hope it’s close enough.
View attachment 103632

That’s brilliant!

 

[Moobli]

And from those pics I know who you were walking with , her lad is the double of his litter brother who my friend owns . Sounds like Tay is a very well balanced girl .
I’ve been doing more walking round towns, sitting in cafes etc with my pup than I’ve done for years . She’s at the shouting to say hello stage currently so still a work in progress !

Have we seen any pics of your new addition? Will you show her in breed?

 

[dogatemysalad]

Talking of heads..had a go at whizzing him off this afternoon..hope it’s close enough.
View attachment 103632

You're clever. I love that.

 

[MurphysMinder]

Have we seen any pics of your new addition? Will you show her in breed?

I’ll have to try and work out how to post pics , I’m a total technophobe. No , I won’t be showing her , I have no interest in breed showing now , plus at 7 months she is huge so I suspect she will end up oversize
?

 

[rara007]

Stunning area!

People don’t realise how stressful dog walking can be! I have colleagues who keep inviting me out to walk in one of the local country parks. My dogs come to work with me so they know them but I’m not sure they realise how wild they are and how neurotic I am…!

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

What a fabulous thread!

I too am deeply ant-social, Zak was not an easy dog to walk. Bear has amazed and delighted me with his behaviour in public since he no longer has to protect his brother. He isn’t very interested in other dogs but has the occasional social sniff with others.

 

[Moobli]

Stunning area!

People don’t realise how stressful dog walking can be! I have colleagues who keep inviting me out to walk in one of the local country parks. My dogs come to work with me so they know them but I’m not sure they realise how wild they are and how neurotic I am…!

Exactly this!
My friend has tried to cajole me out for ages but I think because I had got out of the habit of walking my dogs with others I was pretty reluctant and nearly bailed a few times. I’m really glad I didn’t now … but we’ll see how long I feel like that once I’ve been persuaded out of my hills and down to the beach or some other peopley place ?

 

[Moobli]

What a fabulous thread!

I too am deeply ant-social, Zak was not an easy dog to walk. Bear has amazed and delighted me with his behaviour in public since he no longer has to protect his brother. He isn’t very interested in other dogs but has the occasional social sniff with others.

It’s so much less stressful when you have a totally neutral dog. My Zak was a cinch to walk, especially in shepherd terms! He was dog and people neutral and I could take him anywhere without the rush of anxiety I now get ?.

 

[rara007]

I even find walking other peoples dogs stressful- or maybe even more stressful! How do people walk along chatting with their dogs out of sight?!

 

[Moobli]

I even find walking other peoples dogs stressful- or maybe even more stressful! How do people walk along chatting with their dogs out of sight?!

I have shepherds and collies and my friends have shepherds … they don’t go out of sight ?. These breeds like to have close contact with owners at all times. I couldn’t cope with dogs who were always disappearing.

 

[Moobli]

And from those pics I know who you were walking with , her lad is the double of his litter brother who my friend owns . Sounds like Tay is a very well balanced girl .
I’ve been doing more walking round towns, sitting in cafes etc with my pup than I’ve done for years . She’s at the shouting to say hello stage currently so still a work in progress !

I meant to ask whether his brother is as tolerant and all round wonderful as my friend’s boy? He really is a great ambassador for the breed in general ?
How old is your pup now?
I’m currently re-reading Two for Joy and whenever Puma is mentioned I think of you and your mother’s dogs.