Socialisation

[Toffee44]

Dylan has now had his first jabs vet happy for him to go and meet dogs that we know are vaccinated. He knows his name, he sits and understands NO means he is doing something he should ( I think lol).

So off we went to a friends garden with her respectable Lab. Dylan just hung off his ears lab didnt care. Dylan then met a 14wk puppy who lives over the road I said to the lady come over and let them have a run in the garden but she was told (from trainer) not to let her pup off the lead as he needs to learn about socialisation??!!?? Surely puppys learn this from interacting with each other?? Surely thats just torture to two young puppies that just want to play to just stand looking at eachother and keep getting jabbed in the neck when they launch forward to play???

I then felt like a bad mum as Dylan is sitting there (which I asked him to) waggin his tail madly and playfully growling at other puppy? Then he started barking so I said NO and he stopped but I'm now so confused about the socialisation thing. Neighbours Shi tzu (sp?) came over and I let Dylan off and once the Shi Tzu had pinned Dylan to the floor Dylan didnt play so rough, so had learnt respect?


Sorry new dog owner, boyf thinks im thinkng too much into it(not his first puppy)? Advice/ opinions please.

 

[Broodle]

The training club where I took my dogs for socialisation has a 'no leads in the field' rule purely to prevent the kind of fear aggression that comes from dogs being confined (i.e. on lead) when in a potentially stressful situation. I'm with you - puppies should be off lead (but supervised and under control) when meeting other pups and dogs for the first time.

Maybe your neighbour has misunderstood her trainier? Or maybe her trainer was worried that she would have no control over her dog off-lead, but didn't want to say so? Seems odd, anyway!

 

[MurphysMinder]

I would always let young pups socialise off lead so not sure what the trainer meant. I introduce them on lead but then let them play, if things are getting too manic you can step in and reduce order. Dylan was probably barking because he wanted the other pup to play, but you do need to stop that. I would suggest you find a good training class to help his socialisation,but it sounds as if you are doing okay so far.

 

[Toffee44]

The training club where I took my dogs for socialisation has a 'no leads in the field' rule purely to prevent the kind of fear aggression that comes from dogs being confined (i.e. on lead) when in a potentially stressful situation. I'm with you - puppies should be off lead (but supervised and under control) when meeting other pups and dogs for the first time.

Maybe your neighbour has misunderstood her trainier? Or maybe her trainer was worried that she would have no control over her dog off-lead, but didn't want to say so? Seems odd, anyway!

Gonna sound really bad but once he got really excited and didnt want to leave us, she picked him up and said thats enough for today??

The other problem I have with him being on a lead is that I dont want him to get protective of me when on the lead, as he has st Bernard in him so he is going to have that tendancy proberly. The good thing is though I was able to call him away from the Shi Tzu and he did sit for me to put his lead back on, rather impressed for 9 weeks

 

[CorvusCorax]

I think she may have misinterpreted what the trainer said.

Also, socialisation is not just about other dogs, it's about people, kids/babies, prams, bikes, joggers, cars, lorries etc.

Although he is only nine weeks old (we never used to let our pups leave until they were nine weeks old ) and a baby, so don't over do things - for instance, he is to young to 'need' walking, it's only short bursts to get him out and about and used to a lead at this age. He's a big lad from parents of breeds both prone to joint problems so go easy on him

 

[Toffee44]

I think she may have misinterpreted what the trainer said.

Also, socialisation is not just about other dogs, it's about people, kids/babies, prams, bikes, joggers, cars, lorries etc.

Dont forget the moo cows, pigs, horses, chickens, ducks, sheep and various farm machinary and horse drawn implements

 

[CorvusCorax]

Those too

 

[Toffee44]

And bright orange tractors

(Dad cut from underneath incase he feels suicidal from the embarrasment of orange tractor).

 

[CorvusCorax]

You've got him driving already! Good work

Mine would either jump in the ditch and hide from/try to eat an orange tractor, depends on his mood at the time.....

 

[Cop-Pop]

Don't worry about socialising him Toffee, just send him to me