Socialising, socialising and more socialising!

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riiseni
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Socialising, socialising and more socialising!

Post by riiseni »

I think most of you have seen the pictures from our walk yesterday and I just wanted to say, that the only reason why that group of dos get along is, because they are all well socialised and well balanced dogs.
Potentially you have a recipe for a disaster: One male who still acts like an entire male, two entire males who are both stud dogs, two bitches and a puppy.
I can not say it enough, please socialise your dogs!
When Archie and Enzo met yesterday, to start with Enzo was very forceful with Archie, in which point Big A put his paw across Enzos back just to say, 'listen young puck do that again and I'll kick you a..' if Enzo hadn't been a well socialised dog and hadn't known how to act, we would have had a full fight. Luigi tried a same thing with the same result.
After the pecking order got sorted they all got on and everybody [all dogs!] came to our house afterwards for a cuppa. (cool)
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Erik
Archie 2003-2010


Most Friendship is Feigning, most Loving mere Folly.
-Shakespeare-
riiseni
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Re: Socialising, socialising and more socialising!

Post by riiseni »

I forgot to say, that the only reason Dylan couldn't come yesterday is the fact that the d***head who had him before didn't socialise him and look what he's missing out of.
Giants in my life
Lizzie
Annie
Erik
Archie 2003-2010


Most Friendship is Feigning, most Loving mere Folly.
-Shakespeare-
dannie_kl

Re: Socialising, socialising and more socialising!

Post by dannie_kl »

yes riiseni socialising is such a huge thing to dogs! we have a litter of puppies going tomorrow and one couple i just know are gonna be great dog owners, they have asked loads of questions and listened to our advice, they are going to take their pup to a great big market place roundhere where no doubt everyone will want to stop and fuss the pup and there are other dogs about too, thats a great way to socialise and teach them to be comfy in a busy atmosphere but finding well behaved dogs to show a youngster how to behave appropriately is also very valuable-puppy license doesnt last forever and alot of people are surprised at the reaction their dog gets when puppy license is finito and the dog is like a plain yob.
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Caramomo
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Re: Socialising, socialising and more socialising!

Post by Caramomo »

I find one of the best places to socialise with other dogs is a dog show - you can guarentee their will be alot of dogs and doggy people wanting a hug and can choose what kind of dogs will be there, if your's is wary of big dogs take them to the great dane or mastiff ring! I also find that the dogs you are meeting also TEND to be better behaved on the whole as they have also been well socialised, your much less likely to meet a yob of a dog there than at the park say.
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Tulip

Re: Socialising, socialising and more socialising!

Post by Tulip »

Nothing more fun than socialising! Maisy was out the day I got her, in my arms as I walked Freds, and every day since, but she's still very nervous of large dogs from having idiot's misbehaving ones jumping up at her in my arms (because she hadn't had her jabs, I couldn't put her down, so I couldn't help but reinforce her screaming when having a giant Boxer ram his nose in her face!) so as a result, even though I socialised her thoroughly from day one, every day, she's still insecure sometimes especially around large dogs when they get too boisterous. I get a lot of 'Your little dog has an attitude' and f**kheads telling me she's agressive when her tail is low and she's barking full on in the face of a large dog, clearly petrified to the back teeth of the dog in front of her. I try so hard, we're eventually getting there and she's much much more able to refocus back on me when over that threshold, and loves playing off-lead around dogs her size, but yes, still very sensitive around large dogs! Freddy is much better than he was - he was intact until a year old and a couple of bad experiences meant that intact dogs and younger dogs set him off, he became reactive and passed over the excitment threshold so far that he became snarling and dominating in his insecurity. It's taken eight months to walk him off lead with confidence that he can finally control himself around other dogs, a lot of hard work socialising with puppies because those are his weak points or intact dogs. Socialising is the most important factor to training for me, most of all though, EXERCISE! Finally now I can look forward to meeting other dogs instead of worried about Freddy's reaction and whether he'll be Jeckell or Hyde and severe behaviour-reading and learning to put myself into a more calmer mindset so he's less tense, giving more lead, and constant supervision. He hasn't had an episode for about two months now, so we're getting there!
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schett
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Re: Socialising, socialising and more socialising!

Post by schett »

I agree with you so much with the miniatures they are gen a very out going breed and get along with alomost anything they meet but the Standards act so much different to the minis in a lot of way and in some cases can become very pertactive over there owners it is always good to get standards out and about as soon as possable my lot meet a lot of people here and as we also am lucky in we have other breeds so they get used to a wide mix of dogs .
You can get a problem when if the only dogs your dog see is others of the same breed when they meet new dogs of other breeds they can play up with the minis I have found not in mine but others they give a squil not bark as minis do I call it a fear bark standards on the other hand are a bit shy at coming forword but when they have met something new they soon get over it and take it in the stride.
I have over the years work for some large breed/show kennels and see it in the kennels dogs who never go out of the kennels the show dogs get to go to shows but not all dogs make it to the ring and the ones that dont go anywhere used to act towords my own dogs who used to come with me to kennel sit a bit like a pack of dogs barking at a cat not all was like it but did see a few but dogs soon get used to new dogs around my lot go mad if I have a strange dog come to visit they are fine with our own dogs here when we have people come over to meet the dogs and are looking for a dog I tell them to bring the own dogs esp if Im rehomeing a older dog and the owners have another dog already I make sure they bring all there other dogs I must say its my males to give the most gob to other males if its a females they flirt .
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on-the-coast
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Re: Socialising, socialising and more socialising!

Post by on-the-coast »

Good or bad experiences
Today we took Schu -a standard 5mths- to a rally in our village. He behaved so well... he sat close to us and did not fret when all the people were around, when children tried to touch him or when little dogs approached him (that required some controlling).
We talked with him and re-confirmed sitting and he got through OK.
So it seems that good and bad experiences with socialisation will make the dog more able to cope and behave when crowds appear. (village-size crowds)

WITH SCHU'S GOOD BEHAVIOUR...MAY WE COME FOR A CUPPA, TOO RISENII???
(callyou) ASTRID
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mookie&me

Re: Socialising, socialising and more socialising!

Post by mookie&me »

That's great news, Astrid. To be honest, with Mookie, I was very matter of fact about new experiences. We went into shops, local fetes, on buses, in the park, in the car etc.. and I didn't say 'oooooohhhh - look, Mookie, we're on a bus!" in a kind of squealy voice some parents talk to their children in (giggle) but as it was just what I do, I expected her to do it too.

She still gets a bit 'lost' in crowds when on a lead, but off to a carnival tomorrow so we'll see if she likes Samba [laughing]. Socialising doesn't stop at 6 months (cool)
dannie_kl

Re: Socialising, socialising and more socialising!

Post by dannie_kl »

thats great you had another good day with schu!
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Joni
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Re: Socialising, socialising and more socialising!

Post by Joni »

I have had plenty of bad experiences with Dyl, but whilst I would never plan them, I do think overall they only improve (obv, by bed i don't mean a fight, but a dog rushing up etc) In my case Dylan is I think anxious rather than an out and out bag of nerves, so if it is bad, but we just about get by, he knows there is a possible OK outcome next time (I think!)

Layla was a very shy dog and we just got on with it like Mookie, I over did it at the pub and she still hates going there (with the noise and the number of people not me on the ale!!) Finally she is begiinning to accept the friends from the pub away from there on a 121 basis but I don't take her there anymore.

I suppose it is about balance.
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Re: Socialising, socialising and more socialising!

Post by mookie&me »

I over did it at the pub and she still hates going there (with the noise and the number of people not me on the ale!!)
[laughing] [laughing] [laughing]

I have a mental image of you being dragged home on a lead by a very embarrassed Layla (beer)
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on-the-coast
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Re: Socialising, socialising and more socialising!

Post by on-the-coast »

Educating dog owners that dogs need socialising....

Who undertakes this job? Can breeders help??

All I hear when I talk with dog owners, that is if I don't already see in the dog, is that:

"My dog doesn't like other dogs.. It has always been like this. It is a bit of a worry."
1 Standard + 1 mini + 2 humans = a cocktail for a good life
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Tulip

Re: Socialising, socialising and more socialising!

Post by Tulip »

I find it is sort of unknown unless you know basic dog training, most owners just think dogs automatically like others and don't need to learn manners around them. As someone who aspires to be a breeder, I'm composing a training pack for new owners for the basics, so yes, I do think it's responsible of a breeder to have the dog's best interest at heart and thus warn new puppy owners of what to do and the benefits of socialising.
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Guinevere
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Re: Socialising, socialising and more socialising!

Post by Guinevere »

My sons girlfriend has a rescue dog. I feel so sorry for her cause she won,t mix with any dogs. She hides in the grass to go to the loo and now can,t go off lead cause she runs off for hours and returns with tail between legs kowing she has been naughty. She doesn,t like any treats so it is hard to train her. Once she is confident with you she is lovely but she has not been looked after before she found her forever home. She is getting used to Arthur and will just tolerate him when we go for a walk but wont play which is such a shame.
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nickycaplan
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Re: Socialising, socialising and more socialising!

Post by nickycaplan »

I agree with all of the above, with regards to socialising - however, sometimes you can just be unlucky - I did everything right - looked up one of the best breeders, investigated the breed, bought the puppy books etc - only to have lola develop kennel cough the day after we bought her home - at 8 weeks.........of course we couldnt socialise her with dogs - all she saw was the inside of the vets and the big bad world from the inside of my coat or in the boot of my car... her first jabs had to be repeatd, so a delay in getting her second and last jabs - so she didnt go out until something like 22weeks plus!and i swear this has caused a lot of her issues during the past 3 years. If you observe Lola, she has no manners around other dogs - she will not let any other dog sniff her bottom, unless they are much more dominant, then she just freezes..so yes, of course you need to socialise socialise socialise --but sometimes (very rarely) circumstances state that you cant :(
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