Everyone knows that pups need plenty of socialization. But...what exactly do *you* think that means? Breeders always say that you must remember your pup needs to be socialized but does anyone ever explain what that means ?

Training classes , walks where there are other dogs, off lead romps ..all well and good ..but do you let your mad puppy meet all other dogs? Do you say NO! or Leave? Do you as a breeder explain to a new owner what you mean by it or do you assume they know?

What is your take on *socialization*?

To me it means accustoming pups to the world and the situations they will meet in daily life so that they wont be frightened by them. From my limited reading and experience it starts as the pups become aware and venture away from mum even in the nest and continues when they go to their new homes. I know there is debate about the window of opportunity when pups can most easily absorb new experiences.

Mmmm.. I take it to mean letting her meet as many people/dogs as she can. Also road walking to accustom her to traffic and noise. Maybe standing outside shops and letting people fuss her, without her jumping up at them of course, and letting her say 'hello' to visitors and not shutting her away in another room. And of course training classes :)
Meeting other dogs can be difficult as most people with dogs cross over when they see you coming, but if they are dog free you have to be prepared to stop every few minutes so you can satisfy their curiosity as to what breed she is and how big, food, etc :D  Can't think of anything else really so I will be interested in reading other peoples ideas.

Dee

Well lets go the opposite.   If a dog isn't socialized will it like other folk apart from yourself?    Will it get along with other animals?   If it doesn't go out on busy roads to experience noise and busy traffic will it jump up in your arms from fright?    Dogs are not so different from humans in that respect... we all have to learn and the more we learn we better we are for it!

My mums dog has never been 'socialized' he's 10, and he doesn't like other people including kids, doesn't like other dogs including mine, and mum has to lock him away if she has 'new' visitors or workmen in. Its her own fault she can't take him any where cos she's always been afraid he MIGHT bite someone and now we KNOW he will!   (He's a gsd x)

I gave all my puppy buyers a copy of "The Perfect Puppy" along with their puppy packs, as I find it's really helpful on the whole topic of socialisation, and also includes a very helpful "tick chart" at the back.

We dont have to be let off lead  Jackie M .....so lets answer the question rather than turn it round ;)

Do you let dogs socialize off lead?

Do you tell them NO! When they are trying to reach another dog?

Sorry I got it wrong.    Can't answer that one....wish I could.    My eight year old went to puppy classes which was great when she was there but didn't have any effect when out walking (at lease not for a long time)  but my eighteen monlth old hasn't been off the lead yet because I know that she wouldn't listen to the command NO! she would run after every dog she saw and would jump on every person she come across.   But it must confuse the poor dog when they are told not to jump on folk and not to run after dogs when we have been teaching them to befriend them.    My dog will run after anything that moves including cars (unfortunately) she should understand the word NO I say it to her often enough!!

Hi Melodysk,

In my opinion, socialisation means being in as many different situations as possible, eg, town walking, heavy traffic, people, screaming kids, other dogs, workmen digging and people coming up to the dog as well as bumping into the dog with shopping bags etc. Then there is the country aspect, cattle, sheep, wildlife, like rabbits, pheasants, deer, squirrels, bycycles, guns going off,  you get the picture ;) Then there is the in another house experience. go round to friends and the pub, basically these are all the things I did with my boy and he is now......bomb proof. The only thing he couldn't comprehend was when he was in the car and a guy on a motorbike went zooming past with dog like ears on his helmet, he obviously thought it was a dog on a bike and couldn't cope with the thought of it :D!!!!

To me it means taking the pup everywhere and anywhere I can in arms first then on the lead, waiting outside a supermarket is a big plus you'd be amazed how many people stop and speak to a pup but also you get trollies/cars/pushchairs/icecream vans/baskets. etc all for them to be used to. Then walking to school kids loads of them. :) Especially if you have a child in the school. Then a trip on a bus (quiet times) A brief stroll to the bench in the park to feed the ducks. And if you want to a walk past the horses a a riding school.

I find a good place for pups are big garden centres on off peak days, people (relaxed normally as buying plants) and lots of nice people. And if you get the chance game fairs/agricultural shows - fnatastic puppy meeting ground.

Karen 

Meeting other dogs is a hard one to answer because so much depends on the dog/pup. We probably did it the wrong way with Morse as a 6 month old. We reckoned other dogs would teach him manners faster than we would, and he soon learned to approach respectfully. Luckily we didnt meet any wrong uns, and Morse is pretty robust. THe other day we met a little lab bitch who wanted to say hello but was frightened - tail between legs but wagging and she approached hugging the dirt - as an older dog pinned her when she went over. She was obviously more sensitive and far less fortunate. With another pup I think we would be much more aware of the risks and find it harder not to interfere.

Just thought I'd add my own experience.  We got a 9-week old puppy last November and unfortunately he caught kennel cough at the vets in between his vaccinations so he was delayed having the second one.  As time was creeping on and we'd read about the "crucial socialisation period between about 9-14 weeks) we invested in a puppy trainer to come round to our house to make sure we were doing the right thing.  He advised us to take Oscar out (carrying him) to the local shops, etc (as previously suggested) and make sure he gets introduced to as many sights, sounds and smells as possible before he can walk out on his own.  I think we were a bit too late with Oscar as he is a very timid boy (he's a Cavalier Kind Charles Spaniel and their supposed to be fearless but not this little one - he's afraid of his own shadow!). We went on to puppy training classes and he's certainly better but probably not as good as we would have hoped.  We're now on to number 2 dog, a bitch CKCS who is his complete opposite.  We've only had her a week and walk her out with us when we take Oscar out.  She already is completely fearless and will probably overtake him socially by leaps and bounds. 

Socialisation has got to be the most important thing in a pup's life.  My take on it would be to introduce the pup to as much as possible whether you think it will meet it later on in life or not, horses, cows, pigs, sheep etc.  little people, big people, old people, young people, wheelchairs, with sticks etc the list is endless.  Don't forget umbrellas if you get your pup in the summer as I did!

As to letting your pup off to meet other dogs, unless I know the dog is safe no way.  It only takes one dog not to like puppies or to pin it to the floor to ruin it for the rest of its life.  If I know the dog they are off (I have a 10 and 18 month old) if I dont they still go on the lead even now, you cannot be too careful.

Well done to the person who said she hands out a copy of the perfect puppy, this is what I used with my first, which lead me onto puppy classes and the rest they say is history.

Claire

I thought I did right with my pup.  I took her everywhere, introduced her to lots of different people and situations. Training and ringcraft from twelve weeks. Then we went to our first Champ show and I was told by the breeder I had over socialized her :rolleyes:

She was right, her brother had not been anywhere and behaved himself beautifully, mine jumped over everyone, judge included and was far too bold and difficult to handle.

They have evened out a bit now but I still hope the judge is not one of the over friendly ones!!

I wouldn't do it again.  It was a lesson learnt.
Sandra

Better that than a dog who backs away from the judge! ;) Seriously, the over-enthusiastic puppies generally turn out to be the showdogs with 'that certain something' that makes them shine longer ...

Hi Sandra, I agree with Jeangenie :-)

Personally I don't see how you could ever 'over socialise' !!!!  Future show dog or not,  that's only a miniscule part of any dog's life and so long as his being difficult to handle as a puppy is down to fun loving and friendly over exhuberance I think your breeder should be absolutely thrilled - she found him a cracking home in you because you've got a youngster that is obviously been a well cared for family pet with loads of effort put into him and he even goes out of his way to ensure the judge can't fail to notice him :D :D :D

Teri

I don't think a puppy can be over socialised either. My puppy has been "over socialised". She's been to a few shows now & is a delight to take anywhere. Everyone/thing is a potential friend & even dogs who turn out not to be enchanted by her don't faze her "win some, lose some" is her attitude. OK, her behaviour isn't perfect in the ring, but I'd far rather have that than a puppy who needs to be enticed, comforted & reassured every step of the way.

I don't think I made a mistake in over socializing her surroundings and different experiences. 

I made the mistake allowing everyone we met to talk to her stroke her and make too much of a fuss of her.  She was naturally an extrovert puppy anyway and I would take this into account next time and control the dog to human contact.

I treated this pup in the same way as others I have had, I failed in not recognising she was a bit OTT anyway and I was doing more harm then good.  It has taken a lot of work to calm her down, which I feel could have been avoided.

If I found myself with a nervous or shy pup then I would up the contact, it is just experience in recognising how far to go.

Speaking from a judge's point of view to be honest I prefer puppies to be puppies not stuffed toys. I am concerned about puppies that go into the ring at 6 months perfectly trained, what sort of puppy hood do these dogs have. I can remember judging the naughtiest beardie I have ever seen at 6 months old. I allowed him loads of time to settle in the riing & did the least amount of handling I needed. He was a super little dog & went on in maturity to gat made up & be very successful,
There were rumblings round the ring as a very well known handler brought out their latest puppy.,w hich had no life or "spark" It stood & moved like a robot where as the other boy had the essential sparkle that makes a beardie a beardie, a lovely expression & moved eventually with such terrific daisy cutting driving movement he took my breath away & when posed naturally he was just awesome. His owner many years later told me I was his last chance, she was ready to give up altogether if I had not placed him as she had been so upset with his behaviour. I had told her to go to a lovely obedience trainer(now deceased)for some obedience training so that she could get control whilst not flattening his character. She took my advice & I can still seen him moving round the ring at crufts suprebly his eyes never left his handler & finishing standing perfectly with his tail gentle wagging.. he also worked a mean novice obedience round to boot

I think there's a difference between over socialisation and teaching a dog that not EVERYBODY wants to fuss it - ie it is not the centre of the world - part of socialisation should be teaching the pup that sometimes you just have to stand still and wait - just like children ;)

Trouble is EVERYBODY does want to fuss it.  Which is where the control over where you socialise comes in. 

Have never had to bring up children Digger, that is obviously where I have been going wrong ;)  I think they would just get a clout if they misbehaved, wouldn't do that to my puppy though. ;)

I always encouraged people to talk to the pups I've been 'outing' only when they are behaving, in a similar way to Guide Dog puppies. Standing reasonably still, happily wagging, and the attention carries on. When the pup starts getting over-excited, the fuss stops and we move on.
:)