Socialisation

[Lucas]

Ok experts, need some information on socialisation with other dogs for my puppy, she's a 3 month old border collie/lab. So far she's met a few other dogs on walks, and I take her to my parents to visit on the weekends sometimes, they have an adult Lab.

I just want information on if i'm doing things right at her age, and any other suggestions, as I feel its very important for my dog.

 

[Renee750il]

Keep taking her on those walks and to your parents'. Take her with you anywhere she is even marginally welcome. Take her with you to the pet food store when you buy her food; get her used to going places with you and being around lots of different people. You might want to consider going to a training class with her, even if you're doing your own training, just for the socialization and interaction with other dogs. Sometimes that's where the real value in the class lies. With her mix of breeds, she should be a friendly dog, so you shouldn't have any real problems with her being social, other than probably over-exuberance.

Being a Border Collie mix, she's going to want work to do, and she's going to want to herd something. She's also going to have lots of energy with that mix, so start looking for games she likes to play.

Look for her to try to herd her playmates, too.

 

[Lucas]

Thanks Rene, a neighbour just moved into the next house, she's a St.Bernard breeder, she won best breeder in north america a couple years back I think, and has some puppies right now. I've been talking to her this week, she's going to babysit my pup tommorow and let them all play, sounds like this is going to be a really good experience for sage to be around other dogs, and also for me for guidance.

 

[chiquitita]

i have a question about socialization: should i be cautious when introducing dogs????? should i be looking for agressive behavior etc?

 

[chiquitita]

also, Lucas....what type of mental stimulation do you give your puppy? i want to get one of those mixes, but im not sure how Ill keep it mentally stimulated

 

[Renee750il]

Lucas, it sounds like you've got an ideal situation with your new neighbor. Maybe she'll join us here and be a Chazhound neighbor, too!

 

[Lucas]

I don't think she's the computer type, groovy chick.

As for mental stimulation chiquitta, not overloading right now, just minimal basic training still, also training myself (making a routine and sticking with it, walks, feeding, etc)

She's pretty hyper but as long as you exersise them enough its not a big deal, plus she's a puppy so i'm not sure whats coming up.

For training she's still getting used to domestication, house rules, her role in the "pack" order etc. The neighbour I was talking about uses her dogs as show dogs as well, so i'm sure she will help me with training, i'm going to ask her if we can train our puppies together, she was she sais about that tommorow.

I'm looking forward to giving this puppy its share of obedience training in a while, she seems like she has the capabilities of doing alot and being very focussed, I think she has a good mix in her, and I love that she's mostly border collie, just has the color black from the lab father.

Like I said i'm trying to focus on basic training, and mainly socialisation right now, with other dogs, and people in different situations, i've been studying this for a while now since I got sage, and its a very important thing to give a puppy at a certain age, it will tie in with obidience and the dogs nature for the rest of her life. So I say stuff but it is tough finding dogs to socialise with etc, but hope this new arrangment takes care of it a bit, I talked to the "neighbour" again tonight when i was in the backyard and we both had our puppies out for washroom breaks, she said I could make her a key and she would come over through the day for my pup, sounds nice doesn't she people, my parents know her if your thinking of a robbery, hehe.


( chiquitita, if your thinking about this mix I would definately go for it, just do some research on how to pick a puppy and what signs to watch for when looking, if you want to do it you will make the time, it sounds like alot of work but for me now its become normal and can't imagine not waking 3 hours before work to make sure she's walked and had some close time with her master)


Luke

 

[chiquitita]

thanks for answering!

 

[Lucas]

Could use some more suggestions here guys:

What defines a good sicialising experience, just meeting dogs on walks? Or should there be more time when two dogs are around each other, etc. I just want my puppy to be getting the right kind of social experiences, and not thinking that a situation will suffice.

 

[Renee750il]

I take my Filas with me to all sorts of different places. With this breed it's imperative that they be socialized well so that they can distinguish between a normal situation and a legitimate threat, since they are bred to act on their own judgement. They LOVE to go to the pet feed store - of course! I take them one at a time - can you imagine two of them at once!

I've even taken them with me to vote; they've been to Charley's furniture store, visiting the law office I used to work in, to Lowes, really to just about anyplace that doesn't sell food or have a ban on dogs. But then I'm kind of belligerent. I figure if people can bring their little dogs in someplace, I can bring my big dogs! I do take them to the vet's office just to visit periodically so that there's no problem with them when they have to go for a real reason. Believe me, the vet really, really appreciates that! He sees a couple of other Filas, and mine are the only ones he doesn't dread. I used to walk 3 miles a day at a track by one of the high schools and always took Bimmer with me. He doesn't like going in strange buildings very much (I'm sure it's the wolf in him) but I take him in places to get him more used to it and let him be more at ease. He'd much rather curl up in the car and wait for me, though. You shouldn't have that situation with your Border mix! lol

 

[Debi]

ANYTHING you do to socialize you dog will be to your advantage. I know...my GSD is NOT socialzed, and it is a huge problem for me. I had a very bad experience lately when the UPS person came. In my case..AND I know there are some folks that will not accept this.....I live totally rural and have not been able to do the socialization properly. Now, I have to take responsibility for a generally sweet dog....to be frightened of strangers, maybe to the harm of him or others. I feel strongly that my Ham would bite...out of fear, and IF..OMG IF he were ever loose and lost, someone would probably shoot him. I urge you to do everything you can to socialize your pup. This is something I will always regret, and be leary of in my otherwise adorable dog. Take your dog EVERYWHERE. Do ANYTHING. I don't get out much.......and for those that don't forgive me my 'excuses'.......well, I accept that you are right. I wish my Ham would have come in contact with lots of people/animals. He didn't. But as long as he is with me only......he is the very best of the best. I log on here to learn...but this is an area I have failed miserably in.......don't you do the same. Get your dog out there.

 

[Renee750il]

Debi, when Hammie's mature, trust me, he's not going to be doing things out of fear. Fearful German Shepherds are rare and are usually the result of abuse - and we all know Hammie's not abused (unless you count Addie being a harridan every now and then - lol). You just keep working with him, teaching him things; this will build his self-confidence and will help him in many different situations.

 

[Sakasha]

Origionaly posted by Renee750il
Debi, when Hammie's mature, trust me, he's not going to be doing things out of fear. Fearful German Shepherds are rare and are usually the result of abuse - and we all know Hammie's not abused (unless you count Addie being a harridan every now and then - lol). You just keep working with him, teaching him things; this will build his self-confidence and will help him in many different situations.

Debi, I agree with Renee 100%. It's never to late to work on training and socializing your dog. Trevor, my foster (3 year old GSD/Rottie X) is very distrusting of strangers. But his lack of trust does not come out as fear, it comes out as agression, and he would be extremely dangerous in the wrong situation. Having lived in a cage at the shelter for the past 2 1/2 years, I understand why he acts this way, but I do not accept it. I am working with him constantly, bringing him new places, getting him close (but not too close) to new people, and he is slowly making progress. Trevor is absolutely wonderful with me, and I trust him 100%, but I want him to be able to face the world without fear (weather it be my fear, or his).

We also have a 6 year old Pit Bull at work who was abused by her previous family. She will do anything she can to avoid contact with a stranger, but if she is approached, she often feels the need to defend herself. Thankfully we have been careful, and she hasn't had any "incodents", but it makes her very hard to adopt out. Again, she is absolutely wonderful with someone that she knows; she'll just about drown you with kisses, loves belly rubs, and lives to play fetch. She's an absolute mushball. I have been working with her (btw her name is Sasha) for the past month on trusting people again, and to my absolute delight, I was able to introduce her to a stranger without a problem a few days ago. She actually approached him with a wagging tail!

I know I'm rambling here, but I just wanted to show you that it's never too late for progress to be made. Get out there and show Hammie the world! If nothing else, it might help you sleep better at night knowing that if (heaven forbid) he's ever faced with an unusual situation, he won't harm anyone.

 

[Lucas]

Thanks Rene.

She's 4 months old now, I can't beleive how hyper she is, doesn't matter if she's tired or not, there's no settling her down when were out, its fun.