Socialization

[Buddy'sParents]

Before Bella had all of her shots, we had her in a shopping cart. She still got to see the sights and have people around her, but wasn't on the floor where she may have been in danger of getting diseases. And as soon as she was able to walk, she was already familiar with those places and we would go tons.

The vet is also a good place. Lots of people who (mostly) like dogs and lots of dogs around as well.

Farmer's Markets?

 

[Cheza]

Thanks Liz! That's awesome.

Hmm good idea. There's gotta be a farmers' market somewhere in Denver or the surrounding area...

If I call a home depot and ask if they allow pets.. think they'll give me a straight answer?

 

[Lizmo]

I'd ask to speak with the manager....not just some no-body-worker who could give you the wrong answer.

 

[lizzybeth727]

^^^Make sure to ask for a manager.... even then, maybe not, depending on who the "pet person" is on staff....

 

[Brattina88]

The mall around here "allows" dogs... on the DL; because there are photo places inside the mall that also take pictures of dogs. During christmas, its pictures with Santa. Easter, etc...

But with all of these places, all it really takes is one complaint and they may ask you to leave. Some people are grouchy, and plain just don't like dogs. That's happened to a friend, but never to me personally though

 

[Cheza]

Awesome, thanks for the advice everyone! Will put it to good use soon

 

[a.baker]

Oh Cheza your dog is so beautiful! What a doll!

You know my puppy I am currently taking him for walks and he is so good around people but its other dogs. He hears one bark he is freaked out; LOL everyone has dogs outside in town. I want to socialize him so bad but he still needs all his shots. One more round to go.

The thing is his age. He is behind because we bought him from some farm who hadn't given him any shots yet and because I feel he was abused there he got sick when we brought him home so that put him behind. We had to wait for the medicine to work and for him to finish it. So he is about a month behind. I think it makes a big difference from being 4 mths. to almost 6 mths. He is a male so I NEED to get him around other dogs.

When we brought him home he was terrified of my other dog who is not aggressive or anything of the sort. I tell my husband I think he had a bad run in with another dog where he came from.

My poor boy fights and darts to run away when he hears a dog bark. Tail down, all puffed up. When we walk in town I usually stop and pet him and talk really low and calm and give him a minute to take it in. I feel so bad for him. Eventually we will get him there.

 

[Domestika]

If you have a local community forum for your area (not dog-specific) you could post asking people for suggestions of places locally that allow dogs. I did this on my city's livejournal community and other people knew all sorts of places dogs could go that I wasn't aware of. There are some videao rental stores, hardware stores and lots of pet stores I didn't even know of. So those are all on my list of places to socialize my soon-to-be pup. I'll also be taking her to puppy classes that includes a drop-in puppy socialization class once a week.
Aaaand, luckily for me I work at a big animal hospital so she'll get over-socialized with animals and people when she comes to work with me. Can your pup go to work with you? In a crate?

 

[Cheza]

Domestika, thank you for that idea, I'll have to look into it.

Unfortunately, I don't think I could take her to work, I'm an architect and I don't think my boss is enough of a dog person to allow that

I'll look into the community forums though, thanks!

Oh and p.s. the Home Depots here don't allow dogs

 

[dr2little]

Don't know if you've already seen this but -
http://www.siriuspup.com/pdfs/BEFOREtextonly.pdf

 

[Cheza]

I haven't - thanks for forwarding it to me!