Socialization needs to begin the moment you bring your puppy home. However, most folks think it means to let your puppy play with every dog she sees. And, usually, there is no structure to the play time. Unfortunately, it is not advisable for your puppy to play with strange dogs until she has had all her vaccinations. Many times, that means 16 weeks old! However, BEFORE that 16 weeks of age is it CRITICAL for your puppy to have experiences with other dogs and people.
In many ways, puppies are like human babies that are like little sponges that absorb every little thing around them. Although, puppies are still DOGS, not people. They engage with you at a much earlier age and can learn as early as 3-5 weeks old. In fact, there are some critical learning periods at that 5 week old marker and up to 8 weeks. During that 5 week age it is critical that puppies have positive experiences with older dogs that are fair and patient with puppies. This period of time is crucial dog to dog socialization. Many good breeders will allow puppies to socialize with older dogs for exactly that purpose. Puppies that have this experience are usually much more social with other dogs than pups that are not given this experience.
The first step to preventing dog bites is to realize that all dogs have the potential to bite given the right situation. For us to believe that our dog will never bite, no matter what, is unrealistic. Even the most docile, sweet Golden Retriever can decide to nip a youngster lying on her sore, arthritic hip.
In this day of the purely positive training philosophies that insist dogs do not have to endure pressure of any kind, I am astounded that a wider consciousness has not been taken. I want my training to be humane, honest and fair. This article is not entirely about training philosophies, but more about everyday life that our dogs are exposed to and the expectations we dog owners have of our dogs.
“What do we bark for? “ “FOOD! “ “When do we bark!” “ NOW!” “What do we bark for?” Attention!” “When do we bark?” “NOW!!!” Sound like the mantra at your house? Truthfully, there is nothing more annoying to neighbors than a dog barking for recreation, or over-reacting to people walking by the house, or barking for a plethora of other reasons. I see people with dogs who bark when they are on the phone, or on their computer.
When we have children, we are quick to start reading to babies, providing them with educational experiences, socializing them, even taking them to an educational pre-school. We would not lock them in a dark closet and expect them to come out when they are 2 years old as a well adjusted child. In the past 2 to 3 years, I have seen this phenomenon happening more and more with our puppies.
It’s okay if your dog does not get along with other dogs! Let me say that again, it’s okay if your dog doesn’t get along with other dogs! For some reason, everyone has come to believe that their dog must be social and NEEDS to spend time with other dogs. This simply is not true and this belief has put our dogs into situations that they feel uncomfortable with and subsequently, enormous pressure, too. This can ultimately lead our dogs to respond aggressively to other dogs to protect themselves.
Uh oh!! I am treading on sacred waters here! A few months ago, I wrote an article about Fake Service Dogs, and in it I mentioned that a guide dog had been attacked by a pit bull in a grocery store and now had to be retired because she became defensively reactive to other dogs. It went viral on Facebook with over 10,000 shares. It wasn’t how many shares it got, but how many chastised me for having mentioned it was a pit bull that attacked the German Shepherd. My response was, “I am honest and that is what happened.”
Uh oh!! I am treading on sacred waters here! A few months ago, I wrote an article about Fake Service Dogs, and in it I mentioned that a guide dog had been attacked by a pit bull in a grocery store and now had to be retired because she became defensively reactive to other dogs. It went viral on Facebook with over 10,000 shares. It wasn’t how many shares it got, but how many chastised me for having mentioned it was a pit bull that attacked the German Shepherd. My response was, “I am honest and that is what happened.”
In our little valley, we expound about how dog friendly this community is. In reality, in the past 2 days I have had more people tell me that they feel such extreme pressure to have the “perfect dog” from other community members. While the valley may be “dog friendly” it is not always friendly to the owners of other dogs. A recent incident drove this home for me, personally, and it has brought so many thoughts to consider.
Now back to work part time. Please call to schedule.
