New puppy - concerns about socialisation
Discussion
Hi all
We picked up our new Labradoodle puppy recently... (I will post photos on the photo thread when I get a chance!) She is now approx 9 weeks old.
She is settling in well and is really lovely natured if a little chewy currently! She came from a lovely breeder, her Mum has a really calm lovely temperament and she was kept in the breeders home fitting in with daily live with their young family who made sure she was handled and played with lots before coming to us. Since we have had her she has met a few people in passing, she is very confident and relaxed with the people she has met but she isn't fully vaccinated yet so hasn't met any other dogs apart from her litter. We have been carrying her round and about to experience all the sights, noises and smells.
With everything going on at the moment it's a bit of a small silver lining and a nice mental distraction to have a decent amount of time at home to crack the training, however I know she is at the age where socialisation is really important and the social distancing etc. is going to run for a while and maybe get more severe.
In the scheme of things its a really minor issue and will work with the situation we have, sticking to whatever the recommended guidelines are for distancing/isolation - but thought there might be some more knowledgeable/experienced people here who might be able advise and assure us that delayed socialisation with people/children/dogs etc. past 16 weeks or more is something that if needed can still be successful, as the internet is full of scare stories!
Would love to hear anyones thoughts/experiences
Thanks in advance
Andy
We picked up our new Labradoodle puppy recently... (I will post photos on the photo thread when I get a chance!) She is now approx 9 weeks old.
She is settling in well and is really lovely natured if a little chewy currently! She came from a lovely breeder, her Mum has a really calm lovely temperament and she was kept in the breeders home fitting in with daily live with their young family who made sure she was handled and played with lots before coming to us. Since we have had her she has met a few people in passing, she is very confident and relaxed with the people she has met but she isn't fully vaccinated yet so hasn't met any other dogs apart from her litter. We have been carrying her round and about to experience all the sights, noises and smells.
With everything going on at the moment it's a bit of a small silver lining and a nice mental distraction to have a decent amount of time at home to crack the training, however I know she is at the age where socialisation is really important and the social distancing etc. is going to run for a while and maybe get more severe.
In the scheme of things its a really minor issue and will work with the situation we have, sticking to whatever the recommended guidelines are for distancing/isolation - but thought there might be some more knowledgeable/experienced people here who might be able advise and assure us that delayed socialisation with people/children/dogs etc. past 16 weeks or more is something that if needed can still be successful, as the internet is full of scare stories!
Would love to hear anyones thoughts/experiences
Thanks in advance
Andy
I would thoroughly recommend going to puppy classes/socialisation with a good trainer.
Not only will your dog get socialised properly, you'll also pick up good training tips.
It's not expensive either.
Trust me, as a person who took on a rescue dog that wasn't socialised properly, this isn't something you want to get wrong!!
Not only will your dog get socialised properly, you'll also pick up good training tips.
It's not expensive either.
Trust me, as a person who took on a rescue dog that wasn't socialised properly, this isn't something you want to get wrong!!
Muzzer79 said:
I would thoroughly recommend going to puppy classes/socialisation with a good trainer.
Not only will your dog get socialised properly, you'll also pick up good training tips.
It's not expensive either.
Trust me, as a person who took on a rescue dog that wasn't socialised properly, this isn't something you want to get wrong!!
Hi Not only will your dog get socialised properly, you'll also pick up good training tips.
It's not expensive either.
Trust me, as a person who took on a rescue dog that wasn't socialised properly, this isn't something you want to get wrong!!
Thanks, yeah ideally that is exactly what we would be doing! but I just don't see things like that running in the current climate? Might be wrong and will see what I can find but this is my main concern!
andy ted said:
Muzzer79 said:
I would thoroughly recommend going to puppy classes/socialisation with a good trainer.
Not only will your dog get socialised properly, you'll also pick up good training tips.
It's not expensive either.
Trust me, as a person who took on a rescue dog that wasn't socialised properly, this isn't something you want to get wrong!!
Hi Not only will your dog get socialised properly, you'll also pick up good training tips.
It's not expensive either.
Trust me, as a person who took on a rescue dog that wasn't socialised properly, this isn't something you want to get wrong!!
Thanks, yeah ideally that is exactly what we would be doing! but I just don't see things like that running in the current climate? Might be wrong and will see what I can find but this is my main concern!
I would call your local one for advice.
Do you have friends with dogs?
Take yours around their house, invite them to your house.
We took our 8 week old puppy to the local pub in a basket.
8-12 weeks is very important for puppy development so better to socialise than worry about the minimal risk of any disease, especially if you know the owners.
Take yours around their house, invite them to your house.
We took our 8 week old puppy to the local pub in a basket.
8-12 weeks is very important for puppy development so better to socialise than worry about the minimal risk of any disease, especially if you know the owners.
babelfish said:
Do you have friends with dogs?
Take yours around their house, invite them to your house.
We took our 8 week old puppy to the local pub in a basket.
8-12 weeks is very important for puppy development so better to socialise than worry about the minimal risk of any disease, especially if you know the owners.
Good shout - yes she has already met lots of people just want to make sure she meets as many dogs as possible - guess we can always introduce them outside on a long lead!Take yours around their house, invite them to your house.
We took our 8 week old puppy to the local pub in a basket.
8-12 weeks is very important for puppy development so better to socialise than worry about the minimal risk of any disease, especially if you know the owners.
Once they are fully vaccines get them out as much as possible meeting other dogs. Lots of local puppy classes, and also some of the larger chain of pet shops sometimes have a puppy meet on a weekend.
Also any local area's where dog walkers tend to meet? Local park, paddocks? You don't need to initially let them off the lead, but they soon learn how to play with each other.
Also any local area's where dog walkers tend to meet? Local park, paddocks? You don't need to initially let them off the lead, but they soon learn how to play with each other.
Daughter has a 16 week old sausage (not of the hammering into lawns variety) and her weekly puppy play parties have now unsurprisingly been cancelled. I took our dog down yesterday for a few hours and we went for a walk around the local lake. He met a few folk there at a distance, extending leads are good for that, but echoing the above, friends and family, neighbours etc
And if you can get out at the moment do it safely and at a distance for you and with pup on an extender. Will probably mean you have to work to correct his walk to heel later on but thats nowhere near as important as his socialisation.
And if you can get out at the moment do it safely and at a distance for you and with pup on an extender. Will probably mean you have to work to correct his walk to heel later on but thats nowhere near as important as his socialisation.
Just thought I would update this a bit
We managed to get her to meet a quite a few people and a few dogs before lockdown got stricter! she was happy to see everyone even the vet! - she is able to go out for a walk now and is seeing other people and dogs albeit from a distance which she is mostly fine with- she did get spooked by a large Visler today who was on the other side of the road - but she is tiny still so hopefully as she grows other larger dogs will be less scary. I guess we will just have to work with what we can in the situation and hope restrictions are lifted before she gets too old!
Also a bit concerned she is getting used to us being around all the time so that is something else to work on - she is getting a lot of other training though and this is coming on well.
Is anyone else in this situation or got any other tips on keeping a 10wk old puppy happy while not being able to go out much?!
We managed to get her to meet a quite a few people and a few dogs before lockdown got stricter! she was happy to see everyone even the vet! - she is able to go out for a walk now and is seeing other people and dogs albeit from a distance which she is mostly fine with- she did get spooked by a large Visler today who was on the other side of the road - but she is tiny still so hopefully as she grows other larger dogs will be less scary. I guess we will just have to work with what we can in the situation and hope restrictions are lifted before she gets too old!
Also a bit concerned she is getting used to us being around all the time so that is something else to work on - she is getting a lot of other training though and this is coming on well.
Is anyone else in this situation or got any other tips on keeping a 10wk old puppy happy while not being able to go out much?!
Have you got a stuff able kong? Not a euphemism....
https://www.amazon.co.uk/KONG-Classic-Durable-Natu...
Fill with pups biscuit, add a drop of boiling water until it swells and then freeze. Pup should spend a few hours on that. Also lick mats and kong stuffing are great boredom breakers.
Try and leave him in a room alone for a bit daily with the above treats, shutting the door on him. He won't necessarily know you're in the house with him.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/KONG-Classic-Durable-Natu...
Fill with pups biscuit, add a drop of boiling water until it swells and then freeze. Pup should spend a few hours on that. Also lick mats and kong stuffing are great boredom breakers.
Try and leave him in a room alone for a bit daily with the above treats, shutting the door on him. He won't necessarily know you're in the house with him.
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff