Socialisation – what is it? Many people think it’s simply waiting for their puppy to finish his or her injections. Then they take him to a park, to training classes or to somewhere with lots of dogs.
Socialisation is about a lot more. It’s about early introduction to the outside world – people, dogs, vehicles, noises, wheelie bins…….
Why would a five-month-old German Shepherd already be barking fearfully at people and children? Dave was picked up from the person who bred him at ten weeks old. It’s obvious that before this he had met few people and probably no dogs other than those he had lived with. Another red Read more
They are now upping their socialisation of Digby and acclimatisation to things. Things such as traffic, noises, people of all sorts and ages, other dogs, the car and so on – within the restrictions of being unable to put him down until his injections are finished. He seems a stable and fearless pup.
Today it is acknowledged that early socialisation with puppies must begin way before they leave the breeder and their littermates. Being kept in kennels outside, however luxurious and warm, isn’t the same as being part of a family with lots of comings and goings and real-life experiences. It doesn’t make them fit for modern living.
I would recommend anyone buying a puppy carefully checks the breeder.
Without this vital habituation from an early age, other dogs were scary enemies and traffic terrifying. The couple have worked hard at getting her used to traffic – but the ‘other dog’ situation gets worse.
Bella is very reactive and wary of many things she could have been gently habituated to from the start. The vacuum cleaner, lawn mower, hairdryer, garden hose and more. The young man plays wrestling games and hypes her up when he comes home till she’s flying all over him like a wild thing. Inadvertently, through his shouting at a TV football match, she is now really frightened when he raises his voice.
Duke, the puppies’ father, and Princess, both three years old, had the wrong start in life. Duke was in a barn and then not taken out until five months old which left a big gap in his vital socialisation. Princess had been left alone for hours and was beaten for destroying things.
How do you help an older dog accept a lively new puppy without causing conflict? I do love the variety in my job. I wrote about Coco four weeks ago and about preparing him for the arrival of their new puppy. Coco is a ten-year-old Chocolate Labrador who really isn’t Read more
Norma started life probably in a shed or barn – a puppy farm. Then at two months old the litter was taken to the vet to be put to sleep but the vet refused and they ended up in kennels. She was there for four months until her current owners adopted her at six months old.
It they always keep the little boy away from Matty he will never learn that he’s harmless. In the same way that they have patiently socialised Matty by habituating him to real life, traffic, the town and so on, they need to do the same thing with the child. Of course making sure the environment is completely safe for both of them – in the same room but unable to actually make contact.