September 30, 2023
Should I let strangers pet my puppy that is in training as a Search & Rescue dog?
Full Question:
I have a new 5 month old Belgian Malinois that I am training with the goal of her being a future search and rescue dog. Just like many Malinois, my pup is super cute and thus everyone wants to pet and give her treats (even with a vest that says working dog do not pet) but I personally don't want her to see every human as a treat and pet machine but of course, she has to be "socialized" as one day she will be tasked to associate finding people with her toys/rewards. In the future I want her to find people because it is her job, I asked her to look for "people", and these people, once found, will make her toy or high-valued reward appear which she wants.
So ultimately, my question is what interaction if any should my prospective SAR puppy have with strangers besides making them just another piece of the landscape while we build basics and engagement?
Cindy's Answer:
I don't let people I don't know pet or give treats to my puppies. I would reserve interaction with "strangers" to dog savvy fellow trainers since you want her to be a SAR dog in the future. It only takes one bad experience with a well meaning stranger to create a problem with her confidence, etc..
Socializing doesn't mean being petted or fed by random people, it simply means exposure and making her comfortable with new people places and things in the environment. Since I am going to have a word or cue that means "time to work" it should not be a problem down the road if you are consistent. I don't want my working dogs to think every person on the street is going to pet them or feed them, but if I have a SAR prospect and I tell them "READY" (or whatever word you want) then over time they will learn they are going to look for someone and that someone will play with them. It's all about building a training ritual and expectation in the dog .
Socializing doesn't mean being petted or fed by random people, it simply means exposure and making her comfortable with new people places and things in the environment. Since I am going to have a word or cue that means "time to work" it should not be a problem down the road if you are consistent. I don't want my working dogs to think every person on the street is going to pet them or feed them, but if I have a SAR prospect and I tell them "READY" (or whatever word you want) then over time they will learn they are going to look for someone and that someone will play with them. It's all about building a training ritual and expectation in the dog .
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