January 30, 2025
Will letting my puppy play with other dogs make recalls and engagement more difficult?
Full Question:
Hi Cindy, I am letting my 6-month-old puppy play with another dog that I trust in the morning to burn off some energy before work. How will this affect our engagement? Is it setting the foundation that other dogs are more fun and will make recall and engagement in the presence of distractions later on more difficult? I want to make sure as he gets older we continue to progress to a solid recall and solid sit in the face of all distractions. Rescued this puppy about a month ago. Boxer rottie mix we think.
We work every day on engagement and luring in sits and downs.
We previously had a boxer who was a family dog but came from a litter bred for Shutzhund. We were members of a dog club and learned the basics of animal psychology and training.
Thanks for your help.
Cindy's Answer:
Good morning,
I typically don't let my puppies play with other pups or dogs but there are exceptions. If I have a puppy who has amazing engagement and seeks me out over other dogs it may be ok. It's hard for us to compete with another dog for fun, especially if we haven't already established good engagement and reliable recalls. You may end up with a dog who is always looking to play with another dog instead of interacting with you. This isn't always the case but since you've only had this puppy for a month I would proceed cautiously.
I prefer to focus on building a relationship through fun, play, and age-appropriate training with me. My goal is for my dogs to be neutral to other dogs, I don't want them to prefer dogs to being with me.
I typically don't let my puppies play with other pups or dogs but there are exceptions. If I have a puppy who has amazing engagement and seeks me out over other dogs it may be ok. It's hard for us to compete with another dog for fun, especially if we haven't already established good engagement and reliable recalls. You may end up with a dog who is always looking to play with another dog instead of interacting with you. This isn't always the case but since you've only had this puppy for a month I would proceed cautiously.
I prefer to focus on building a relationship through fun, play, and age-appropriate training with me. My goal is for my dogs to be neutral to other dogs, I don't want them to prefer dogs to being with me.
User Response:
Thank you!
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