In socializing a pup all the literature I read state that socialization is ongoing neverending process in the pup/dogs life. I bring fourth my question of: Is there a time period that you no longer wish humans to approach your pup/dog?

IMO it all depends on what you plan to use the dog for. In my case I want my Mal as a PP dog. So I don't worry a whole lot about socializing her. I do take her to town and we walk around and even go into stores but I do not allow anyone to pet her nor is she allowed to bark or growl at anyone. When someone comes to my door and I know they are welcome in my home she goes to her crate, I will sometimes let her out to visit if it is someone that knows about and likes dogs otherwise,she stays crated until they leave.

If you have a dog that will be around groups of people as part of his job he will probably need lots of socializing. I do think their innate temperament comes into play, some like people and some don't. The one's that don't can learn some tolerance, but I don't ever totally trust them.

I am not a prof.dog trainer but have owned many different breeds of dogs and this has been my experience. I have had puppies that I socialized the snot out of yet they never liked strangers.

As for how long,depends on the dog but I would think 10-12 months of age. Again,imo, it would depends on the dogs job and how neccessary it is for him to be a social butterfly.

Debbie

My 'take' on the statement that socializing is a lifelong process is that if you SECLUDE a dog, then you can expect that he will lose some of his confidence with strange places/people/experiences. But if the dog gets out and about with you now and then, sees other people besides his own family, etc, he will remain a well socialized fellow without special effort. It's primarily in the early months that you have to make a strong effort to immerse the dog in new stimuli. Socializing, for me, has never meant letting everyone pet him; Scott and Fuller proved 40 years ago that dogs only need to be EXPOSED to people and environments in order to be normally socialized. I encourage knowledgeable people (i.e., other club members) to play with my pup, but I don't encourage petting or holding. If someone asks if they can meet my adult dogs, I'll usually say yeah, but don't pet them.

New to board & fairly new to "pup" ownership. my pup (Luke)is 11 weeks old now & i find that i have started to avoid having him meet people. reason being is two fold:
1)is he is overly friendly with everyone! He/we have meet some shady people in my neibirhood whom i am very suspisious about. re: stealing him.
2) since day one he bites me very hard, playfully & has now started to bite, playfully other people who want to meet him. last weekend at pestsmart two little girls asked to meet him i said ok. he used to just lick people & snuggle up to them all excited like, now he nips as well. the little girls wanted so much to play with the pup that they pulled there sleaves down over there hands to avoid his biting & i noticed him trying to reach there faces, probably to nip at!
BUT i want him a as pp dog & i want to try shutshund with him. so im not to keen on him being so friendly. he pulls on the leash whenever he sees someone go by. i know he is a pup but do you think i should allow this overly friendly attitude? i have in the past week or so kept him realed in & tell him no whenever he starts pulling to meet someone who is going by.
p.s. Lee> what do you mean when someone wants to meet your dog you dont let them pet him? how then do they meet him? im curious.
thanks,
Nick

Nick
I see you have posted a number of questions. All in the appropriate place. If I was you I would read everything Lee has ever posted and hope she comes to your assistance before some little kid is bitten and you get sued. I am happy to see you on this board and seeking info cause it sounds like you have a handful and you need to become a better trainer quickly. Good Luck.

I am currently training my second PSD - started with him as a 10 week old pup. I have taken this fella everywhere with me - try and get him use to the real world. He is far friendlier than my 1st PSD.
I agree with Lee to the point of not letting anyone petting my dog. My first dog tolerated people, but would not allow someone to pet.
I want people to be able to pet this 2nd dog WHEN I say it is OK. But when it is not OK I do not want the dog tugging to get near someone to be petted.
The dog needs to know when it is OK to be a dog and relax, as we do and needs to know when it is time for work and we'll play later.
Yes, socialization in an on-going process - you and dog may meet new situations everyday.

Nick, keep socializing! You're right in the midst of the prime window for socialization (there is a "critical" period for exposing the pup to new environments and for developing his primary social relationships, in case you haven't heard about it). It's a window of opportunity that, I think, is the most important one in the dog's life. The LAST thing you want your pup to do is to avoid people at this age - he's only 11 WEEKS!! A baby! Do NOT make him wary or unsure of strangers right now. There is TON of time for that when he is emotionally mature; not now.

As for kids, you're correct to worry about the pup biting them too roughly. I would simply tell them or their parents that the pup plays/bites too roughly right now, and they shouldn't try to pet it. If the pup takes treats from the hand well, without devouring the fingers too, then that is an excellent way to introduce him to kids and adults as well. Or if you get yourself some toys, tugs, or rags and if the puppy stays focused enough on the toys to not let go and start biting the kids, you can keep the pup occupied while meeting new people/kids.

When I have my pup or dog meet someone whom I don't trust to play "correctly" with the dog, then I give them some food to give to the pup. "Meeting" someone doesn't mean being petted, at least it doesn't have to unless you want it to. If the person simply talks to the dog in a friendly tone and smiles (yes, dogs read expressions extraordinarily well!), he has met him. No petting required.