I am considering taking my 15 week old GSD, future SAR dog, to puppy kindergarden and was looking for opinions on that type of socializaiton.

Completely depends on the trainer and class format. The worst teach your dog that playing with other dogs is more fun than being with you.

Exposing your pup to some of the different breeds out there in the world isn't a bad thing. Make sure that the class teaches some basic obedience (sit, down, come, "gotcha") and that play is limited and not a "free for all".

The puppy kindergarten class that I used also exposed the pups to wheel chairs and crutches in a safe environment with someone who wasn't going to stess or push the pups beyond what they were capable of handling.

For SAR you want a well socialized dog that can handle many different enviroments. Take it everywhere you can. I have found that if you can carry the pup, most hardware stores have no issue with you bringing the pup in the store. The Home Depots around here allow well-behaved dogs in the stores on leash as do most garden centres. Call around and ask, all they can do is say no.

Natalie
http://alikamalinois.tripod.com

Thanks Lauren and Natalie. I have done pretty good socializing him up to this point, we even have been to Home Depot a few times and he rides in the cart looking like the king of the road, but he hasnt have any contact with other dogs. That's why i decided to look into the kindergarden class.

I think i will try one session, see how it goes and move from there. Thanks again.

I want to follow up with my experience in puppy kindergarten. I have taken my GSD to class and in the class is a larger, by about 10 pounds, a yellow lab that is very dominate and just mauls my puppy. My puppy goes into the submissive tail tucked position and the trainer told me that he needs more exposure to this type of socialization.

I was a little uncomfortable with his opinion so i contacted the breader of my GSD and asked if i could bring him over to socialize with any puppies she had that were close to his age and size. She had two and the experience was much different. They played and ran and fought a little, but my puppy never displayed the behavior he did with the yellow lab.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Why the different respose? Was it becuase the yellow lab was bigger and so dominate?

And the trainer of the puppy kindergarten class let this happen? I say find another trainer. When I gave puppy classes I did not have free play and paired the puppies off with ones of the same temperament. The only free -- extremely supervised -- play time was on graduation day.

Mind you, I am in the mind set: play politely or don't play at all. I am the overlord over the dogs and anyone who wants to dominate someone gets taken out.

This is a time when your dog should be learning how to play politely and learn all the proper communication that goes with it. They don't have to be dominated to learn how that is communicated. You should also try to find an adult dog who is good at teaching the proper communication as well.

I would take him out of the class or tell the instructor that you will not tolerate you pup being dominated over. He does not need to be traumatized in order to learn good social skills. If the other pup is not reading and respecting submissive behaviour then it is a problem for your pup and the session should be ended.

I had a similar problem with a dog on the SAR team. At approx. 3 months of age I introduced my girl (Malinois) to this male 9 month old GSD. She did not tolerate his rough play. I quickly ended the session despite the other handler telling me that it was OK...her dog needed to be told off. I, however, did not feel it was appropriate for a 3 month old pup to teach a 9 month old pup doggie manners. They were not allowed to play together until she was over 18 months of age. They are great together now but I doubt that they would have been had I allowed her to "teach" him some manners.

Natalie
http://alikamalinois.tripod.com

I had the feeling that they were wrong but i am not experienced enough to make that call. Thanks for you advice and i will not allow them have a free for all with my puppy. If there is some socialization time, then i will expect the other owners and the trainer to manage the unruley puppies or i will not continue with the class.

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Thanks agian to those of you who took the time to respond, your advice is greatly appriciated.

Yes you have to be very carful about the class you take your pup to. I have a 12 week old female GSD and I set up some play dates for her with some freinds who recently got new pups. The one that she really does well will is a 9 week old Golden that matches her in size and also plays well. My Sibe is great with her, he is teaching her manners and it's alot of fun to watch them interact. If you are not cautious about the puppy class and how things are handled it can do damage to your pup. I havent decided if she is going to puppy kindergarden. Since I have this group of freinds with pups we just get together on our own and I run them through the basics. They all get along great and I do not allow any form a dominance or crazy play. Like was said it is more important for them to learn to focus on you and not think that playing with the other pups is more fun. I also take her to the nursing home twice a week, to get her use to different situations and she is doing really well. I have found that nursing homes are wonderful places to socialize pups and the residents enjoy having the dogs come in. I did this with my Sibe, and he has become a welcome guest. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />