Other people dogs while walking in the park, I'm trying to socailize my 11 month old GSD female Puppy we are walking in a loose heel the four (the puppy, 6 yr old M GSD, 4yr F Rottie) of us on leash. Everythings going fine as we walk by these young ladies with kids have what looks like a Standard Schnzuner off lease about 35 yards away.

All of a sudden the dog off lease is 10 yards behind us and its owners are shouting "FiFe come back you gonna get killed"! My puppy reacts by trying to get to him, the Schuzner trouts forward until the F rottie turns around and growls then M GSD barks. I call for them to leave it, I have to leash corect the puppy. Then Schuzner runs back to its crew.

This is a great orppurtunity to socailize there are geese, ducks, squirrels, rabits, blue birds and people. The problem is people with there dogs off leash. I've noticed when me and my wife walks people will let their dog come up and sniff you or walk so close to you that the dog could bite. I can't understand this.

When we are walking and pass strangers I make sure that their saftey is not threaten by walking off the path and pulling the leash in. Its not because I think they will bite, it just the coursety I would like. When toddler are walking by I will go off the path and have the dogs sit, until they past. Why take a chance, it does seem to make the parents more comfortable. I get compliments on how well disciplined the dogs are.


You still get the can I pet them, I usually will say, " No I don't think thats a good idea". They ask are they vicious? I Usually say, "No, but why take any chance, S happens".


I just got to get the Pups in check, anything moving fast she wants to give chase, be it roller skater or squirrel running up a tree.

Except for not going to the park. What could I say and do to help in this stage of socailize training?

I always assume that in a park someone will have their butthead dog loose so I don't go. I also find that to "socialize" a dog involves letting someone pet it. I don't want my dogs to look at everyone as a bite object nor do I want them to decide who and what to bite on their own. So I let people pet them. My thoughts have always been that if my dogs see lots of people and are always good with them, then if they get wierd about one person I should give that consideration. As far as getting control over the pup I would walk her by herself so you don't get the I have to be in front of the others thing going.

Thanks Jeff for your reply, You are probably right that I need to walk her by ourselves so I can appropiately correct her to stop unwanted efforts. I made some progress I got so she will only alert on the squirrels' movement and not try to charge after them. I was hoping that the other dogs would show her whats expected.


I can see some of that, she does walk between them and is the 1st to sit when we stop. But if a dog growls or charges she losses it the others will alert/turn and look but keep walking, but pup one time almost went between my legs to get back at the charging dog. The other two know thats not exceptable! Its all new to her and everythings a new and fun adventure.

The Geese, Ducks/birds and Squrriells are safe out there and they aren't afriad of people because they feed them, making them prime for Natasha's fury, but it ain't gonna happen. She is learning "Leave it"!