 Re: New member here - with new pup coming soon
[Re: Maggie MacDonald ]
#378655 - 05/30/2013 05:00 PM |
Moderator
Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
 Offline |
|
PERFECT post Tracy....you are so correct...so many overlook the importance of the optimum socialization period of 8-12 weeks of age with some extension to 16 weeks.
You only have that time frame one time around & all experiences should be positive experiences. Those experiences good or bad are what the pup will carry throughout his entire life. Make them count!
Pups that you have fear of exposing to 'germs' when limited vaccine protection is in place...can still be exposed to many things if carried around in areas that you feel are 'threatening' to put them down on the groud. Now that does not mean to carry them everywhere...just is those areas that you may feel are a bit unsafe at that time in the pups immunization cycle....making sure to revisit those places again when vaccine protection permits.
My pups go everywhere with me in my truck & get alot of exposure to see & hear many things that way also.
You can NEVER over socialize pups. For future service dogs...remember to visit office buildings with elevators, revolving doors, automatic doors, fire escape stairs, all kinds of stores, home depot type stores, every & any place that you can gain access to. Buss stations, train stations, schools, sport events etc etc. For some stores...I would often go in ahead & ask the manager if it is ok to bring the pup in & many are happy to comply with puppies. Many times for future service dogs....your doctor & dentist may allow you to bring your puppy in for a couple of minutes to expose him to the sounds & smells of a medical office.
I also visit boat docks & ramps in all kinds of weather as the docks bounce around in rougher water & wind. Also getting on & off boats..if this is in your pups future.
What a good topic!
|
 Top
|
|
Re: New member here - with new pup coming soon
[Re: Maggie MacDonald ]
#378656 - 05/30/2013 04:58 PM |
Moderator
Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
| Offline |
|
I know Bob Scott takes his puppies everywhere in his truck, from Day One, every day. (Anne and I were emailing earlier and we both brought up Bob's truck routine almost simultaneously ....  )
His dogs have seen everything, heard everything, been everywhere ..... all before they hit the 12-week mark.
|
|
Top
|
|
Re: New member here - with new pup coming soon
[Re: Maggie MacDonald ]
#378658 - 05/30/2013 05:50 PM |
Webboard User
Reg: 04-15-2013
Posts: 227
Loc: US
| Offline |
|
Heiland appreciates all the sharing that is going on in this post. Anne, I never thought of many of the places you suggested.
All of you have really given well thought out suggestions and I will definitely take them to heart and put them into action.
He loves people which is a good thing - it's dogs that I am most concerned over. There is a lot of noise here with the bulldozers and huge water trucks going in and out of the yard but I will take him to other construction sites.
There is a skate park not too far away and lots of noise there and kids on bikes and skate boards. He has been going in the car a lot and to shopping centers but for 3 days I only took him to a cemetery so both dogs got to play in the grass and that's all it took - 3 days of not being around people and dogs.
The store where the loose dog was was in a feed store - I won't take him there again as the aisles are short, the store is packed with merchandise and you can't see a dog coming so that's off the list of places to go.
Lots of adventures coming our way.
|
|
Top
|
|
Re: New member here - with new pup coming soon
[Re: Maggie MacDonald ]
#378659 - 05/30/2013 06:03 PM |
Webboard User
Reg: 04-29-2004
Posts: 3825
Loc: Northeast
| Offline |
|
I actually didn't know Bob did that too, until recently.
I have picked up all my pups directly from the breeder (except one that flew in & I picked up at the airport) & driven home with them......so they learn from the first minute that I take ownership of them... that the truck is their 2nd home.
My dogs would rather sit in their crates in the truck with me then be home with run of the house.
ETA.... I often would ask kids on skateboards, bikes etc at schools etc if they would help me train my puppy. I have NEVER had any refuse to help me. I have them ride by with on their boards, bikes, scooters etc even some playing with remote controlled cars & planes in the field....go by while I let my pup watch, while I walk my pup past them, while I heel my pup or dog etc. Also ,later on in training, have them toss & kick balls by my dogs while they are in a down etc on the field. Run around yelling etc. They are a great help in training my pups & making them bombproof. 
MY DOGS...MY RULES
 |
|
Top
|
|
Re: New member here - with new pup coming soon
[Re: Maggie MacDonald ]
#378666 - 05/30/2013 08:17 PM |
Moderator
Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
| Offline |
|
He has been going in the car a lot and to shopping centers but for 3 days I only took him to a cemetery so both dogs got to play in the grass and that's all it took - 3 days of not being around people and dogs.
The store where the loose dog was was in a feed store - I won't take him there again as the aisles are short, the store is packed with merchandise and you can't see a dog coming so that's off the list of places to go.
Maybe he's reacting to that dog. The fact is, though, at least IMO, that no matter why he's reacting to dogs now, the "treatment" (for me) is the same : lots of exposure at a non-reacting distance.
Anne, I love your ETA above!
If you (anyone) had a puppy who had started reacting to strange dogs, what would be some of the no-trigger set-ups you'd use? I mentioned the far edge of a petsmart-type parking lot (not near the entrance) or maybe outside the fence (again not near any entrance or exit) of a dog park ....
|
|
Top
|
|
Re: New member here - with new pup coming soon
[Re: Maggie MacDonald ]
#378679 - 05/30/2013 11:33 PM |
Moderator
Reg: 06-14-2002
Posts: 7417
Loc: St. Louis Mo
| Offline |
|
"No trigger set-ups".
Fortunately for me my grandkids are willing and able to do just about anything. Like Anne says. Bicycles, soccer balls, NOISE out the wazzu.
I started my first GSD in SAR so he spent a ton of time at the fire house. Bells, whistles, sirens, horns. Nothing fazed him.
By 12 wks old he was retrieving in my buddies lake, loaded onto a running helicopter, shot traps over, been in canoes, high powered bass boats, etc. He rappelled with me off of a 50ft tower at 6 months. My brother and I were also rehabbing houses at the time I got him so he spent a lot of time as a pup in vacant houses just learning to chill.
Obviously individual temperament and nerves have a lot to do with the when , what, where and how a dog is exposed to different situations and not all have the choice of spending a lot of time selecting a new pup as I did. Either way they will always spend a ton of time with me just cruzin and lookin.
old dogs LOVE to learn new tricks |
|
Top
|
|
Re: New member here - with new pup coming soon
[Re: Maggie MacDonald ]
#378690 - 05/31/2013 10:31 AM |
Webboard User
Reg: 12-08-2005
Posts: 1271
Loc: Stoney Creek , Ontario, Canada
| Offline |
|
Maggie, it sounds like your pup has learned that barking will make the "bad" thing go away.
That is what happened, right...he barked at the other dog in the pet store and it went away? (or the owner grabbed it, either way)
Don't complain....TRAIN!!! |
|
Top
|
|
Re: New member here - with new pup coming soon
[Re: Maggie MacDonald ]
#378694 - 05/31/2013 11:22 AM |
Webboard User
Reg: 04-15-2013
Posts: 227
Loc: US
| Offline |
|
Bob I wish my pup had been exposed to so many things - what a great way to make a pup solid in his reactions. All my kids.grand kids and great-grand-kids (a new one on the way too) are in Canada so I will take him to the skate park but at quite a distance now. I have all the time in the world to hang out so I will bring my tiny chair and we will chill, moving closer when the Heiland decides it's time.
Wendy, you hit the nail on the head - there are two dogs where I live that share the property - the old sickly Australian Heeler still has a few bits left in him so I don't let the pup get up real close - the Short Haired German pointer is a female and from day one she ran when Heiland barked - even hiding under her deck. When the Heeler isn't around sometimes I call out the Pointer and give her lots of treats - Heiland too - and they have been forging a bit of a bond but she bolts the minute he barks.
Mostly I get him to ignore her as I have the flirt pole out when the other dogs are around and he loves that thing so I just leave it for now. I figure in time he will realize he is male and she is female and that should solve that problem but he is never off leash so it shouldn't get to be a problem. I plan on taking the flirt pole with me on outings too.
I am working on rewarding him when he stops barking - ravens, cats etc set him off and in time he might ignore them.
When he is awake he has all my attention so I will follow the great advice here and keep a happy heart. When he is asleep I cuddle my tiny girl and try and keep the house clean enough to keep it from being condemned lol
|
|
Top
|
|
Re: New member here - with new pup coming soon
[Re: Maggie MacDonald ]
#378702 - 05/31/2013 12:21 PM |
Moderator
Reg: 07-13-2005
Posts: 31571
Loc: North-Central coast of California
| Offline |
|
Just wanted to emphasize that rather than sitting and watching, I make plans for engagement. That is, the dog who is at the edge (outside edge) of his reactive range isn't focusing on the trigger(s) .... s/he is focusing on me. We are doing something upbeat, with rewards.
My grandkids are not here, either. They do come here, but in between I often have to take a reactive dog (or I'm thinking a pup who is being socialized) to the action, if the action isn't here.
Last year for Downtown Dog we visited the edge of a rehab facility parking lot, a skateboard parking lot, the edge of the field where the high school kids play football, and much more. (Anne has made a great list of suggestions.)
We may just drop by and walk around one time, but if we do, we also return to "do stuff" with that chaos as background .... as far back as needed for the dog at the time.
JMO! Probably unneeded, because this thread has inspiring posts already. 
|
|
Top
|
|
Re: New member here - with new pup coming soon
[Re: Maggie MacDonald ]
#378707 - 05/31/2013 01:02 PM |
Webboard User
Reg: 04-15-2013
Posts: 227
Loc: US
| Offline |
|
Good catch Connie - a poor choice of words on my part - the sitting and chilling will be interrupted with my having the flirt pole with me. Of course, treats too for the sits and downs - the chair was more to emphasize that I am in it for the long haul 
|
|
Top
|
When purchasing any product from Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. it is understood
that any and all products sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. are sold in Dunn
County Wisconsin, USA. Any and all legal action taken against Leerburg Enterprises,
Inc. concerning the purchase or use of these products must take place in Dunn
County, Wisconsin. If customers do not agree with this policy they should not
purchase Leerburg Ent. Inc. products.
Dog Training is never without risk of injury. Do not use any of the products
sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. without consulting a local professional.
The training methods shown in the Leerburg Ent. Inc. DVD’s are meant
to be used with a local instructor or trainer. Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. cannot
be held responsible for accidents or injuries to humans and/or animals.
Copyright 2010 Leerburg® Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. All photos and content on leerburg.com are part of a registered copyright owned by Leerburg Enterprise, Inc.
By accessing any information within Leerburg.com, you agree to abide by the
Leerburg.com Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Previous Topic
Index
Next Topic
