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They pass them of course, and they see them in various places, but they pay attention to me and not other dogs. Of course, I have two, so their pack includes more than one dog. But I never thought they had a need to interact with anyone outside their pack.

While I allow my dogs to interact and socialize more than many do, in my opinion, you are still socializing your dogs. And in a way that is appropriate for their temperament and your lifestyle. My dogs also do not have to run/play/wrestle and LOVE all dogs. But, because they have been around SO many dogs, they know that other dogs are no big deal. Not scary, not a threat, not something to get CRAZY excited about.

To me, socialization is something we do to prepare our dogs for the life they will lead. To make them COMFORTABLE, secure and confident with that life. To be able to think and be calm and make decisions about 'normal' and 'not normal' from a real life basis.

The problems I see are from when we are TRYING to bond our dogs to us and our families and unintentionally end up instead isolating them from 'real' life. So we do not ever get them anywhere near other dogs (I'm not saying we have to let them play and specifically interact) or next to other people (I'm not saying to let everyone hug/pet/love on our dogs), or around small children, or loud sirens, or busy streets, or huge banging vehicles, or slamming doors, or...........................

My idea is to prepare my dogs for the world I live in. So they are happy in that world and will be able to get along great in it with me, as well as if I have to leave them for a few days. I don't want to worry about my dogs being overly stressed if I do have to leave them in a different situation. And I don't want to have to worry about my dogs behaving badly with the people I leave them with. Those are my goals. So if some of my dogs (my yellow Lab in particular) needed alot less 'work' as far as me actively socializing than my GSD's, then I do less with her. But I want them all at the level I feel confident about their temperaments and behaviors.

I was raised to understand that no-one should ever command someone else's dog except in the most extreme emergency and until recently followed that philosophy to the letter. I now live with several other people and we occasionally find it convenient to ask someone else's dog to do something (stop chasing cats or get off furniture or whatever) Does anyone else have experience with both methods and if so what were they? Thanks, D

Dorothy, welcome to MY world! Full of other people and other dogs! So when I am visiting my parents with my dogs, and they are barking (the dogs, not my parents) when someone rings the doorbell, I want my dogs to listen to my parents. And when my parents open the door I want my dogs to listen and NOT dart outside and let the company in. So my dogs do listen to other people. And that is fine.

Does that mean that if I am home and saying something my dogs ignore me cause they have somehow lost respect for me because they listen to other people? NOT! I am their Queen! They look to and listen to me first when I'm around. But they understand and listen to the same words from others, and it works out well for us.

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.........While I allow my dogs to interact and socialize more than many do, in my opinion, you are still socializing your dogs. And in a way that is appropriate for their temperament and your lifestyle. My dogs also do not have to run/play/wrestle and LOVE all dogs......
The problems I see are from when we are TRYING to bond our dogs to us and our families and unintentionally end up instead isolating them from 'real' life. So we do not ever get them anywhere near other dogs (I'm not saying we have to let them play and specifically interact) or next to other people (I'm not saying to let everyone hug/pet/love on our dogs), or around small children, or loud sirens, or busy streets, or huge banging vehicles, or slamming doors, or...........................

OK, I understand better now! Thanks! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

And we do have different circumstances. I would just never allow my dogs to be commanded by anyone else but me and their one dog-sitter, but now I see what you mean about your parents, etc.

Yes, you're right: We both socialize, but differently.

I'd be unhappy about it if my dogs *did* react excitedly or with agitation when they passed another dog. Maybe I am lucky, though.......

Thanks!

There is no “right answer” to the question of socialization…. You have to ask yourself is what do you want from your dog and how am I going to get it?

For some it’s a dog that needs to be a glutton for physical contact from kids and other adults….. for others it’s a dog that needs to be almost “spiritually connected” to the handler. Each takes it’s own training path to accomplish somewhat similar goals.

You also need to look at the dog’s genetics and determine where they fit into the mix. Some dogs are genetically predisposed to be dog aggressive and no level of socialization will correct it.

Don't you think it's got a lot to do with the dog? I've got one that likes everybody and everything, one that's kind of aloof and one that doesn't like people or animals and if anyone other than my wife, myself or my mother(who's is at my house all the time and lets him out when i can't) ever gave him a command, he'll go at them, he views it as a sign of aggression. I've spent tons of time socializing him, he's just not a social dog, period. He's a great dog to me and mine. My point is i think a lot depends on the dog. He's almost a year old and if we have company he's on the leash (if they're dog savaay) or in the crate if they're not, nothing complicated about it,
AL

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Don't you think it's got a lot to do with the dog? I've got one that likes everybody and everything, one that's kind of aloof and one that doesn't like people or animals and if anyone other than my wife, myself or my mother(who's is at my house all the time and lets him out when i can't) ever gave him a command, he'll go at them, he views it as a sign of aggression. I've spent tons of time socializing him, he's just not a social dog, period. He's a great dog to me and mine. My point is i think a lot depends on the dog. He's almost a year old and if we have company he's on the leash (if they're dog savaay) or in the crate if they're not, nothing complicated about it...... AL

This is a good point, and it's one I sometimes overlook because I don't have dogs who I've been able to raise since tiny puppydom -- so I forget sometimes that dogs are born with traits that you might just have to accept and work around.

For me, it all boils down to the fact that I want an excellent personal protection dog on my hands, but I don't want a legal liability on my hands either. I live in a very rural part of Vermont where my neighbors all have dogs. Do I really care whether my dog socializes with other dogs in the area? Absolutely not. I understand the whole concept of pack animals. However, with that being said, my dog is an active member of my family (pack) and if that means he's going to be with me while my family is in the front yard, what am I going to do if he all out attacks the neighbors cute and cuddly Golden Retriever? I can guarantee you that regardless of what I want to do if a situation like that occurs, the town I live in will be pushing to have my dog put down as he'll be seen as a liability.

I want a dog that is confident enough in himself that he doesn't need to go looking for other dogs to be aggressive with. I want a dog that could care less about other dogs, unless they're attacking his owner (me). Which brings us full circle with this thread and why I started it. Even after all I've done with my pup to reinforce this behavior, he's still being very aggressive towards other dogs, where do I stand? Just keep going with it until he's matured and then start electric/dominant colar training him to eliminate this behavior?

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.....Which brings us full circle with this thread and why I started it. Even after all I've done with my pup to reinforce this behavior, he's still being very aggressive towards other dogs, where do I stand? Just keep going with it until he's matured and then start electric/dominant colar training him to eliminate this behavior?

Have you seen this article and the related DVD?

http://www.leerburg.com/dominac2.htm

I've helped with a few dominant-aggressive dogs, but not enough to give advice about it.

Others here are qualified to give advice on dog-dog aggression.

My GSD doesn't get along with male GSD's, I don't know if there's a specific reason for it, I have my suspicions as to what caused it (see a previous post in other thread), but it may just be the way he is now that he's come into maturity. I keep working at it, he does alot better than he used to, he's a pretty easy to control dog overall which makes the task easier, but as long as there is a chance that he will be OK with other dogs I will keep trying. I don't care if he runs around and plays with other male dogs, he just needs to be able to tollerate being around another male dog without suddenly lashing out.