Not professional ppd just family protection if I am saying this correct, if he does not develop to that. That is fine but obedience I do want

For me:

"Socialized" means that he is tolerant of and non-reactive to (even indifferent towards) strange dogs .... NOT that he has a meet-and-greet with them or needs a play group.

This happens in the course of the dog going places and seeing things. It happens while he is walked briskly along, particularly.

It happens as he learns that the world isn't out to get him.

It needs to start happening right away, IMO. I honestly think that this dog has to be exercised, trained, "socialized" (meaning getting out and about often, and if it can't be with you, it has to be with someone) asap.

JMO.

 Quote: John Bradley

I do not want a dog walker as my wife does not work and I have an adult daughter and son in law close by, I do not want a stranger bon sing with him which in my opinion will not solve the problem. But noted on the doggy day care, but how do I get him socialized if I do not let him around other dogs?

So any chance that your daughter and/or son-in-law would have the time during the day to come over and give this puppy a little exercise and attention? I really do understand about your long work hours and inability to spend much time with him. After all, most of us do have to work. But if this dog is to grow up into a well-mannered, well-adjusted adult, I think it's really, really important to find someone who is able to spend some time exercising, playing, training and socializing him.

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

But if this dog is to grow up into a well-mannered, well-adjusted adult, I think it's really, really important to find someone who is able to spend some time exercising, playing, training and socializing him.

Cheri is completly correct. If it can't be you, it has to be someone - whether in this household or another.

I don't know if I can really add any more than to reiterate that puppies need A LOT of short exercise sessions, A LOT of short training sessions. A tired puppy is a good puppy. They get worn out thinking (obedience training), walking, and chewing.

They don't get worn out sniffing around off the leash in a yard without a game like fetch or more training (thinking and walking in one)

My puppy is 18 months old and the exercise requirements have increased exponentially and she is still a noodge sometimes. But when she is tired, she is good. All the training didn't hurt either...

I lost patience with my 7-month old tonight. It has been raining all day and I know she's not had enough to do and I'm tired, etc. etc. The end result is she pulled me where I didn't want to go and I scraped up my hand and I got P*****. I really raised my voice to her, which I don't usually do. Afterwards I felt really bad. Of course, I should have had the prong collar on too. Dumb me - then there would not have been any pulling.

She is learning, but she is only 7 months old and I can't be with her all day to give her what she needs. We just finished a second set of lessons and she did very well, but sometimes she gets SUPER hyped up. I probably should have just put her in her crate, but I was so mad. I would never, ever hit her - but I don't like yelling either. Made me feel just about as bad afterwards.

 Quote: Kathy Gray

I lost patience with my 7-month old tonight. It has been raining all day and I know she's not had enough to do and I'm tired, etc. etc. The end result is she pulled me where I didn't want to go and I scraped up my hand and I got P*****. I really raised my voice to her, which I don't usually do. Afterwards I felt really bad. Of course, I should have had the prong collar on too. Dumb me - then there would not have been any pulling.

She is learning, but she is only 7 months old and I can't be with her all day to give her what she needs. We just finished a second set of lessons and she did very well, but sometimes she gets SUPER hyped up. I probably should have just put her in her crate, but I was so mad. I would never, ever hit her - but I don't like yelling either. Made me feel just about as bad afterwards.

Kathy, perhaps your honesty in admitting that your dog is not getting what she needs will be helpful to John. Dogs who do not have their needs met can't help but react in an opposite and equal direction... Not enough exercise and attention will always result in something negative, even though that was not what was intended.

I always hope in my heart when we read the threads like this that if the owner cannot accommodate the young dog's needs, if the owner stops and thinks and realizes what a commitment was made without thorough research and thinking ahead (or when life has thrown a curve-ball) .... then I just hope against hope that the pup is carefully rehomed instead of left to languish in a crate or a garage, becoming less and less adoptable and more and more likely to start on that horrible path to the shelter (from which the majority do not escape permanently, except in a bag of corpses).

In the dog world, equate a life without the continuous interaction with (and exercise and learning with) the pack to taking a human toddler and closing him in a room alone forever, with trips to the bathroom and some food tossed in.




I'm not saying anyone on this thread would do anything like this with a dog once the situation was clear. I guess I'm saying that the advice here is strong and it's very very solid, from extremely experienced folks. I sure hope it hits the target.

We all make grievous errors. What matters is how we either fix them, pulling up our grownup pants and digging in, or admit that we cannot and that we must retract, and then clean up/redo as responsible as we possibly can. We humans are the ones in charge.


I guess I will paraphrase a phrase from Mike Arnold: Maybe I just need more coffee.

I hope the O.P. sticks around, takes the very good advice here, and ignores any pointed comments. They are kinda meant for the "I want a puppy" world at large.

Not to mention the "Ooooh, what a cool-looking breed! What is it? I'm gonna get one!" world.