We socialized Sampson from the time he was 8 weeks old. He went to puppy play group, beginner and intermediate obedience classes and then on to daycare twice a week.
We also socialized him with people and truth be told I can’t figure out if he loves other dogs or people more. When he sees or hears another dog he must get to it. But once he’s greeted the other dog, he hangs out with their person.
Today during our walk I heard a small dog, and it made me nervous, because I’ve seen a woman who walks two small dogs (I think they are Papillons) and she doesn’t pay attention. My dogs wouldn’t intentionally hurt a small dog but as you know they are quite large and very enthusiastic. 🙂 I’m always afraid they’ll squish one during the greeting.
I don’t run with my nose to the ground so I usually see something well before the dogs. Oh I can still miss things, but usually I see or hear it before they do.
Once I heard the small dog bark, I called Sampson over and clipped his leash on. That’s when Sampson heard the small dog’s bark and tried to head in the direction from whence it came.
Two fools straining at the ends of their leashes.
Are your dogs like this? Do you think there is such a thing as too much socialization?
I like that Lila likes other dogs and wants to say hello. Lila also likes to say hello to people.
Our other dog, Music, used to growl at other dogs while we were on our walks, and I had to hold her back. It got so bad that we tried to make sure that we would only walk her when there were no other dogs around, or if we saw a dog, we would walk the other way. Then she got older and more relaxed. Whew!
It’s funny how dogs have different personalities!
I don’t know about to much socialization, but your dogs could kill with kindness. Could you stop and get them to sit as the other dog approaches? That’s what i do.
Yup, your walks sound like ours – I try to stay a couple of steps ahead in terms of knowing who’s around! I usually clip Flo’s lead on when we come across teeny dogs because I worry that she’s going to squash them! I also put her on the lead when there are children around for the same reason.
LOL Sampson just wants to have fun!
With Chessies, there can never be enough socialization. 🙂 Yes, ours can pull on the lead. Whenever I walk them they have to stay at heel for me. (I know, no fun.) Hubby is the one who gives them more freedom and off lead…hunting and training and running. I found that if I did not require heel at all times, especially when they are on lead, I was likely to end up on the ground. 🙂
I think there is such a thing as too much socialization but not in the way you mention. I think your dog simply really likes to check out other dogs, just his nature. Luna likes too but it is more to see if she needs to correct the other dogs unbalanced behavior or not… then she would be on her way and back to hunting. Wyatt just goes with the flow more, though I play him with more client dogs here than luna as his temp for them is better.
Now I think you can oversocialize a dog if you are constantly putting them in dog greeting situations where the other dogs are barely controlled or are really unbalanced (ie: hyper, can’t read body language, dominant, agg) etc. and requiring they remain neutral… even when their personality/nature is to not be a pushover. For instance Luna, i think both our stress levels used to go up up a lot at dog parks because I required she go above and beyond no matter what the other dog was doing to her (well outside of humping, I tried to avoid a dog trying to do that to her, but at the same time sometimes let her tell them off to get the message across). I don’t know if that makes sense, basically if your dog is not a social butterfly and can be very particular about who they play with, and you throw them with a lot of crazy dogs often and require they make friends I feel that is a bit too much socialization. It took me a couple years to really understand that my Vizsla is not like most vizslas and does not like a vast majority of dogs, and I needed to stop trying to fit her into that role. Instead I have taken on the role of protecting her more, and weeding out the bad (owners) from the good as much as I can.
But it is perfectly normal for dogs to want to greet other dogs, so I wouldn’t say your boy is over socialized he is just a social butterfly to begin with. Enjoy it, as the opposite is much more difficult to live with.
Anna
http://www.akginspiration.com
hehehe your blog is still so BIG that I can
only see the left side of it. So I will just
take a guess at what is going on. Baaahwaah
I try to socialize Ernie a bit. He walkes with
his nose to the ground. He is kinda scared
of other dogs when he first sees or sniffs
them.
BaaaWaaaah I only typed over as far as I
(Frankie Furter) can see.
There are so many stray dogs where I live Jodi that I have few opportunties to socialize. The dogs on my streets are sometimes aggressive so the tall person keeps me close. I know what you mean about being careful not to squish things – I squished the little person a few days ago when I ran into him. He was okay though.
Hurley believes it’s his job in life to greet all other dogs and people. I did a little too good of a job teaching him that in the store so now I get to embark on teaching that he must be patient to say hello to others outside of the store. I tell ya, it’s never ending training with these dogs, isn’t it?? 🙂
I’d agree with Anna; “too much” socialization would only be if a person were forcing her dog to meet and greet even when the dog is overstimulated or tired or just doesn’t feel like it.
I certainly have my days where I don’t really feel like talking to anyone; dogs are entitled to those days too! Sounds like Sampson has a healthy attitude toward other dogs though.
LOL! take that experience and multiply it by 1000, and you have desmond’s take on needing to know what’s going on everywhere and with everyone