Lack of socialization

3365 Views 76 Replies 16 Participants Last post by wgsdluver, Nov 13, 2011

wgsdluver

Discussion Starter · Nov 4, 2011

My puppy now 16weeks, is afraid of children and men. Its mostly my fault because she did not have her series of shots so I did not take her out. I have been taking her to the pet store, she will approach some people with caution. But at home or where there are a bunch of people(I walk her around our old fairgrounds which frequently has football games etc) she will not go up to them. At times she will growl and run away. While I do not want her to be friendly, aloof would be nice. When I go out I try and take her buddy a Pug/Boxer X who knows no stranger. In lights to help her see that she does not need to be afraid. She really has no exposure to men. I do not want her to be overly friendly to strangers but just not afraid of them. I have never seen her afraid of noises, or things so Im sure she can overcome it, I just would like a little advice on which way to go with training.
Should I teach watch command, and have her ignor people, Have people give treats or toss them to her(Have done this) or something else?

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Nubis'sDad

· #2 · Nov 4, 2011

First of all, get over your fears now, the dobe will pick upon it.
Make that puppy, the friendliest around, that is your task.
Trust me, you don't have to teach them to be weary of strangers, they will sense it. Most dogs will protect their owner and their property (den) from known strangers.
Start taking for walks gradually and to areas where their is ppl, but don't overwhelm him. Instill in the dog to always sit when greeting ppl and high praise for it, till it becomes natural for the dog to do it without a command and reward with treats for such good manners.
Give the dog the basics and until it is discipline Do not teach watch, as that is teaching the dog to be weary of strangers.

STOP YOUR FEARS.
Get the pup in ob school, as the dog will be socializing with ppl and dogs, it will give the pup, skills to listen to you around others.
Simple answer if you want a guard dog, spend thousands and thousands of dollars on a discliplned well trained but he won't be s pup. Never train a dobe for aggressive behavior unless you know what your doing, or you will have problems

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wgsdluver

Discussion Starter · #3 · Nov 4, 2011

Thanks for your answer. I am a little familier with dog training, and have a GSD that I helped over come fears with much worse behaviour than my Dobie pup has. I might be second guessing myself, But I'd rather be safe than end up with a frightened dog. My GSD is a rescue and he is still afraid of loud noises and such the only thing I helped with is his socialazation. In which he still isn't 100% but its managable. Dobermans are naturally protective, I would love to do Schutzhund in the off chance it came to our area. I have considered OB school. What I meant by watch was to watch me, not watch the stranger becasue she is already afraid. I just want her stable and not afraid. To stand her ground w/o fear.
I hope that helps better with what I mean.

KCFilley

· #4 · Nov 4, 2011

When you go to hardware stores, Petco, or any other place that will allow dogs, even on a walk, take treats with you and ask others to offer your puppy a treat. If she's more afraid of children and men, seek them out. Just ask them to offer the treat to the puppy. Ask them to let the puppy approach them instead of them approaching your puppy. Do this a lot. My female, Charley Girl, is a bit standoffish to others so we have worked on this since she was small and she is much much better.

I agree 100% with Nubis' Dad. Make your puppy the friendliest dog ever. She will know when it is time to not be friendly. I have seen that with my own dogs throughout the years. Everyone wants to adopt Joe--he's the perfect ambassador to the breed. BUT he has shown me a couple of times that he senses better than I.

Good luck and don't worry. She's still so young. Have a ball with her taking her every where you go. She should be fine.

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Amelia_

· #5 · Nov 4, 2011

I'll agree with KCFilley, and also add that if she wont accept treats from strangers, get them to just drop the treats on the floor next to her, without any eye contact. Ask that new people approach her from the side without any eye contact and talk to you for a bit. These are much less threatening options, and are good for creating a good association with new people.

My dog Tobey used to hate men when I rescued him (he would literally run and hide under the bed if a man came in the house) however with these methods he now loves my BF much more than he loves me

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TxDobieLady

· #6 · Nov 4, 2011

KCFilley said:
When you go to hardware stores, Petco, or any other place that will allow dogs, even on a walk, take treats with you and ask others to offer your puppy a treat. If she's more afraid of children and men, seek them out. Just ask them to offer the treat to the puppy. Ask them to let the puppy approach them instead of them approaching your puppy. Do this a lot. My female, Charley Girl, is a bit standoffish to others so we have worked on this since she was small and she is much much better.

I agree 100% with Nubis' Dad. Make your puppy the friendliest dog ever. She will know when it is time to not be friendly. I have seen that with my own dogs throughout the years. Everyone wants to adopt Joe--he's the perfect ambassador to the breed. BUT he has shown me a couple of times that he senses better than I.

Good luck and don't worry. She's still so young. Have a ball with her taking her every where you go. She should be fine.

What hardware stores do you have that allow dogs?

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wgsdluver

Discussion Starter · #7 · Nov 4, 2011

Not sure if this a responce to me, but Lowes and Tractor supply dont mind pets.

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Adara

· #8 · Nov 4, 2011

I would get her in with a good trainer ASAP. This is why it can be unfortunate to wait until full shots are done to get them out and about. I'd find a trainer who can show you how to work under her threshold and learn to be happy about approaching people vs forcing her. Growling at 16 weeks is a little worrisome.

I would not overload her with people at a store right now. That's flooding or forcing the situation. I would get her out and stay far enough away from people she's not growling or nervous and again I'd hire a trainer ASAP.

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MeadowCat

· #9 · Nov 4, 2011

Adara said:
I would get her in with a good trainer ASAP. This is why it can be unfortunate to wait until full shots are done to get them out and about. I'd find a trainer who can show you how to work under her threshold and learn to be happy about approaching people vs forcing her. Growling at 16 weeks is a little worrisome.

I would not overload her with people at a store right now. That's flooding or forcing the situation. I would get her out and stay far enough away from people she's not growling or nervous and again I'd hire a trainer ASAP.

Adara's right - you need a trainer, one who knows how to work with shy/fearful/unsocialized dogs. I'd look for someone who uses the Control Unleashed methods if I could find one.

I brought home Shanoa when she was 16 1/2 weeks old. She had not been socialized at all. It's a LONG road, because you are past the socialization "window." You need a great trainer to help you.

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odiakkoh

· #10 · Nov 4, 2011

TxDobieLady said:
What hardware stores do you have that allow dogs?

Some Home Depots do (depends on the managers) but all Lowes should (company policy IIRC).

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KevinK

· #11 · Nov 4, 2011

I think you got some good answers, but I was curious as to why you don't want your dog to be friendly...

Abby

· #12 · Nov 4, 2011

Along with the other suggestions, I'll repeat joining an obedience class. Classes are my favorite ways to socialize dogs that might be a little unsure around strangers, because you can explain to the people there the problems your dog is having and they'll understand and not do anything to scare her. Way different from going to Petsmart and having a group of children run up to your puppy and having to shout "No! She's scared of kids! Please don't pet her!" then having to go through the drill every few minutes "now offer her a treat but don't make eye contact... okay now you can pet her but not on top of her head... one at a time, please!" it's very stressful for everyone. Again, at a training class people will understand your problems with you and be happy to ignore your puppy (which is best for her right now) so she can be more confident around them.

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Toby'shuman

· #13 · Nov 4, 2011

I live in a pretty secluded spot so don't see folk that often (except in hunting season, then it is bedlum).
I try to take Toby to a local park at least once a week, I always sit some way away from folk and let him watch the children, he is fascinated by kids. If any come forward to speak to him, (trust me their parents have dragged them away before they get within 10 yards but occasionally one or two slip the leash and come over and talk) I ask them to give him a treat.
I also talk to people whenever I can, one of my neighbours is a sweetheart and talks to Toby everytime we see him. The problem I have is not one of where my Dobe is nervous of folk but folk are nervous of my Dobe.
I would suggest you speak to as many people whilst out with your Dobe as you can, let her sit behind you if she must, be as relaxed as you can be and hopefully she will pick up on this and become better socialised.

Good luck

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wgsdluver

Discussion Starter · #14 · Nov 4, 2011

We just got back from 3 stores. Now before anyone freaks out she did well lol. Of course I had her in the cart in each store. I think she is mostly afraid when she is on the ground. And the growling incident was on Halloween I should have mentioned that.(two small kids in costumes) Not sure if it makes a difference though. I had some people giving her treats in the stores, no kids though. Just men and women. I DO want her socialized, not sure where that may have gotten mixed up at? As a adult I want aloofness with strangers, allow petting but not over the top affection. She has to be sophisticated ya know...

I'm assuming Dobermans are aloof to strangers as adults, I know GSDs are suppose to be. Thats how my GSD is.

coco77

· #15 · Nov 4, 2011

If you are open to working with a clicker, I have found the Click to Calm book a really great resource for my boxer who had stranger weariness.

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Nubis'sDad

· #16 · Nov 4, 2011

When I'm out with Nubis, I act like Mr Rogers and greet everyone in passing, so that he gets max exposure in a controlled environment as I also size the ppl up.
ppl that I can see that have a smile on their face and looked interested I will gravitate to them. its all about my feelings too, if ppl seem receptive to dobes, I feel happy and calm, so that he can socialize with them.

Now when I am walking by myself I ain't no Mr Rogers, prolly the opposite hehehe.

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mmctaq

· #17 · Nov 4, 2011

wgsdluver said:
We just got back from 3 stores. Now before anyone freaks out she did well lol. Of course I had her in the cart in each store. I think she is mostly afraid when she is on the ground. And the growling incident was on Halloween I should have mentioned that.(two small kids in costumes) Not sure if it makes a difference though. I had some people giving her treats in the stores, no kids though. Just men and women. I DO want her socialized, not sure where that may have gotten mixed up at? As a adult I want aloofness with strangers, allow petting but not over the top affection. She has to be sophisticated ya know... I'm assuming Dobermans are aloof to strangers as adults, I know GSDs are suppose to be. Thats how my GSD is.

Excellent! Take her back, tomorrow, and put her on the floor where dogs belong <vbg>. Be encouraging and upbeat and allow her to approach whatever on her own terms and in her own time. Treats! More treats! Puppies are usually cheap dates who are easily "bought." Chances are, if you stop thinking of her as being afraid, she will quit having to be afraid.

I don't think you get to vote, really, about affectionate vs. aloof... nor do I think you should try to vote. My somewhat aloof dog was expected to sit calmly while a hundred little kids approached one after another with "May I pet your dog?" and be petted... it wasn't awful for him but it probably wasn't how he would have chosen to spend that much of his afternoon... I expected him to behave, so he did. My overly-exhuberant, overly-affectionate dog is expected to restrain her friendliness in the presence of people who do not choose to have a Doberman nose-poke and suck up for attention... staying back from someone who doesn't want to interact with her is not how she would choose to spend her time, but she must behave, as well.

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MeadowCat

· #18 · Nov 4, 2011

Click to Calm is awesome!

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wgsdluver

Discussion Starter · #19 · Nov 4, 2011

Does the fair majority think I should stop using the cart all together and just let her get used to people on the ground? I thought getting her used to people in the cart then going to the floor would be better. Open to ideas though!
Hopefully we can go to the park tomorrow, I'm trying to get a friend to bring her two young girls out.

Abby

· #20 · Nov 5, 2011

I sort of think starting out with the cart was okay, it would get her up off the ground (my trainer likes to give shy dogs a little bit of height to get them thinking "hey! I'm the big guy here! look at me!") and people wouldn't tower over her quite as much. She also wouldn't get the chance to get freaked out and "put on the brakes" and freeze up the way an overwhelmed puppy might, she could just sort of enjoy the ride and look around.
I'd worry about comforting her while she's already in the cart though, I don't like dogs to get too dependent on their people, and not be able to do anything without their owner saying "good girl, it's okay, you can do it." I would also be very aware of relying too much on the cart, and wouldn't do more than a couple of visits like this.

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