[OliviaB]

I want Gunner to be as socialized as possible, but I'm a bit confused on how to let strangers and other dogs interact with him. See, last year we raised a working police K-9 Malinois and we had to be very specific. We basically wanted him to ignore all other people and dogs, thus no one was allowed to approach him. Gunner is obviously not a police dog and more or less just a lovable family companion. Soooo...do I let anyone and everyone approach him to help with his socialization? Do I let other dogs approach and play with him? What if it's a dog with bad vibes that I know may try to start a fight? Sorry for all the questions...I'm just trying to raise him to be a social and as well rounded as possible.

 

[Adara]

Have you signed up for a puppy class? Sorry if I've asked. So many new cute puppies and I forget who I've asked. A good puppy class should help teach you how to watch interactions, when to intervene, etc.

I typically only let my puppies interact with dog I know or have observed. I had a HORRIBLE incident with my youngest Vizsla at 10 weeks when at an agility event a lady asked if my puppy wantd to meet a big dog (Malamute) who was supposedly good with puppies. He very well may have been but NOT THAT DAY. Vizslas are soft by nature but my puppy screamed for 5 minutes after the Mal almost got him in the face. I learned a hard lesson that day. I let my guard down because I trusted someone at agility. It took me months to fix that. he know plays happily with all dogs but it's a lesson I wont' have to learn again.

As far as people, YES anyone, everyone. Look for "different" types of people than you and your family - different colors, shapes, sizes, canes, wheelchairs, stollers, etc. I always ask people if we can come say hi that I'm socializing my puppy and would they like to give him a cookie. I try to look for people that don't avoid my eye contact (it happens when you have Dobes.)

 

[OliviaB]

Thanks!! That's kind of what I was thinking...be a bit picky about dogs but overall let pretty much anyone approach him. I like the idea of them giving him cookies too....I'm guessing that won't interfere with his protection instinct at all? I'm assuming in the event of a threat, his instincts would take over?? Like if we were on a walk and a bad person came up to us, he should be able to tell the difference?

 

[Adara]

Thanks!! That's kind of what I was thinking...be a bit picky about dogs but overall let pretty much anyone approach him. I like the idea of them giving him cookies too....I'm guessing that won't interfere with his protection instinct at all? I'm assuming in the event of a threat, his instincts would take over?? Like if we were on a walk and a bad person came up to us, he should be able to tell the difference?

Yes. he should be able to tell the difference and the last thing you want is an overly suspicous dog who wasn't socialized.

 

[wgsdluver]

Seeing as you said you kept people away from the poliece trained Mal, I would be wary of the trainer. The basics of having a completly sound Police K9 is to have strangers, kids, other dogs and every senerio you can think of exposed to. Keeping people away is the worst way to have a K9 trained as it teaches them to be wary of everybody insted of using their head to think.
This pup should be exposed to lots of people a few other stable dogs. I like taking mine to the pet store. VERY important when young. When they are adults you can choose not to allow strangers and dogs to approach, but its good for them every now and again.

As far as instincts, It depends on your dog. Some will protect some wont. Im sure you can have him tested maybe at a Schutzhund club or something. Very good thing to do, I would love to myself but the club is hrs away and I cannot travel like that.
hope that helps.

 

[Sam Erin]

OP, thanks for the question. I'm trying to learn as much as possible about proper socialization. I love the idea of strangers making a good impression on the pup by giving him treats. My question for those of you who have done that, is this: do you ask your pup to sit or stay before a stranger can give him a treat? I would think not doing so would slow down his training a bit.
I've heard that you should not introduce dogs while they are on leash. Is that okay to do while you are out on a walk? I want my future pup to be completely comfortable around other dogs, but I'm scared of an incident happening.
Looking forward to answers.

 

[Adara]

OP, thanks for the question. I'm trying to learn as much as possible about proper socialization. I love the idea of strangers making a good impression on the pup by giving him treats. My question for those of you who have done that, is this: do you ask your pup to sit or stay before a stranger can give him a treat? I would think not doing so would slow down his training a bit.
I've heard that you should not introduce dogs while they are on leash. Is that okay to do while you are out on a walk? I want my future pup to be completely comfortable around other dogs, but I'm scared of an incident happening.
Looking forward to answers.

It depends where I am at in training. if my dog reliably can sit for a treat, yes. But if I have to train and work at it and possibly take up too much of a stranger's time, then no. Or I ask the puppy to sit vs the stranger. I do not let the puppy jump on the stranger. I don't normally work on stay with strangers because if my dog gets up again it's a lot more time taken up of the stranger to help me. and I like to set my dog up to succeed and at the age I'm socializing that may be asking too much. And to be clear, they can't be hooligans (not to say they don't try )

I've never had problem introducing my dog on a leash but again I know interact with dogs I know. If I was somewhere all dogs were off leash, I'd take my puppy off leash or let him drag the leash.

 

[PatchworkRobot]

I haven't read the other answers (I skimmed them). Puppy class and other training classes are a GREAT idea. So is doggie daycare.

That being said, I allow 9 out of 10 people/dogs to approach my boy and the only reason I wouldn't let somebody approach is if I get a weird vibe from them. My boy was socialized really well when he was younger. However, I'm from an incredibly dog friendly city and I worked at a doggie daycare. Therefore he got to come into work with me and meet all kinds of different dogs that I already knew. He got to meet a lot of people because as soon as he had all of his shots we would take him to restaurants that allowed dogs on the patio section (you can just call in advance and ask). When you have an adorable puppy (even with taped up ears) most people want to meet it but, at a restaurant, you won't find yourself in the middle of a horde of people.

 

[Beaumont67]

Soooo...do I let anyone and everyone approach him to help with his socialization?
- Yes

Do I let other dogs approach and play with him?
- with a new puppy...Yes...but 1-on-1 that the dog & handler, can control
- I have never visited a dog park...new dog does not need 10-on-1, or less than perfect experience
(until confidence, maturity & commands, are established)

What if it's a dog with bad vibes that I know may try to start a fight?
- stay away from any bad vibes...from dogs and/or people

 

[OliviaB]

We raised the malinois for my husband's police department. They raise all their k9s to completely ignore all distractions, including other people and dogs. It seemed weird to me at first too, but by the time that dog was a young adult, I swear he could be in the middle of a war and never break eye contact with me. It didn't matter what was going on around him...he completely ignored it and listened only to his handler. Anyways...thanks for the info. I'm off to the park tomorrow for some social time

 

[Tperkins]

This is something that was a big deal to me when I first got my dog. In my the typical dog owners and dogs are less than stellar and I didn't want my dog to socialize with them because of the chance something negative would happen.

Thus far in my work with my dog this has been a major set back. I feel that Rocko is very shy around dogs. He has zero confidence in the presence of another dog who does show confidence. I blame this on myself. I have an extremely confident dog in every situation except with other dogs who show confidence. If a dog approaches him and is very submissive he is perfectly fine. Though in training with the club he is very shy/submissive with the dogs their.(all dogs at the club are very confident). We have been working on this but it is a slow process and he gets better day by day. He is still young enough for it to be a non issue when he is fully mature. Point being is that, had I worked on this as a puppy it would have been nothing at all.

 

[Gia's Mom]

Gia meets and greets everyone at the counter at my work. She loves people but if some one comes thru a gate beside my desk ( which they are not suppose to she growls and barks. If that same persone goes back around the counter she likes them to death. Point is I think Dobermans know what is right and what is wrong. I taught her none of this. She figured out on her own. I also take her to doggy daycare for Sociaization with dogs. At first she was very stressed and I amost gave up but with the forum members advice I stuck it out anD now she loves it. Gia had a hang up about straw hats so puchased a straw hat and wore it for week. I would lay it beside her when she had couch time. Now they do not phase her so please exspose your pup to everything! Good luck !

 

[wgsdluver]

I would absolutly NOT let strangers give my dogs treats (unless it is to help overcome fear, or stressful situations) that is because a dog should not ever take anything from a stranger, they need boundraies. Allowing that will make it easier if at some point your dog makes an enemy and they try poisioning it with tainted food. I dont want my dogs eating from random strangers because of that. "extended" family can feed them or people I trust, but not just anyone. An outgoing puppy doesnt really need treats for seeing someone new, then they will soon expect it.

 

[StarlightDobe]

The only people who are allowed to give my dogs treats are family, the lady who lives next door, and the techs at the vets office, and they always ask first, and the people who work at the Petco, who also always ask first. If anyone else aske if they can give a treat, I either respectfully decline or I tell them they can, but I give them the treat they can give to them and never allow them to give a treat of their own, UNLESS it is another dog owner whom I feel I can trust. An example would be at some sort of dog function where they have given their own dog the treats they wish to give mine. I used to take Mysti to different functions relating to her therapy work and occasionally other dog owners would be there, with treats, and sometimes would offer one to her. Otherwise, it was strictly forbidden.
I would often have kids give her treats that I would supply, and I would always let anyone who wanted to pet her do so, after all, that was her job. I do the same with the two I have now, and they love the attention. It is too bad Nexus isnt more calm because as much as she loves the attention she is too high strung to do therapy work. Perhaps if she calms down some as she ages she may become better at the work but for now Bella will focus on that as her job.

 

[Hank]

Seeing as you said you kept people away from the poliece trained Mal, I would be wary of the trainer. The basics of having a completly sound Police K9 is to have strangers, kids, other dogs and every senerio you can think of exposed to. Keeping people away is the worst way to have a K9 trained as it teaches them to be wary of everybody insted of using their head to think.
This pup should be exposed to lots of people a few other stable dogs. I like taking mine to the pet store. VERY important when young. When they are adults you can choose not to allow strangers and dogs to approach, but its good for them every now and again.

As far as instincts, It depends on your dog. Some will protect some wont. Im sure you can have him tested maybe at a Schutzhund club or something. Very good thing to do, I would love to myself but the club is hrs away and I cannot travel like that.
hope that helps.

They teach k9s and service dogs to completely ignore all people/other dogs. they are still exposed to everything. Thats why they wear the 'do not pet me' vests. Theres nothing wrong with it, but these are dogs that they dont want strangers coming up to.
IMO thats why people have such a hard time with dogs at 6 months + because they have people give them cookies as pups, and let them go up to strange dogs and now everytime they see people/dogs they are distracted/crazy.
You want the dog focused on YOU, not random people walking around who they think will have cookies

 

[Murreydobe]

I only let my puppies (and adult dogs) interact with dogs I know, owned by people I know are dog savvy.

To me, socialization is merely exposing the dog to the presence of other dogs, so they're not stressed out or distracted by them. So my dogs are heavily exposed to other dogs in close quarters while on leash in public, since many of them wind up being show dogs. But they're trained to ignore strange dogs in public for the most part. I CAN'T STAND IT when some idiot allows their RUDE dog to just barge up to mine and intrude on their physical space, and would never allow mine to do that with a strange dog.

They get lots of exposure to all sorts of different people as young pups. When I'm raising a puppy I try to take them somewhere new every day and have them interact with people.

 

[OliviaB]

They teach k9s and service dogs to completely ignore all people/other dogs. they are still exposed to everything. Thats why they wear the 'do not pet me' vests. Theres nothing wrong with it, but these are dogs that they dont want strangers coming up to.
IMO thats why people have such a hard time with dogs at 6 months + because they have people give them cookies as pups, and let them go up to strange dogs and now everytime they see people/dogs they are distracted/crazy.
You want the dog focused on YOU, not random people walking around who they think will have cookies

Exactly Vader had a vest that said "K-9 in training. DO NOT PET" He wore it everywhere. We took him tons of places but never allowed anyone to approach him. He ended up being calm in any situation but stayed completely focused on his handler. Not even other wild crazy dogs would distract him. It was actually pretty incredible how focused he was. I guess that's why I'm torn on Gunner. I understand letting other people approach him, but I want him to look to me as his sole source of direction. I want to be his focus...not other people and dogs. Ugh...still confused lol.

 

[arankin]

IMO unless you want him to ignore all other dogs and people like your previous dog, he should be socialized with everyone. The focus, will be learned from training and obedience. Just because he interacts with people other than you does not mean he won't look at you as his leader.

 

[wgsdluver]

They teach k9s and service dogs to completely ignore all people/other dogs. they are still exposed to everything. Thats why they wear the 'do not pet me' vests. Theres nothing wrong with it, but these are dogs that they dont want strangers coming up to.
IMO thats why people have such a hard time with dogs at 6 months + because they have people give them cookies as pups, and let them go up to strange dogs and now everytime they see people/dogs they are distracted/crazy.
You want the dog focused on YOU, not random people walking around who they think will have cookies

Yes, They do teach them that after the puppy has already been well socialized till at least one year. I have had a therapy dog (CGC, TDI) and I so understand other instances where a dog must ignore.
What I was saying was a police K9 is not kept away from people as the OP stated. They never stated when they stopped socialization so I can only assume it was young.

Im not sure what the influence of distractions or focus on you has to do with the length of training time, so on that I cannot comment. But working dogs whatever the type of work, are taught to focus on the trainer and ingor distractions.

 

[GingerGunlock]

Dogs, I'm working on having Elka ignore, except for exceedingly mellow, obviously well-trained dogs (I look to the owners to help myself make these judgements). So, probably about 3 in this town, so far. Oh, and a Doberman puppy, but we haven't seen him since that one time

People, we tend to ignore, unless they specifically make contact with me and say "can I pet your dog?" We actually had a great experience in the park today, near the playground. Two kids came over, calmly, and asked to pet Elka, and then asked me all about Dobermans, and shook hands with her and high-fived and played the "which hand is the treat in?" game (with my treats). Elka looked at me first every time they asked her to do something, including take a treat.

Not all scenarios are like that; unfortunately, most people don't seem to teach their kids how to act around dogs, especially strange dogs.