Off lead encounters and dog 'mingling'

Hello everyone. I've been taking Judy on walks for a couple of weeks now (she's 4 months) and recently I let her go off lead. Where I live there's a busy road, then quiet roads, then fields and farmland. I let her off lead once we're in the field / farmland. It's really quiet there, she seems to enjoy being free of the lead and I'm happy to see her trotting at her own pace but staying close and coming to me when she's called (although I haven't tested this with distractions yet). We usually meet at least 3 other dog walkers when we go up there, dogs of different shapes, ages and sizes. Also walkers and joggers.
Because she can be quite bouncy, I put her back on the lead when people and / or dogs approach. I'm less worried about her nipping now but don't want her jumping on people or invading the space of other dogs in excitement. I think I might have been over cautious though, because the last couple of days she's been less willing to meet other dogs, and has hidden behind my legs a few times. Today we met a lovely boxer (off lead) who seemed keen to interact but Judy hid and jumped up on the back of my legs. The owner made a comment about me needing to socialise her and said I should get her 'mingling' with other dogs.
As Judy's my first dog, I'm learning as I go. I really want her to meet and eventually play with other dogs but so far her dog meetings have been puppy class (5 pups, kept mostly separate) and brief meetings with other dogs on walks. I don't know anyone locally with a dog that might tolerate a bouncy licky pup.
I'm interested to hear thoughts on this - should I be making more of a concerted effort to find her friends to play with or should puppy class and brief dog interactions (with her on lead) be enough for now? Would anyone just let her stay off lead when people and other dogs approach? I'm worried that I'm worrying too much about everything (!) to the point that I'm limiting her socialisation and making her fearful.
Thanks in advance for any comments.

 

I think she'll be fine and puppy class will stand her in good stead.

I have a simple rule. If the other dog is off lead I let the puppy greet them, they soon learn which to avoid (usually small terriers!). I don't let them play for long before we move on. The pups all get used to this, no problems. If the other dog is on lead I pop the puppy on until we have passed them, you don't know why they are on lead. If could be one of many reasons including medical conditions.

I find all the pups soon become excellent at reading 'dog' language - and I don't worry at all about them being growled at/told off - I just talk in a cheerful voice to them and move on. Two of mine have had nips from nasty little ones, I don't worry about that either, they are more wary the next time and 'read' dogs much more carefully - a good lesson I reckon.

Tatze is 3 now and she's less and less interested in other dogs - a quick sniff 'hello' is usually the drill. Unless it's a pup - she adores puppies.


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I agree. Young puppies need to learn "dog language" from older dogs so let them interact. Its an important part of their development.

 

I think it depends on the puppy - I'd be less wary of letting a puppy approach other well socialised dogs who was a little cautious than a super bold puppy. I already know that Betsy is happy to leg it 200m to say hello to another dog and takes no notice of being growled at! She is not going to get to run up to other dogs because (like Charlie) I'd then spend the next 2 years stopping her doing this. She of course gets to meet other dogs - after she sits, looks at me, and I say 'ok, say hello'.

If your pup seems cautious, being out of control is less of a worry but you should try to make sure she has good experiences with other dogs, so do check that the other dog is going to be ok with a puppy. A dog growling at Betsy doesn't bother her, but not all puppies will just take it in their stride.

 

All my pups are super bold, they are bred and selected for it. But they soon learn to speak 'dog' by practicing it. You can't know for sure that another dog is OK to say hello to, but - if they are off lead - it's a pretty good assumption, which we haven't fallen foul of yet. Of course, I wouldn't be letting them gallop off for 200m!

Our pups are not allowed any free runs until they are 17 weeks old and, contrary to received wisdom, this causes them to have a much closer distance which they naturally keep from their people. I don't know any which go more than 30m. If they want to zoom, they zoom in circles.

On the very first free run we are taught to let them go then hide, often. They quickly learn that these humans are not at all predictable and they need to be kept an eye on!

I had a dog for two weeks (10 months old) who had lost this. It was due to his person lacking confidence and calling the dog back too much. I was lucky to have a secure place to practice but I did the hiding thing for three walks and, after that, I could take him anywhere (with normal recall, treats, games etc).


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Well, I'm well versed in the about turn walk, never being where the dog left you and so on - and Betsy has known nothing else since I got her (and I've been honing my techniques on Charlie for ages now). Betsy will leg it, and she'll leg it a long way, and there is not much 'not letting her' about it. A long line is the thing that doesn't let her. She also won't move on from another dog, or stop playing, even if I disappear over the horizon.

 

Thanks for the replies. We just had a nice walk, mostly off lead and I let Judy play with a young whippet. She was interested in the dog but wasn't keen on the chasing game the whippet wanted to play so we moved on! She definitely seems more comfortable around bigger, quieter dogs than the young, bolder ones or small terrier types. She's happier to ignore other dogs in the distance but tries to get all humans to notice her. As things are at the moment, she'll run on a little way ahead but checks where I am a lot. I'm wondering whether she's a cautious dog or going through a cautious phase, or whether she's just cautious with some dogs and more confident with others. I'm happy she sees me as her secure place when we're out but am not keen on being jumped on when she's nervous. Not sure how to deal with that other than staying calm.

 

@Jude, Mabel used to jump on me when she was nervous. She is now approaching 21 months and hasn't done it for a very long time. It could well be a phase Judy is going through. Personally speaking while out and about I wouldn't pay too much attention to the comments of other owners. Smile politely, nod then store the info in the back of your mind or if it's particularly irritating roll your eyes and walk on ( well that's me anyway ) It is so difficult when it's your first dog and of course you want to do your best. I soon learnt the forum really is the best place to ask questions, as well as reading some good books. These have also been recommended by other forum friends.

 

Your description does sound an awful lot like Bramble at the same age, or maybe just slightly younger, (she is 8 months now) We built up her confidence by working with older, nice natured dogs in controlled situations. Bramble gradually built up her confidence with other dogs. We went to some fabulous classes locally, designed for all dogs, not just youngsters which were really good. She is fine now..in fact madam has hit adolescence and now thinks ALL people and dogs are fair game!

 

It's ok to have a dog that doesn't charge in - that's helpful. Nervous is not good, but owning 2 fools of dogs where angels fear to tread etc means I think a dog that can stop and think, and decide maybe to move on, is a very good thing!

 

I hope it's a phase! She's changing so much from week to week and things I was worried about a few weeks back I'm now much more relaxed about. The man who made the comment came across as quite patronising (I mean OF COURSE a puppy needs socialising), but it touched a nerve because I notice with Judy I'm worrying a lot whether I'm doing enough / everything right / everything at the right time. But yes, here seems like a much better place to get advice and information.

 

Hi Kate, yes I'm going to look into classes that welcome a range of dogs not just puppies and try and arrange meetings with nice older dogs. It's encouraging to hear that Bramble has built up her confidence.

 

Your fools sound wonderful!

 

This is something I struggle to do having no good friends near by who have dogs but I've just come across "Explore by Paw" a group of dog walkers in my area. They have a code of conduct which I really like. Once Mabel is off restricted exercise and back to normal I'm going to join and give it a go. It's for adult dogs only so maybe it's something to look at in the future for you.

 

I'll look into that, Claire, thanks. I see you're in Coventry - I'm in Leicestershire, will try and find something similar locally for when she's a bit older.

 

Xena sounds like Betsy's southern hemisphere spirit sister

@Jude I'm in much the same boat as you, with a puppy and no dogs to let her interact with. I've managed two play dates, otherwise she just sees dogs at obedience, but doesn't play with them. I'm starting a "teenagers" class with a private trainer next week (run by a positive trainer who is Wellington's only qualified behaviourist, I've got high hopes) and we'll continue with the obedience club too because I would like to get into rally-o/obedience/flygility/CGC further down the track. When you don't have friends/family with puppy-friendly dogs it's really hard!

 

It is hard! I'm hoping we'll find her a little friend somehow.

 

I'm in a quandary on this issue as my now 11 month old Ajax, who btw remains intact, is high drive – or bold as Boogie says – and exhibits definite dominant behavior when meeting other dogs on our walks. When I let him off leash in our fields I'm now very careful to see we are clear of any other dog walkers as he will dart 100m across the field to engage if he sees another dog often to the horror of the dog and it's walker. I wouldn't say he's aggressive as some might believe but his puppy exuberance can be over the top. As such we are avoiding the meet-n-greets and those that now know Ajax are definitely avoiding us. Just the friendly wave. I want him to learn proper 'dog' speak but not how to proceed. Then again, does it even matter?

 

^^ not sure what happen to my post. Is there a way to edit after posting?

 

Fixed it for you - I think, anyway.