We all love our pets and we all gave different levels of training, tolerances and experience but I’m curious as to what the difference are between country dogs and city dogs ( and ski hill hogs lol ). My boy is amazing around home and tractors and recalling off game and a plethora of other things. He loves riding in the truck and cows and basically whatever he’s been socialized too. Now, when I took him to the vet in the city he hasn’t the exposure to the same things city dogs have. He was in pain and over stimulated as you can imagine he went nuts. He’s hyper to begin with and was medicated at the time but as someone here mentioned I started walking laps of the waiting room and it had a great calming effect for a stressed dog and he was fine. He wanted to listen but struggled. I put him on the scale and asked for a sit ( which he did ) about 1/2 a meter from a bulldog he’d never met yet alone seen before. The smells made him crazy and it was overall an extremely stressful time for us. Having said that, the other dogs and owners walked by him like he was a fixed object and didn’t exist. I was like wow!! Now, turn the tables. If those same animals came to my environment would they be so calm. Would the perfectly well behaved bichon frise be so calm and well mannered? I requested we come in when our room is ready and not sit in the waiting area. I wish I could socialize for this but the closet dog park is 45 minutes away and there’s no classes for another 60; we are country and it works for us until we need vet services. I can walk him by the construction workers building our garage. He won’t bark at the animals or when he hears a truck pull in. Will the city dogs be able to cope here better than my boy did in the city. One lady picked her guinea pig, I mean lap dog. Lol (sorry) up and left the building mumbling how Duggan had pierced her ears with one solitary bark. Next time I get a dog I’m taking him to the city when he’s a pup. I was impressed with the control these animals had towards everything. Having said that, my neighbours have a Great Dane and a Bernese and Duggan can hear them every day yet shows no interest in running away to their yard. ??
If you saw my city dog in the waiting room you’d feel better He wants to charge up to all the other patients, especially cats. So if we’re not the only one there we leave him in the car until it’s his turn. Fortunately he looooves the actual Vet so that’s something. That said, he’s good with all other city things as a result of experience. Crowds, traffic, bikes, joggers, loud noises... It’s a great idea to give your next pup some city time.
I think it depends on the dog. My anxious two get stressed in busy places. Squidge doesn’t give a fig. Take her from a situation where she’s not seen another dog in months into a busy city and a dog show with hundreds of other dogs in close proximity, she’s excited for a few minutes then chills out and gets on with business. I socialised all of them as puppies to all the city stuff but, unless you’re going to keep it up, which is impractical, it doesn’t do much long-term. I don’t think it’s a waste doing it, as all opportunities to experience new things are valuable, but you certainly shouldn’t expect that, just because you took your puppy to the city a few times when he was young that he’s going to be ok with it when he’s older.
I can take my boy to the busiest place and he couldn’t care less. City, farm, he takes everything in his stride. But if it’s any consolation, if I ask him to do nothing, say, at a cafe, he gets agitated and barks - so deafening that lady would have her ears pierced twice! I wish he could lie quietly on command. Perhaps I didn’t train this enough. But it’s also his personality, that he wants to be out meeting n greeting, not lying quietly. I guess we all have our individual dog’s personalities to deal with best we can, especially those of us first-time dog owners. Next dog (if there is one) will be perfect!!!
I have this in Luna; she can get frustrated and bark. We're doing a lot of "doing nothing" training at the moment
My go-to solution is treat-streaming. Not sure he’s learning to do nothing. But at least we can survive an outing. And since the treats are generally half my meal, I eat less, which is probably better for me! Actually... the other day we stopped halfway on our mountain walk and sat on a bench. Unplanned (it’s our turnaround point, usually don’t stop), no treats. Snowie came to lie in the shade of the bench. All by himself. Was happy to just lie and watch the passing walkers and runners, some dogs. I was tempted to stay sitting there forever, just couldn’t believe this was the same dog!!! He is almost 6 yo now. I guess this time had to come eventually!
Maisy's socialisation involved every single thing I could think off and I think I did a good job as she does not get phased by much. Except livestock - she loves the country of course, we have lots of open spaces near us but she has never met livestock. Recently we took her away on hols to a very rural area with loads of space but we could not let her off as she was totally enthralled with the sheep and would have been after them like a shot. So I am in awe of your dog and it sounds like he has a fantastic life on the farm. I would not worry about those pretend dogs in the town, I wonder how long they would last in the country with their snooty owners.
Homer is a city dog. We live 200m from the common and the river which are both off lead areas. So almost all of most of his walks are off lead. We meet lots of different dogs every walk but he's not perticularly interested in playing or engaging with them. When we go to the countryside he has to be on lead much more if we are going through farmland. He's not fond of crowds, delivery lorries and building works, although sirens, airplanes (every 40 seconds) and helicopters don't bother him much at all. We used to take him on busses and trains when he was younger but then he started getting anxious with noise so we haven't in a long time but would like to build up to that again. I often see dogs on public transport in London who are quite comfortable with all the hustle and bussel of busy busses and trains.
Murphy is not a country or city dog. Something in between, maybe a semi rural suburban dog? Big yard to play in, free run of the yard and the house. If I take him into the "city" he enjoys the heck out of it. When we go to my brother in law's 300 acre farm with sheep, etc, you would think he was born there. Follows everyone around, checks up on what they are doing, dives into the water to cool off and lays there. I think defining the vet's office as city is a mistake. A vet's office anywhere would probably result in the same behavior.
Our dogs have always been suburban dogs, but also spent a lot of time in the woods one hikes and trails. They all have been to stores like Home Depot and Cabelas that welcome dogs. They like to meet other dogs, but are not obsessed with them. When we go to a dog park, Cooper is usually more interested in chasing a ball than playing with other dogs. Tilly visits the whole park, but she is too old to be a good ball dog. They will both play with other dogs and visit people. Cooper is not to interested in being petted by other owners, but she doesn't object to it. I was a little surprised on our last vet trip. While we were waiting, a gentleman came over and wanted to say hello my dogs. Tilly went out to greet him, but Cooper sat on the floor tight next to me. She hung closer to me in the exam room as well. When we are out walking they are both pretty gregarious. I think Tilly likes people better and Cooper perhaps gravitates more towards other dogs. I do think that early socialization is important, and I don't think it wears off with age, at least not if there is occasional reinforcement. We have two friends with Sammys, that both go nuts when they are in a car or on a leash and see another dog. Both of them are fine with other dogs in dog parks. Neither has a good recall, so they don't get to meet other dogs out in the open land.
Next dog (if there is one) will be perfect!!! [/QUOTE] Yep - my next dog will be perfect too! And my diet will start tomorrow!!!LOL
I don't think it matters, whether you live in town or country, its the quality of the dogs life that matters . As long as they experience both town and country , they will adjust to most living situations . We live in a very rural region of Cornwall , and are fortunate to have many wonderful woodland and beach walks . We always took our dogs into town at times though , so that they hopefully would be reasonably well balanced , Labs are very adaptable , happy as long as we are there and they get good walks , in countryside or town park walks , they don't discriminate x
