As we settle back down to our London regime, and I work out Charlie's routines, and try yet again to find outside classes, I'm checking the final chapters of my puppy books for guidance on teenagers. Ian Dunbar (I think his stuff is generally sound, although he is a bit military in directing the filling in of checklists and forms, which I know isn't everyone's cup of tea) says this: "To remain sociable and friendly, your puppy needs to meet three unfamiliar people and three unfamiliar dogs each day. Otherwise he will disocialize dramatically during adolescence - between four and a half months and two years of age". It would be too easy, I think, to get into a routine where Charlie meets the same people and the same dogs. So I'm having a bit of a think about this advice and making sure we plan in enough new stuff. Every day though... What do you reckon to the advice? And do / did you carry on a new experience socialisation programme to 2 years old? Charlie has his paws on my desk, looking over my shoulder, to say that he throughly agrees with the advice and it's time we left to go to Wandsworth Common, instead of Wimbledon, because he needs to meet three new dogs today. So better go....
Re: Desocialisation Well, we went somewhere different, and met loads of new dogs - lovely ones too, and he had a good romp with a 8 month old choc puppy, they were very happy together. We also met the Tuesday morning mums' off road buggy power walk! A battalion of 3 wheeled buggies with shouting toddlers marching through the woods! We hadn't proofed our sit against that! But they were very kind waiting while I called him back... So I don't know about counting up 3 new dogs a day, but it is good not to stick to the same routine I think.
Re: Desocialisation I agree Julie, I dont necessarily think you need to worry about it being a set number of new faces, places etc . but it is good to vary routine from time to time . Our little Millie would tend to get very anxious in new situations but we stuck at it , the first time we took her to the beach cafe , she was very upset at all the people, dogs and noise but now laps it up , market next ;D
Re: Desocialisation i have plenty of walks to choose from and normally take a different route every day i started to do this when he was pulling on the lead,..he was pulling because he knew where we was heading ......today we met 9 different dogs ??? he is getting lots of doggie pals we always see bike riders and during the summer month lots of canal boats
Re: Desocialisation This is something I had wondered about as with us we have quite a set routine with school runs and such so when we get our pup I will have to make sure I add a variation to the routine. Thanks for this! Will get my thinking up some new routes to the school! ha!
Re: Desocialisation I think he has a point, Julie, and with a male dog it will be a good idea to keep him used to meeting other new dogs on a regular basis, otherwise sometimes they can get a bit 'punchy' when they meet male dogs they don't know...
Re: Desocialisation Thanks Karen, I'm glad I read the advice, I think there is so much focus on the "socialisation window" it's a bit too easy to think "done that". Charlie is definitely the most comfortable around other puppies, adolescents, and bitches, so we'll keep working on keeping up the strange dog meet and greets. We met some lovely ones again today, so maybe our run of bad luck meeting horrible ones has come to an end. Hope so, anyway.
Re: Desocialisation think its a good idea to keep on socialising them, especially living in big cities like Charlie and my two, city dogs have a lot more thrown at them daily than their country dwelling mates.... I think its a balance mind. depending on the dog, too much and they can get a bit freaked out (behaviourist thought that Cuillin needed some time out from meeting new dogs all the time, she had been to large scale day care, and also met a lot of new dogs in the park most days, maybe had gone into the zone of too much new dog socialising for her, as she is a bit sensitive anyway). Although I try to give my two as much of a calm, chilled life as possible, and walk them up the hills where its lovely and quiet, and go to beaches when they are quieter, I keep making sure they have new 'city' experiences at least a couple of times a month, Brodick, the Laid Back Man of the Pack, is only eighteen months so he is still in that window. They went to the Independence Rally up here in Edinburgh at weekend, took them simply to expose them to huge crowds and noise, loudseakers, bands etc, and they were both absolutely fine, in fact they both positively enjoyed themselves, they got lots of fussing and got to share my burger...was interesting though because they were in the thick of the city bustle for two hours, lead walking for about an hour and a half of that, they got in, had a Bonio, and as one got on the sofa, and i didn't hear a peep from them for four hours. Normally they will kip for a few hours post walk and are then ready to get up and mooch about. you forget how tiring these 'experiences' are for them....
Re: Desocialisation [quote author=debsie link=topic=2687.msg27436#msg27436 date=1380104698] think its a good idea to keep on socialising them, especially living in big cities like Charlie and my two, city dogs have a lot more thrown at them daily than their country dwelling mates.... [/quote] I really think that's true - I was just thinking today how much I expect of Charlie with the distractions of London, and I sort of demand more from him in that he gets much less free time on walks (too much going on - dogs, people, joggers, cyclists, quad bikes, swans, ducks, kids etc - to leave him to his own devices). It's much harder work than the lovely relaxed Cornwall. Glad your two enjoyed the Rally - it's so lovely to have well behaved dogs that can be included in outings. I'm working on Charlie being quiet in a cafe right now, we haven't done much work on that kind of thing yet. I really want to be able to take Charlie when we go to the pub (once in a blue moon, but still).
Re: Desocialisation yes pubs and labradors can be a heady mix! there are loads of dog friendly pubs in Edinburgh, I took my two to pubs from the time they were teeny. Brodick loves them, Cuillin is not so keen. she has mastered the art of looking completely miserable in pubs - stands stock still with her head on my lap Looking Beaten (unless she is barking at any Greyhound that appears. doesn't like Greyhounds..). I don't take them so often anymore, but when I do, I take them on a nice running around loads of fun walk first if I can, and then take a jar of organic Peanut Butter and their Kongs....the combination of fatigue and the chilling effect of licking their kongs seems to make them snooze quite soon....our local lets them up on sofas with you as long as you bring a blanket, last Friday Cuilllin snored her way through most of the pup visit curled on my lap ;D
Re: Desocialisation Yes, exercise then kongs, I'll try that. Been going at the start of the walk (when he is clean) but at the end when he is puffed out might be a lot better. Thanks!
