Socializing Dogs

My daughters dogs have been here a week today. It been decided that I will be long term fostering them. Its been seven years since Ive had a dog in my life and that was Slick the ex racing greyhound. He was very well behaved, walked so well on the lead and was so laid back when meeting other animals but I believe most ex racers are like this.
These two are different, I posted photos of them on my previous thread about suitable chews for dogs.
Peaches is timid and can be a little yappy, Diego less yappy but also a little timid.
Weve just got back from a nice walk in the park which at this time of night is very quiet.
During the day it's a totally different experience as they can be barking and pulling on their leashes when they see other dogs especially if other owners are just letting their dogs run uncontrolled and they come too near us.
I'm not happy to let my two run loose as they dont have enough discipline yet.
Any tips on how to train them not to be so unsocial to other dogs when they are not threatening us.
I have thought of going to obedience classes but I'm on my own and usually obedience classes are one on one. I want to do this as it will make our walks more pleasurable for both me and the dogs plus it will be better for my daughter when they go back to her. They will be 2 in January.

One other question. Isnt it good manners if your walking your dog off leash to get your dog under control when you see another owner with a dog on a leash approaching?

Re: Socializing Dogs

Hi MC, oh how you have my sympathy. Peaches and Diego look absolutely adorable, but when they are pulling on the lead and yapping or barking at other dogs, it really must be so stressful for you and spoil your walks, even worse, when they are like that, there is always that fear that you will face another dog off their lead. I know just how you feel!

As others on here already know, HWMO and I have always had Labradors for the last 30 years, we adore them. But with my illness and being retired, 6 years after we lost our last beautiful labrador, we decided to get two little Lachons (half Lhasa Apso and half Bichon) hooligan brothers, 11 weeks old and absolute monsters to train. First time I had ever owned small dogs.
Anyway, every time we walked them in the park on their leads, if another dog came towards them or they happened to spot one, off would go Ollie, barking his head off, quickly followed by Flynn. It was so embarrassing!

Meg and others were a godsend with tips and advice. If you can find my posts you will see that I asked for help on here and the replies were invaluable for exactly the problems you are experiencing, and more!!

I tried out some of the tips and they really worked.

Re: Socializing Dogs

I am not an expert on this but and can give you my experience with our current dog, a big Collie. He is a rescue so we have no prior history. We didn't know how he would behave when we walked him in public. For the first few weeks he was on the lead. One of our neighbours had a Collie that was never on the lead. We asked him about letting ours off the lead.

His suggestion was just to let go of the lead rather than remove it to see how he behaved. That would make it easier to capture him. As it happens, his behaviour was fine. Now, almost four years in, his behaviour on our walks in beyond reproach.

He does the meet and greet thing with some dogs but it is amicable. Same with most people but some just don't like dogs and he seems to pick up on that and ignores them.

A social gathering - ours it the black and white fellow.

Maybe he is lucky or we are lucky.

Re: Socializing Dogs

Look at all those beautiful dogs......they are so lovely.......

Re: Socializing Dogs

And who is centre of attention...........
He is a big gentle beast, lovable and loving. And obedient.
But he is still just Max.

Re: Socializing Dogs

Our Elsie was a very difficult walker for first two years, her eyesight is so bad she just sees shadows so she barked at everything and we called her our lunge and plunge dog she was so leap about on her lead. We were recommended to try a water pistol, just before she barked,as she took a breath to do so a little squirt and it stopped her. No need to drown them just a little squirt gets the attention back.

It only works though one dog at a time really need to walk them separately. Now we just show her we have it as we leave the flat and she walks like an angel.

Re: Socializing Dogs

Why is it embarrissing They are four legged dogs NOT two legged humans. Barking is how they communicate, there are allegedly 10 types of bark, there could be more. You can google it but frankly I don't think any humans will ever really know what they mean. I am only certain about the three (mid range) in a row which sort of means 'hey pack there's strangers about, be on your guard, pack leader to the front'

There are two scenarios where larger off lead dogs might be a problem.
First, if you are unfortunate to live in a large town or city where dog fight gangs operate then such dogs brainwashed and beaten by their owners will attack another dog, no use saying it's not the dogs fault 'tho of course it's the horrible human owners who are really at fault.

Second, you might come across an ex-police dog. We all marvel at how they work with the police to find criminals but usually ignore what happens when they retire, even if they are lucky enough to stay with their human 'handler' chances are they'll not loose the desire to bring a villian down.

There is a third scenario which most humans can't get their brain around which is when you have, (or your meet on a walk) a dog which has the 'pack leader' gene in droves and will not tolerate any dog wanting to be the leader and will discipline it. That means a lot of growling and maybe getting his or her jaws around the other dog. Apart from accidents (remember ears bleed easily) the 'dominant' dog will never break the skin

If you are going to succeed with your dogs the first thing you have to take on board is that dogs are NOT humans their brains work in a completely different way


You are doomed to failure if you attribute human emotions and reactions to dogs. If you are going to do that then it's best you don't have dogs around you at all.

Re: Socializing Dogs

Both you and Max. He is just like our Casey but our first Newfie was a pack leader, she would discipline other dogs, to the untrained eye it looked like WWIII had broken out but she never drew blood and we were lucky at the time that in eight years we only ever met a handful of humans on our walks and so far as I can recall only three dogs.

Re: Socializing Dogs

MC, you don't say the age of the dogs, but I assume they are adults?
It sounds to me as if this habit wasn't nipped in the bud, and they have always been allowed to do this, unless I am wrong?

If you don't mind me saying, I doubt very much if you will get any sense out of them while they are both together, egging each other on.
They will listen to each other instead of you.
Also it will be harder to correct if it is 'learned behaviour' and they have been allowed to do this for a very long time.
We know ourselves how it can be harder to give up a habit we have always done, rather than something we have only done once or twice!

It could also be 'fear barking' if they have not been socialised enough when very young.

Regarding professional help, I think you might be confusing Dog Training classes with a 'Dog Behaviourist?'

Years ago I used to do a lot of dog training. Three nights a week at three different clubs I was a member of. I did this for many years, and never seen 'one-to-one' in a class. It was as the name suggests - dog training classes.

Dog Behaviourists who do the one-to-one you said about are a different kettle of fish altogether, and don't come cheap as it is private tuition.

I think if I were you, I would go along one evening to the training class of your choice.
Don't even take the dogs with you.
They should be happy to let you sit and watch first week and then you can decide whether to join or not.
Talk to the instuctor and explain your problems, see what they suggest.

Also, - and this is important, watch their training methods. Observe the dogs there and whether they seem happy in the classes.
Any forceful methods, use of choke chains, punishments etc . . . . walk away and look for another club.

Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

Re: Socializing Dogs

Teach them to play poker its a very social game and they will get to make new friends.