Socializing puppy with other dogs come and help me out please

[WhereTheWildThingsWere]

Ok Crazy whippy is now 14 weeks old and has been going for walks for 1 week, in some ways he is like dream puppy, stays by my side unless to go running and playing with the kids, heels on the lead, recall is amazing.

He is however not that keen on other dogs, he has been bowled about a bit by a stafford and chased by a GSD both of these were friendy dogs but nevertheless have not helped the situation.

We have met lots of dog desperate to play, but he just either hides behind by legs or tries to get in the pushchair with dd.

I am hoping he will start to relax soon and he starts puppy classes tomorrow which I think will help but I have a very iminent problem.

This coming weekend we are supposed to be going to a festival for the day, the tickets were bought for us by SIL and BIL for christmas and it has been long planned. Since I knew we would have a new puppy the plan was to leave him at SIL's house where he would be looked after by BIL's dog mad father for the day, however also in attendance will be SIL's exceeding friendly dog.

Will he be ok? We are staying for the weekend so he will have plenty of time to get to know their dog first, but if he is scared of it is he going to be really traumatized by being left for the day and with a stranger too?

Have I just got really bad PFB syndrome with this bloody dog (who is not my first btw)

What should I do?

Sorry about typo's

Anyone?

Well - if it were me, I'd take the puppy to meet the dog a couple of times this week and the dog crazy man and then carry on as planned.

Your puppy has to learn to socialise - it might well manage better without you there. Do you have a crate? If you do, take it with you so the pup has somewhere safe and familiar to retreat to if it all gets too much over the weekend.

When you arrive, don't make a fuss of either dog; pop the puppy in the crate and then get on and greet everyone, have a cup of coffee etc. Be normal. The puppy will be able to get used to the surroundings and people with no pressure.

Once all the arrival excitement has died down, let your puppy out. Take off the pressure and I'd only react if someone was getting hurt. I currently have 3 labs, the youngest of which is 11 weeks and when they play, it's gentle but fierce iykwim; the adult dogs tone down their play so as not to overpower the pup - but teach them so manners while they're doing it. It's an essential part of puppy learning.

I'd def get on with it! And I'm sure the puppy class will help.

Sorry WTWTW - RL got in the way

I should think pup will be fine - it's a really good socialisation opportunity, provided pup and older dog are both allowed quiet time, separately. HTH

Could you take them for a walk together before putting them in the house together?
The idea is, they will get used to eachother while out and about. When they go back home, the excitement of first meeting eachother should have died down a bit.

It will be fine though, your pup will find a way of letting the other dog know if he has had enough. If he doesn't, he needs to learn how to let other dogs know he wants them to back off. Its an important part of socialising and he has to figure it out, there is nothing you can do to teach him what to do.