Getting puppies together for socialisation

[mintchocchick]

Any advice about how to manage puppies getting together for socialisation? We have just had a puppy over for a play with my 8 week old and there was manic tearing around the garden, bashing into each other, growling into each others faces. Neither was hurt but they were going for it full on and one would walk away only to be followed by the other up for more action. It seemed pretty even though in terms of who was the protagonist except my puppy was bigger so it seemed that my puppy was on top of the other quite a lot.

To be honest I found it a bit stressful.

Is this normal? Good socialisation? Or should they be 'managed' more closely I.e. should they be separated?

At our puppy class they allowed so much of that (as long as evenly matched and not one sided) but if they didn't calm down then they had to go on their lead for 10 seconds as a time out. They were allowed back off when calm. I had one of the smallest puppies who seemed to be on a near permenant time out!

It sounds fairly normal ,at the puppy class we went to they were let off in 2 groups so the big ones got a turn and then the smaller ones to avoid anyone being squished .

Personally I think socialisation with adult dogs is far more beneficial than with other puppies. Part of socialisation is them learning acceptable behaviours and that's not going to happen when it's just hooligan puppies running riot together

Do you know anyone with fully vaccinated adult dogs who could come over?

We have other dogs so our pups get plenty of doggy interaction (and plenty of tellings off when they get overly rambunctious!) from day one. As soon as they've had their vaccinations we get them out to our ringcraft club. It's packed with dogs of varying sizes, ages and breeds and we've found it more helpful than either "puppy party" style classes or obedience classes where all the pups are the same or similar ages.

Socialisation is also about a lot more than playing with other dogs. It is about cramming in experiences of new sights, smells and sounds in a positive way before the socialisation window shuts at between 14-16 weeks.

Different forms of transport, noisy places, quiet places, livestock, small furries, grass, concrete, sand, people on bikes, people in hats, men with beards, people on crutches.......you get the picture

Thanks for all advice.

Pinkfairy - I do have friends with vaccinated older dogs - 3 who are about 2yrs. All 3 are labs and seem well behaved though usual lab boisterousness. I might invite them over one at a time. In this situation should we manage their play and step in if it seems very boisterous - putting puppy on lead till calm? Or should we leave them to sort it out.

I'm doing lots of socialising with short car journeys, school runs, bus trip on Saturday, outside a cafe, bikes on school run. Not sure about wildlife and small animals - that needs some thought and planning!