Are group dog walks with a dog Walker good for a dogs socialisation

[Turquoisesol]

A friend I know doesn’t agree with them as they say it encourage pack mentality. But I do feel it may help with my dog learning to part of a pack and responding to other dogs play signals. I found a dog Walker that also offers training and say they have qualifications in dog body language so they can monitor play to ensure it is done well. But I am still reluctant to let my dog be with someone else and trust that person to look out for her.

What is everyone’s thoughts on this?

I'm a dog walker and personally don't take more than four dogs at once, but that's normally when it's a household group. My general maximum of three for several reasons:

• Safety. I need to be able to comfortably control all the dogs on the lead, and I need to think about what I'd do if a dog was to get injured somehow - would I be able to get all the dogs back to the car safely, etc.

• Control. I personally don't feel comfortable having multiple dogs off-lead at once. I see a lot of big group walkers struggle with it.

• Socialisation. I actually don't think it's safe to have huge groups of dogs off-lead and playing together. All it takes is for two dogs to take a dislike to each other for some reason and you could have a real problem on your hands.

That said, big group walkers do well around here so clearly there's a market for their services too.

If the other dogs are well mannered well balanced dogs then it can work really well.

If they're all a bunch of teenage hooligans... It's not going to have the desired effect.

My dog walker has a large breed puppy and - between living with two other dogs and going on group walks - I have to say that it has turned into a remarkably well mannered teenager who knows not to (for instance) jump on top of little dogs like mine and can read the signals of "I'm not interested".

I'd ask your dog walker if you can tag along on a walk to get an idea of how things are run? While you can expect that there will be a bit of variety in terms of which dogs are in a group on any given day, any good walker will take account of your dogs needs and match them accordingly.

At the end of the day, dogs don't learn doggy manners by living in isolation from other dogs. You wouldn't let a child be raised by dogs and expect them to magically learn to say please and thank you; the reverse applies to dogs raised exclusively by humans!

You could get the best of both worlds by walking your dog at a time group dog walkers are out, and gradually introduce your dog (if the walkers don't mind)

Remember that dog walking is an unregulated trade. There's a huge variety in stadards and approaches. Spending time watching walkers in action, and giving your dog the chance to interact when you're there should give you some idea of whether that environment would suit your dog

How many dogs does the walker walk at once? We use a dog walker once a week for socialisation purposes, but our walker only takes two different sets of dogs out together (as in from two different families - there are a few different groups mine has walked with, sometimes 1 other dog on their own or sometimes he walks with a family of 3 other dogs).

“But I do feel it may help with my dog learning to part of a pack and responding to other dogs play signals.”

What do you mean by that? Because potentially forcing your dig to mix with others like that could just make it really stressed.

If she's good she will notice the dogs body language and ensure she intervenes when a dog needs help and keep them apart. But otherwise no I don't think it's good to have big pack walks. As PP said more than 3-4 you can't advocate for each individual dog, and I don't think most councils in the UK would allow anyway.

I am not sure how many dogs she walks at once. Maybe 4. I was reading a breed specific rescue website and it stated that the first thing they do when they get a dog in to rehabilitate is they get it to learn to be part of a pack and be comfortable in the company of other dogs. And it just got me thinking that maybe this was something I should provide my dog with. I don’t have many friends with dogs.

But how is your dog with other dogs?...and why would a dog need to learn how to be part of a pack if you’ve no pack to integrate into?

My dog Walker walks them as a group and they have a whale of a time. My dog used to get a bit barky around other dogs but it has totally changed him. He has a bit of rough and tumble with one of the dogs around the same age and size but it’s only play fight and they come away with waggy tails. Depends on the dog but I guess dog walkers have a pretty good idea who they can can can’t walk together.

She is ok. Shy but keen to play. She quickly backs off at the slightest hint she isn’t sure, she isn’t at all boisterous. Maybe I don’t need her to integrate. I feel bad for her that she doesn’t get much opportunity to play really. She is constantly play bowing with us humans and I feel she is lacking a playmate occasionally

My dog goes with a dog walker once a week just for some socialisation and play with others dogs as he doesn’t get to do that very much.
It’s a small group, 4 or 5 dogs, some kept on lead, some off lead and usually the same dogs each time.

He loves going with her and always looks like he is having fun in the photos.

Very much depends on the dog walker.

I see all sorts by me, some are really good, with small groups and dogs who seem relaxed; others meet up with each other, let their charges off lead and stand around ignoring them.
My dog walker is very good, the dogs love her and she takes time to match up the dogs.
She gives me regular feedback and lets me know if they have an off day.

@Turquoisesol

She is ok. Shy but keen to play. She quickly backs off at the slightest hint she isn’t sure, she isn’t at all boisterous. Maybe I don’t need her to integrate. I feel bad for her that she doesn’t get much opportunity to play really. She is constantly play bowing with us humans and I feel she is lacking a playmate occasionally

It sounds like she would be better being paired up with another calm dog, rather than thrown into the deep end with a big group.