Socialisation

[Stellaris22]

Numerous threads on this. How do you do it? What do you recommend?

We approached a doggy friendly group from puppy, spoke to owners and went from there.

Our dog was a typical puppy so was told off by older dogs.

She's now good with nervous or confident dogs. Nervous dog owners praise us for how great she is with their dogs.

Personally I don’t feel my dogs need to learn to play with random dogs.

I teach them to walk past calmly, to be dog neutral and that dogs are not a source of fun but are just background noise.
I need them to be like this because they are huge and could easily crush the majority of other dogs and also because I compete them and I can’t have them distracted by others. I don’t trust strangers to be able to read their dogs well enough to decide if they are friendly or not, the amount of ‘friendly’ dogs who have gone for mine over the years because they are bigger than they are used too is unbelievable and I won’t put mine at risk.
When young they all went to various training classes and clubs to learn to be around others but they learnt from an early age to ignore. I also walked them in very dog busy areas but taught them that I was the source of fun and treats and it was way more rewarding to stay with me.

They play with eachother and dogs of friends I know and trust are equally as well behaved, they don’t lack social skills but I don’t see the need for them to interact with strangers, for me the risks outweigh the benefits.

My dog gets other dogs.

I've had an owner call her a dog whisperer because she helped theirs so much.

Being around all dogs helps, really did with her.

The problem with socialising with random dogs, especially smaller breeds, is that the owners often have a different idea of what is acceptable dog behaviour than I do.

So I won't allow my dog to be "trained" by an untrained dog

I find training with understanding owners behaviour is just as important as dog behaviour.

Mine grew up around other dogs do gets bad behaviour. She knows 'jump on me' is not ok so reacts accordingly. Sniffing my bottom, that's ok.

Do others allow socialisation? Not just 'I'm an owner and allow this' but allowing dogs be dogs.

I agree with @Leonberger dogs should have the ability to recall and walk calmly past other dogs.

I have a pack of dogs, if they were to do the doggy meet & greet to an unknown dog & owner, I think they could be quite intimidating with all the circling and butt sniffing. (Imagine 4-6 people surrounding you and want to shake hands all at the same time...)

I also think that how you socialise depends on your dogs personally. There really isn't one size fits all. A lot depends on temperament and breed characteristics.

I'm currently training a 7 month old who isn't really bothered about other dogs and doesn't want to play with doggy strangers.
He has his doggy friends and seems content with that. Taking him to a puppy play group would be his personal nightmare.
But he just loves people and wants fuss & attention from everyone! So we concentrate on the fact that not all humans love dogs- even though the majority thinks he is super cute. So a dog appreciation & fussing group, would be his dream come true!

Everyone is different. I've found socialisation with a mix of dogs hugely beneficial.

They need to mix with other dogs where owners are responsible. Mine, as a puppy, mixed with all sorts.

Now. Reactive dog owners meet her and thank us for how mine is calm.

You need to be careful about introducing your dog to dog reactive dogs. That could end very badly. Not just for your dog but also for the other dog. It's not socialisation to just introduce the dogs and "let dogs be dogs".

My own dog loves to play with other dogs (I'm a dog walker and take him to work with me) but I don't do big groups - three dogs is my maximum and only once I'm confident with all the dogs alone and in various pairings.

I know on MN letting your dog play with others is a huge no-no but in real life, most dogs seem to absolutely love it and it's very common to see dogs playing while owners have a chat.

I do allow mine to play with others, but only dogs I know and trust. Dogs of friends or members of the same obedience clubs etc.

I don’t see any benefit to me to allow my dogs to approach unknown dogs who may or may not be friendly or be used as guinea pigs for other peoples reactive dogs. I had a reactive rescue many years ago who would have died at the thought of being forced to make friends at another dog, not all are social butterflies and that’s okay.

I have three also (two which are giants and one standoffish breed) which would intimidate even the most stable of personalities. If something was to happen I can guarantee mine would get the blame and I don’t want to put them at risk like that.

It’s not a one size fits all situation and just because someone does not allow their dogs to run around with allsorts of others does not make them wrong.

It’s not a one size fits all situation and just because someone does not allow their dogs to run around with allsorts of others does not make them wrong.

I do agree with this, but the way some MN'ers (not you) go on, you'd think allowing your dog to play with any other dog ever is like committing the worst dog owner crime ever

I do sort of agree re. vetting other dogs but my dog has had a lot of positive experiences playing with random "strange" dogs he meets on walks too.

@fairylightsandwaxmelts it probably depends on the type of dog. I find the majority of dogs aggressive to mine which is probably related to the size. Even the ‘friendliest’ of happy dogs will have a pop and then I usually have a shocked owner saying he’s never done that before while my dog stands there having nearly had a chunk taken out of him again or even worse the laughing and ‘he’s brave doing that to yours’ type comments

It’s probably coloured my view a bit, perhaps if I had a smaller type I would consider it but at the moment I find it frustrating having to explain myself every walk

You shouldn't feel the need to explain yourself at all!

I do think people should accept not all owners want their dogs to socialise and there could be so many reasons for that - it's nobody else's business quite frankly

Depends what you mean by socialising?

What works for one dog will not work for all dogs

What is your criteria for dogs meeting?

Letting some dogs play with other dogs will be a positive thing for - for other dogs it will not - just depends on your dogs temperament (which you will have little control of and will be determined by breeding and genetics).

Letting all dogs play does not create a calm dog -I guess your dog would have been calm regardless.

I prefer my dog to have the opportunity to 'play' with known calm dogs only. However from what my dog walker says he is typically doing his own thing even in small group walks and certainly isn't interested in playing with other dogs when he is out with me (which I am happy about as it can only take one bad experience to affect them negatively).

As PP said it should be accepted that not all owners want their dogs to be playing with other dogs and there are many valid reasons for that.

Socialising isn't just meeting other dogs.

It's going to different places, seeing people of all different sizes, shapes, in wheelchairs, on scooters, pushing plans/pushchairs or running past, playing football, flying kites, applauding a goal, shouting.

It's being able to pass a noisy playground, be unfussed by motorbikes, bicycles, lorries, buses, emergency services with sirens going.

It's being able to walk on any surface, including the temporary plastic ones over dug up bits of road, to be OK if the pavement gets crowded, to (largely!) ignore blowing litter (some might want to chase, idea is that they're not spooked)

To be OK in train stations, in trains, on buses etc

“Now. Reactive dog owners meet her and thank us for how mine is calm.”

Really?

Because I’d be wondering how she’s getting close enough to know she’s so calm round reactive dogs tbh.