Page 2 | How did you socialise your big/heavy puppy?

CoffeeFanatic · 2022-11-04T17:40:55+00:00

Did anyone use a sling and if so, could you please recommend? I need to get going on the socialisation but she weighs a ton! I'm going to drive to some places but there are other places I'd like to walk her around.

Jimmini · 05/11/2022 08:03

Depends a little on the breed OP. I carried mine in a carrier and I am strong (I work with horses and am used to shifting stuff) even then I found the carrier hard work with an 18kg pup. The push chairs can be a good option if your going to have a large pup on your hands.

ignore the old school train of thought of they’ll be fine… they are robust, but it’s great to get them out and about. Mines been sleeping in the pub from 8 weeks, going on trains etc

Original poster

CoffeeFanatic · 05/11/2022 10:32

Username917778 · 05/11/2022 07:05

We parked up in busy locations like retail parks/supermarkets and sat with the boot open. Unfortunately probably made her too friendly as everyone wants to come over and fuss a puppy 😁so she thinks everyone is her best friend now

Better than thinking everyone is her worst enemy!

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Original poster

CoffeeFanatic · 05/11/2022 10:38

Branster · 05/11/2022 07:03

Do you mean that you want to keep the dog out and about but keep the walking/exercise time to 20 min blocks?
I don't quite understand why you would need to carry the puppy for long enough that it hurts your back.
I can definitely understand puppies can be very heavy, even small dogs feel heavy if you carry them when walking for long enough. And of course plenty of puppies are very big, nothing to do with being fat (to the ridiculous comment earlier on!)
But I don't think you need to go out of your way and complicate matters. Labradors are some of the easiest dogs, very robust as puppies and don't need babying, keep it simple and make your life easy.
We had and have medium and large dogs over many years and never felt the need for a carrier.
What helped with socialising was taking the puppy in the car to busy high streets. You can easily spend an hour walking 100 meters. By the time you stop and talk to everyone who wants to make a fuss, stop at a coffee shop, go in a couple of shops, wait on the pavement while the puppy watches the world. Time which is simply spent for the benefit of the puppy.
You certainly don't need to do this every day and you don't want to overwhelm the puppy. Also, just driving to random places and sit in the car or let the puppy have a look around. Anywhere that would be reasonably busy or noisy such as a multi storey car park, supermarket carpark, petrol station, and so on.
Take the puppy to any coffee shop or pub that allows dogs on a regular basis.
And balance these outings with plenty of rest, quiet time and normal dog walks. The idea is not to over exercise or overstimulated them.

I don't see why you would need a carrier. Not exactly a natural way for a dog.

Unless you mean you can't put the puppy down because of vaccination? It is a very short period of time and just going in the car to places would be plenty of socialisation, simply watching the world from the car with the door/boot open. Plenty people would approach to make a fuss and there would be lots of noises and smells to experience.

Enjoy the puppy stages and have fun!

Thank you. It's until vaccinations and our location is tricky. Our other dogs have lead quite diverse lives in terms of where we can take them and I'm keen to start early again. Good suggestions though, thank you.

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Spanielsarepainless · 05/11/2022 10:51

I didn't use a sling as very few go over 12kg and he was a big boy (grew into medium sized, thank goodness). Before he could go on the ground, I carried him to the end of the road and back so he met all the neighbours, drove to a local car park where school children got picked up, drove him to a place by a railway to see the trains, supermarket car park, carried him to see the dustmen, postman, buses. Be creative. Wherever people congregate is good. Two friends either brought their vaccinated dogs to my garden or I took my boy to theirs. Then after his vaccinations we did it all again! Things look different from the ground.

Original poster

CoffeeFanatic · 05/11/2022 13:24

Spanielsarepainless · 05/11/2022 10:51

I didn't use a sling as very few go over 12kg and he was a big boy (grew into medium sized, thank goodness). Before he could go on the ground, I carried him to the end of the road and back so he met all the neighbours, drove to a local car park where school children got picked up, drove him to a place by a railway to see the trains, supermarket car park, carried him to see the dustmen, postman, buses. Be creative. Wherever people congregate is good. Two friends either brought their vaccinated dogs to my garden or I took my boy to theirs. Then after his vaccinations we did it all again! Things look different from the ground.

Thanks. There's a list somewhere of everything you need to introduce them to - I must find it. We've just done man in hat and umbrella!

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