help!

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

Hi All!

Hoping to get some input from experienced dog owners - my husband and I picked up our 10 week old goldendoodle, Oliver, yesterday and we're so in love with him!
Ollie hasn't met any other dogs (besides his mom and littermates), and I'm nervous that this will overwhelm or scare him, causing lasting damage in his socialization confidence. Am I being to over-protective? Will he be able to hold his own? Or will the dobermans know not to play so rough

Should we stick to leashes and limited interactions for now or just let them do their thing?

Thanks!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

As an aside, I don't care how good of friends they are, I would avoid the dogs playing at every opportunity and forever unless they train their dogs. Would you sit and watch them body slam your human toddler?  MY son had a  huge Dobie - 120 pounds of pure muscle.  He put in hundreds and hundreds of hours training and that dog was fabulous.  We trusted our family babies around him. When family members got new puppies he was very gentle and tolerant.

I would NOT introduce them in the near future.  Let your little one get used to you, your family, your house and get all the shots.  Then, if you  are going to introduce them do it most definitely introduce  on-leash to protect your puppy - with someone holding the Dobermans' leashes who can and will control them.  I would introduce them one at a time after each Doberman had been outside and run off the first burst of energy. If the neighbor's dogs were that rough with the adult goldendoodle, I imagine they will be that rough with your pup and I see serious injuries in your future. 

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

You are absolutely not being over protective!

There is no way  that 2 poorly trained Dobermans and one very young puppy are not a bad idea,  It is going to be difficult since they are neighbors.  I am thinking there are no fences between your yards?   Your ten week old does not need experiences with other dogs until he is fully vaccinated.  He needs to stay close to you all the time inside and outside.  This could certainly affect his interactions with all other dogs, if these two boisterous bullies are his first experience.

Please let him get acquainted with other puppies in puppy classes and then other classes and very controlled situations.

Maybe if you set the example of going to classes and putting a lot of work into your puppy to train him, it will encourage them to train their dogs or send them out for training.  Ask them if they know a good trainer as a very subtle hint.   I have nothing against Dobermans, but two full grown Dobermans with little or no training can be very dangerous, without being mean at all. 

Take care

[Wendy and Myla]

I have to tell you - I listen to all of these sites saying that you have to socialize your puppy with everyone immediately - I totally disagree!  I knew exactly what I wanted in a grown up dog and I trained Myla accordingly.  I had lots of help from Doodle Kisses for a lot of it, but I went on my gut instinct for most.  I took Myla everywhere with me, especially where I knew she would always be in contact with.  Other dogs were never, ever, on my list!  I took her to schools, downtown, parks, horses, cows, industrial zones, train tracks, airports, etc. etc.  I never let her have direct contact with strangers or other dogs until she was much older.  I wanted her to know the sounds, the scents and the ambiance of every place I took her.  She would always stop and sit when a new sound or scent overcame her and I let her totally absorb it.  I wanted her to totally trust me to let her know what was acceptable and how to behave.  I know they are your friends but they have to understand that two very large dogs are really intimidating to a small puppy (especially if they are not really controlled by their owners)  If your puppy is totally overwhelmed by them immediately, it could be so detrimental to his future training!  He needs to know that you are the one who will keep him safe and not put him in a situation where he is scared!  Once he totally trusts you, you can gradually introduce him to your friends dogs - note the word gradual!  Trust is the key word!  Good luck.

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

Such really good advice Wendy