Another early socialization question.....

[Alli and Barkley]

Me again- 

 

Barkley will be here in exactly one week- CANNOT wait.  his crate is all set up, and we puppy proofed the house today (or so we think).   

 

We are picking him up on Saturday, and Sunday of course is Mother's Day.  It is also my sister's 40th Bday AND my brothers 28th Bday (born on the same day).  We were invited to my sister's house (right down the street, literally) for a small cookout with our family.  Of course we want to go, but we refuse to leave Barkley home alone, even for ten minutes so soon after getting him so-

 

Do we take him with us?  or Do we take turns going to my sister's while one stays home with Barkley?

 

Sister has a dog (Penny), healthy, up to date on vaccines.  2 yrs old, calm, playful, small- love her dog.  

 

I would love to bring him (on leash at all times never leaving my side of course)- to socialize/ introduce him to Penny, and the rest of the family (about 9 people) but I am terrified of Parvo.  Barkley went to the vet at 6 weeks, and had his first round of vaccines but I am still scared to death. 

 

He will only be 7 weeks old- its just too soon isn't it?  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have a question for those who are advocating treating a brand-new 7 week-old puppy like an older dog, right off the bat. It's been 21 years since I brought home a new puppy, but don't they still have all kinds of books and pamphlets, and internet advice about Bringing Home Your New Puppy? Don't the breeders give people a little booklet or some advice about Your Puppy's First Few Days at Home? In the olden days, these guides always advised people to keep things fairly low-key and quiet for the first few days. Limit visitors, that kind of thing. Has this thinking changed?

My last puppy was 10 weeks old when I brought her home. My breeder had crate-trained her, started her on housbreaking, and had her as well-socialized as you'll ever see a 10 week-old puppy. She still didn't want me to bring her out around other dogs, or even take her anywhere where other dogs might have been, for the first week or so. That was the most confident, outgoing dog I've ever had. It doesn't seem that not going anywhere and everywhere from day one harmed her in any way.

I asked my family not to come over the first day, for the same reasons...following the advice in the books. Of course, my sister had to rush right over anyway, with her 5 year old and her ten year old. The 100 lb. 10 year old stepped on my puppy's foot. She yelped in pain, and off to the vet we ran...second time that day, because I went right from the breeder to the vet, before coming home the first time. There were no lasting traumas or bad effects...as i said, this was one very confident, well-bred puppy...but it wasn't the best introduction to her new home I can think of.

I'm asking because I honestly want to know...do those who are considered experts in such things no longer advise giving a pup a calm, quiet intro to his new home? has anyone here checked?

 

 

[Jennifer and Jack]

I don't know exactly Karen, I am new to the dog world. When I got Jack two years ago, all the 'newest" books said that the 'most important socialization time occurs from around 7 weeks and go to about 13 weeks. "They" say that you should expose your dog to as many new situations as possible during this time because it sets them up for their life.

 

I totally bought into it, I don't know if it is true, but I really didn't have anything to go off of other then the books, The Puppy Bible etc, so I immediately had people over, kids, I turned on my oxygen machines, vacuum cleaners, banged on pots and pans, used my blow dryer etc. Of course not all at once.

 

I also did not bring him to other people's houses that had dogs, I let them come to my back yard that was fenced in that I new no other dog had ever been on. I let dogs that I knew where well cared for and up to date on their shots come and play with him. I had in in daycare at 12 weeks. that was two weeks past his second set of shots. I WOULD NOT do that again, though he was totally fine, I would wait till all his shots were updated.

 

Jack to this day loves loud noise, in fact, when it thunders out, he cries to go out and play because every time it thundered as a puppy I took him out to go potty.

 

I also carried him in a carrier or a jogging stroller where his feet could not touch the ground, all through the neighborhood and I let any child who wanted to, pet him, of course under very close supervision. I wanted him to be okay with all types of situations etc.  Within the first few months of having Jack I was in the hospital three times, two of those times lasting two weeks each. He was with other people who had dogs and loved on him. Not what I wanted at all but is what happened and we had to roll with it.

 

Jack is not fearful of a thing, sometimes I wish he was more fearful then he was. I have no proof what so ever had I not done those things that he still would not have turned out the same way. Jack had other issues as a puppy such as toy possessiveness that I needed to work on with him, Also, he had little dog syndrome, or at least tendencies toward it that I had to with the help of a trainer nip in the bud.

 

All that to say, I don't know. I do know I will do the same socialization with my mom's dog as I did with Jack minus going to day care so early.....

 

Seven weeks is young, my breeder won't let them go till they are eight weeks. I think you can pull up stuff on the internet to support both schools of thought. I think moderation is the key. I think you need to feel the puppy out, if the puppy is getting overwhlemed, you need to pull back but if they are taking it well, keep goig with it,

I think over-stimulation can cause a dog to be jumpy too so that is why you have to play it by ear.. I am lucky that Jack was very forgiving in not allowing some mistakes I made with him to change his personality or make him nasty. I think I was the least protective of him out of fear of him becoming one of those small yappy dogs that are afraid of everything.. I went to the extreme. but we both survived it with a few stitches..

 

I just say do your best to protect them from negative experiences. Definitely put your dog in a crate from day one and do so with confidence, they will pick up on your fear or worry for putting them in, They need a safe place they can go to rest, where you can put them when you can not watch them, because as a puppy if their paws are on the floor your eyes must be on them... so the crate is a good thing...

 

Best of luck.....

[Jennifer and Jack]

http://www.thebehaviorclinic.com/pages/documents/EarlyPupSocializat...

 

http://www.discoveringlabradoodles.com/labradoodle/labradoodle-pupp...

 

I think this is a reputable site to get information and you can see what the vets say about early socialization.

[Alli and Barkley]

There is just so much out there to read and take in- I guess like everything else in the world there are pros and cons to everything.  You just have to weigh everything out and go with the one that is the most positive.

 

Just talked to my sis- she did invite another friend over to the get together Sunday, who has two dogs- We decided to just keep Barkley at home.  Not worth the risk at this point.  She is going to come over later in the week to meet Barkley :) 

[Michael Gurley]

Good idea!! With the addition of 2 extra dogs, I think you made the right decision. Barkley will probably sleep the whole time you're gone anyway!

 

I was so surprised how much my 9 week old Sunny slept when I brought her home. The only other dog I had was my dachshund who I've had since I was 5, so I don't remember her puppyhood. Sunny slept nearly 18 hours a day!

[Alli and Barkley]

Seriously!??!  Wow!  did Sunny just fall asleep where ever, or did you always put him back into his crate?

 

I shouldn't ever wake Barkley to take him out right?  What about at night?  We were going to wake up every two hours to take him out, but what if he is sleeping?  Do I set my alarm for another hour?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

My last puppy used to go into her crate to nap, automatically. I could have set my watch by her. Oh, must be 10 a.m., puppy's going in for a nap.  If you use a crate correctly from a very early age, the dog feels safe and secure in there and knows he can sleep without having to worry about being stepped on, etc.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I totally agree with early socialization. I just don't think it has to happen the first or second day in an entirely new environment. The pup has lost his mom, his littermates, his human family, his physical home, everything and everyone that's familiar to him. Nothing even looks or smells the same. Just being in the new home and getting used to the sights, sounds, smells, people, etc. is like you or I taking our Jacks to Mardi Gras, lol. I just think they should have a day or two to get a feeling and an understanding of what this new place is all about and who the pack members are.

[Alli and Barkley]

That makes sense too!  My son goes to school Monday, which leaves us with only two days to have some quiet family bonding time before real life takes over.  So much to think about!

[Jennifer and Jack]

I would defer to you, simply because every time I have listened to you, you have been dead on right when it came to my dog. His poops are now perfect because of you and I no longer am anxious that there is a better dog food out there that Jack could be on.

I am a new dog mom and I only have done this one time.. I just put my two cents out there so you can set me straight!!!! LOL Just kidding...

 

I adore you and think you have very good advice, I already know I don't know what I am doing.... I just know what I did one time....

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You know what you're doing, believe me. You're an excellent dog mom! Everyone has their own way of doing things, and there's usually not just one "right" way.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Coming from you that is a huge compliment because I highly respect you.. Feeling the love...