Socialization - 16 weeks old

[Debbie Penny]

Teddi is just 16 weeks, has had minimal socialization outside our home zone before her last immunization shot.  In our family is another Doodle, 1yr, and a maltese 10yrs, 5 adults, me being the only female.  Kindergarden homework is to socialize her to meet 10 new ppl , this is the second week of doing this.  She's doing great, but I find she has more apprehension when women approach her, even to the point of going pulling back and barking at some. ?  What gives, has anyone else run into this.  Thanks. 

[Lori]

I am not sure why, but maybe give the women he meets a treat to give to him?
The Charlie Bear treats at Trader Joes are only 3 calories each - maybe something like that would help.
Good luck : )

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Wow, that's just the opposite of Guinness. He LOVES women and children....men he could take or leave. If a woman approaches him his tail is wagging and his butt is shaking. If a male approaches him, he's very cautious...no tail wags until he's had a chance to smell and really check out the situation.

[Debbie Penny]

Thanks Lori, those are the exact treats I used... and Teddi did eventually take one. Jane, Teddi has the same reaction to women as your Guinness has to men. Some she seems scared of, others she barks at them. Weird! Thanks for the replys, helps me believe it's not abnormal.

[Debb, Lucy & Oscar]

Hi Debbie,

Lucy turned 12 weeks old today. She got the go ahead by her vet to start socializing her a week ago, and we've since been to a puppy romp at a local doggy daycare facility and to Home Depot, as well as on multiple neighborhood walks. My vet advocates early socialization even though all the immunizations are not complete.

Lucy does a lot of what Teddi does around women. She kind of acts scared and shys away from them, but once she sees they want to meet her she cozies up to them. She really loves women, its just that she isn't sure at first. When we were in Home Depot we were in a tight isle and Lucy took one woman by surprise. The woman jumped back, maybe she was afraid of dogs, I don't know. I think its been since then that she's acted this way. I think the more exposure to women and all different kinds of people, the better.

[Debbie Penny]

Interesting ... at puppy training I talked to the trainer about Teddi's apprehension with women. She commented that by watching myself and my son during the training sessions, she could understand it, I am the the more dominant one, and she believes that since Teddi doesn't have a lot of exposure to women, what is happening is a form of submission when she does see them. Her barking and holding back is all part of it. We took Teddi for more socialization after the class at a popular busy pet pharmacy, and she did exceptionally well with all dogs, and the fear/submission to the strange women seems to not be as much, just lots of getting her out and about to build up her confidence and experiences. Teddi did exceptionally well today with her sits, down, wait, and loose lead walking. : )