Socializing - how to??

[Guest Anonymous]

What is the best way to get your dog to be around other dogs? We adopted a 2/3 yr old Cocker Spaniel (female) she is spayed. While she was in a shelter for 10 days they said she was locked in with other dogs and mostly just sat in the corner. She is only about 18/20 lbs. I brought her to my brothers house and introduced her to his 2 ****zhu's. One ingnorned my dog the other just started sniffing her and my dog started barking. Last night we took her to a pet store and same thing, when dogs would start going near her she would bark ans moan (we have had her about a month and half and the only (I do mean only time she has ever barked was while other dogs were present. She is a very vocal dog but mostly whinning and moaning).

We really want her socialized, there is a dog park in our town that is seperated in 2 groups (small & large). We are going to take here there but I am sure the same thing will happen.

Any advice would ber really appreciated

Thanks

[Rosebud]

:D

With her moaning and barking, that tells me she wants to play with the other dogs.

The dog park and enrolling her in obedience classes is going to be your most productive way to socialize her.

You should keep her on lead at the dog park until you are confident of a reliable re-call.

Good luck.

:angel:

[Peng1zrule]

I noticed you censored the name of your brother's dogs...there's no need to. it's spelled SHIH TZU. and pronounced she-zoo. not...well, you know.

[pei obssessed]

actually, I think the computers do the censoring--that is, if you spell the name in a certain (unpermitted) way :D You wouldn't know that unless you tried to write using unpermitted words :evilbat:

[DogPaddle]

I found obedience class to be an excellent and safe way of socializing Kavik. Your lucky you have a dog park with areas for large and small dogs. Best of Luck.

[Guest Anonymous]

I took her to the dog park on Fri, Sat and Sun. I think she did fine, my wife thinks she doesn't like it. It is hard to tell. On Friday when we got to the park there is was only 1 other dog (in the small dog pen)a male min poodle. She seemed to do fine. He kept snifing her and she would just keep walking away. She seemed to really like walking aorund and sniffing. Then 2 more dogs showed up and she just ignored them at first and started to run around with them. On Sat we got to the park there were 3 dogs there and she did fine. Eventually there were like 12 - 15 dogs there. She mixed it up with some of them (just chasing and barking type of stuff) There was a JRT just running around playing and barking and our dog was yapping the whole time, maybe the loudest there (she is only 16lbs). Running up to dogs barking her head off, my thing is while she is barking and looks like she hates it, her tail is waging 100 miles and hour. On Sunday she was the only dog there for about 20 min, then about 4 or 5 showed up gradually. She was fine with some, basically ignored and with others she would get right in their face and bark repeatedly, that is when my wife says she is not happy and does not like it there. She has never been aggressive with any of the dogs but does get in there face and bark like a maniac. Again while she is barking her tail never stops wagging.

So what are people's thoughts? My wife says I just want her to like it so I think she likes it while She thinks are dog hates it there.

any thoughts?? thanks

[imported_Kat]

Tell your wife that dogs were born to bark! People talk and dogs talk! Its natural and if she isn't attacking and her tail is wagging then what on earth are you worrying about?
:roll:
You have a normal dog so enjoy her and tell your wife to stop panicking and that just as she will talk with her friends and socialise, your Cocker is doing exactly the same.

[Guest Anonymous]

I almost feel guilty sometimes because the other owners are looking at me like I have an controlable dog. Only some, and then there are others who are much more relaxed but the ones who are looking at me like my dog is the devil are something.

In my wife's defense (a little) when she is barking she does seem mean, she isn't but she really, really looks like she is not the happiest to be around these dogs.... but in reality can I really read a dogs expression? No

[Guest Anonymous]

I understand how it feels to have a "devil dog" or what people think as one. One of my dogs barks at other dogs walking past "his" fence but is perfectly normal on leash with the exact same dogs.

Do you know much about your dog's past? Probably not. But it could be possible that she was not around a lot of other dogs before coming into your home (thank you for adopting by the way). She might need some time before she will build her confidence up, and the best way to do that is through positive socialization. Like the dog park, but maybe when she seems to be getting a bit more "yapping" or you think she might have had enough, leave and come back the next day. Leave every time on a positive note. It might just be too much, too soon. She might ok with a few dogs, but the more there are, the less she might feel comfortable.

Does she bark at a certain type of dog? Like more pushy ones? or anything like that?

Also not all dogs, like all other dogs.

And you can learn to "read" your dog, you just need to practice and learn about dog language!

Here's a couple of links that explain dog body language very well...

http://www.pawsacrossamerica.com/interpret.html

http://www.wagntrain.com/BodyLanguage.htm