Introducing - Page 2

I should clarify.....by waiting, I mean to get her into OB classes or formal training.    We work at home every night and I have three kids ages 7, 6 and 1 year old.  She goes EVERYWHERE with us....in fact all of the dogs do whenever possible.  She just went to my husband's shop today and met the two resident Blue Heelers and all of the guys that work there.  She's been to the dog beach and out around lots of people and dogs.  Ace (4 months) has been camping 3 times for a total of 15 days at three different campgrounds in three different areas, and the first week we had him I was staying with family with a total of 8 kids and 3 adults with many other visitors and he was with me and Janna the 10 days I was in Vancouver.  The place we stayed in Vancouver (with Ace and Janna) had 4 other dogs (1 Dogo Argentino, 1 pug Shihtzu mix and their tennants 2 Akita Lab cross), my 3 kids the child of the people we stay with and the mom does home support for 2 yound autistic boys who are at her home for 10+ hours a day, and daycare for another brother and sister.  We've been out for walks on busy streets and to busy parks.  She is definitely getting her fair share of socialization in every possible setting.  It is a MUST, absolutely not negotiable that she be well rounded as she needs to ba able to go places with us, so we've started socializing and at home OB training with her already....now if I could just housebreak her.  LOL.  The difference between where we were in Vancouver and home is that they don't let the dogs in the house much, they live in mild climate and it's warm enough for the dogs to be outside most of the time so the real bonding, just hanging out and cuddling time between ME and Janna is just beginning, and going well, she is my little shadow around our home and property.  Now that we are home she is beside me almost constantly inside and out, just like the other 2 dogs, when we were in Vancouver we were only able to be together when we were out or when I could bring her in for an hour or so in the evenings.

She can't go into classes or to the club without all of her vaccinations, they don't allow it.  However the trainer will meet one on one with us before classes start.  I'm pretty sure that I will be doing mostly one on one training with the trainer anyway as opposed to group training.  I think with my schedule and his class schedule it's what will work best for us.

Thanks for all the great advice and compliments.  I'm sure I will be sharing more.  I just love all of my German Shepherds, from my 2 year old sloth with zero drive (which is actually picking up with the babies around) on down to my gangly tween and my little fuzzball.

I third Don's advice. If you do the dog park or pet store thing, be sure to not let other dogs dominate your pup.  Some dogs never forget a bad experience.  Clubs are a great choice.

Kyle

I'll see your third and second Kyle's advice. Unless you truly know the other dog, do not let them "play". Even if the say, "he's good with others", don't put your dog in a bad situation at an impressionable age. Charles Manson's mom thought he was a lover.

Thanks for all of the tips. 

you have 2 gorgeous babies,I bet you are so excited for their future?



GOOD LUCK To you all !!!!

Shirley

Hey Ace!

Sounds to me like your pups lead a pretty sheltered and socially deprived lifestyle! (Laugh!)

Now. given that I am a 54 bachelor with no kids or grandkids and live in a very small town in rural Oklahoma that is so small it doesn't even have a school, the problem of adequately socializing a pup becomes a more daunting challenge than many people are even able to begin to imagine.  I live approximately 50 miles from the nearest town of any size, so even traveling to another locale to facilitate socialization is not readily accomplished.  About the best I could do would be to hang out at our local Convenience Store and take advantage of whatever human traffic happens to pass by.  I guess we all have to do the best that we can with what we have to work with.

Hey, here's a thought...

How about I send my next pup to you for early puphood development? (Laugh Again!)

SteveO

WL x SL....maybe you'll ge the best of both worlds!  I know of some show/working line breedings and the pups are turning out to be really great!  Good luck with yours!  She's a pretty girl!  BTW, my WL male is still all legs and he just turned 17 months.

SteveO......Anytime.  Ha ha, you ship em, I will socialize them.  We absolutely LOVE our doggies.  People look at me like I have two heads.  3 little kids, multiple dogs, a cat and a couple bunnies residing at the Funny Farm right now, plus a pretty full schedule with School, taekwon do, babysitting, Swim lessons and OB classes for 2 out of 3 dogs coming up.  Getting 2 puppies at once is definitely a challenge and I know it's not recommended, but animals.....especially dogs are my "thing".  I'm already looking forward to the next dog. (For the record, I'm really digging on Jago Jipo Me and want him, but would settle for one of his progeny.  Sigh, next year maybe.  I'm just so drawn to him for some reason, but I digress).  Next summer's project will be building proper kennels for the dogs.

JRANSOM.  In 1997 I had a male who was the same way.  He looked like he had sattelite dishes on his head until he was almost 2, his tail touched the ground, and I'm pretty sure he was crossbred with a horse.  Ha Ha.  I love that stage though.

Jacko.....so sweet.  I lurve puppies.....I wish I was co ordinated enough to get my puppy ro stack.  Tried with Ace.  What a mess.  And Janna is happy(ish) to oblidge but I need a helper, and my 7 year old daughter just isn't cutting it.  ha ha