socialization - Page 3

Sunday lunch times at the Pub... lots of kids, dogs and noise but it's all nice!  Big insight to what I like to do here! LOL

I always start with the local Primary School. Lots of screaming kids!! At first I stand some distance away, just close enough for puppy to see them running around etc but far enough away that the kid's can't touch. After a couple of days, I stand right at the school as the kids are going in and supervise very closely the petting. I have never had a puppy that didn't enjoy it. I also carry puppy everywhere else(untill vaccinations complete)--To the shops, on the bus, train, etc.  anywhere I go really. I also like to socialise with other friendly under control dogs.

The "funny" thing about taking puppy to school is, the parents are quite happy to let their kids pet puppy, but as soon as that same puppy is fully grown, they grab their kids away as if it had suddenly turned into the devil lol Just don't understand non doggy people-never will !!!!!!!

I have always socialised with as many people, places and other animals as possible, and I have never had any divided loyalties with any dog.  When grown, they are not interested in strangers, but are friendly towards people when I am at ease with that person. They soon pick up when I am not.

I have a unique situation because a prison is near and trustee's are allowed to go out and do day work at the park and around the county road's.    We sometime's catch them on a break at the park cutting grass or picking up trash.

Most of them love the chance to interact and the guard will allow them to talk to me and meet the dog's.    There is alway's someone who either doesn't like dog's or fear's them.   They hang back but the dog still sense's them and give's them a good hard look.   No drama but I can actually see the dog thinking it thru.    They don't see a threat but they know something about this person is suspicious.  

I also have sort of a checkered past and know some real bad guy's who will let me use them for this kind of training.

The dog alway's seem's to know who's who.    You can't hide what's in your heart from a dog.   Or at least that's alway's been my experience with a GSD.     

Call it sensitivity training.

I don't mind if strangers pet Trigger, but nobody wants to. Last year during the holidays I had to walk Trigger through a busy mall to get to Petsmart and I swear the crowd parted in front of me like the Red Sea. I also heard a few whispers from people around me warning their kids to "stay away from the mean dog". Meanwhile, Trigger is having a blast, wagging his tail at everyone, as being in the mall was a real treat for him.

A few months ago when the guy came over to fix my computer Trigger tried to crawl under the desk with him and the guy nearly wet himself. The fact that Trigger is solid black and weighs 120 lbs could have had something to do with it :)

You can't hide what's in your heart from a dog--- Oh that is so nice, and so true!!!!!!!!

triodegirl,

I think it has more to do with the time's and people's life styles.     People have little contact with the real thing and base their knowledge on what they have seen in the different media's.   

The public can be very ignorant about many thing's.      Personally I too am wary around large strange dog's, but only till I read them.   

I don't mind when people step aside in public, most of them aren't ever going to know me or my dog.

Moon's.

Two Moons, are you really Clint Eastwood...?

I have a picture of you in my mind, (a dangerous place LOL) you're tall, kinda lean, snowy on top and you wear cowboy boots... there could even be a poncho!  You talk with a lazy drawl, you have "mans hands" and comfortable, smiley lines round your eyes!  You're a nice, easy man Two Moons and if you don't match my description... that still goes!

If your out there Steve i hope your reading this, Missbeeb's at it again, i told you she was a heart breaker!!!!!!!! liz

Liz, LOL LOL LOL.  Don't you have pictures of posters in your head?  I bet Two Moons sleeps under the stars and eats bean stew off a tin plate... rinsed in the creek! 

I'm safe enough... trust me, I just like to play, it's fun!

I know what he looks like, the thread with all the owners picture,he was there, and quite a hunk as a young man too!!!!! liz