Socialization
Lately I have been thinking and listening, and reading many many episodes of Guide Dogs that are highly dog distracted.
How could that be if we don't let them interact with other dogs much?
It is because they don't interact with other dogs on a regular basis, because we as raisers are told to keep them away from that?
Yet Midnight has been in doggie daycare her whole life, and is the least dog distracted dog in our group.
IMO Socialization with other dogs is just as important, as it helps the dog not to be fearful, aggressive or distracted by other dogs.
Sue's dog distraction is a big thing right now, as she thinks its great to jump on a random dog in play..or else she's cowering in fear of them.
So Today...Sue got to play with a group of dogs for the first time. I'll admit to forgetting she wasn't Midnight and used to this, and she was a little fearful and submissive. Which is what we normally see with a dog who has not been socialized with the group.
But by the end of the day, she was quite over all that, and play very very very hard. We've been home for about two hours, and she has not moved.
I do hope that I am able to keep her, so she can get used to being around dogs, and hopefully become blase' about other dogs on the street.
We'll see.
How could that be if we don't let them interact with other dogs much?
It is because they don't interact with other dogs on a regular basis, because we as raisers are told to keep them away from that?
Yet Midnight has been in doggie daycare her whole life, and is the least dog distracted dog in our group.
IMO Socialization with other dogs is just as important, as it helps the dog not to be fearful, aggressive or distracted by other dogs.
Sue's dog distraction is a big thing right now, as she thinks its great to jump on a random dog in play..or else she's cowering in fear of them.
So Today...Sue got to play with a group of dogs for the first time. I'll admit to forgetting she wasn't Midnight and used to this, and she was a little fearful and submissive. Which is what we normally see with a dog who has not been socialized with the group.
But by the end of the day, she was quite over all that, and play very very very hard. We've been home for about two hours, and she has not moved.
I do hope that I am able to keep her, so she can get used to being around dogs, and hopefully become blase' about other dogs on the street.
We'll see.
Comments
Which is why Midnight wasn't distracted by other dogs. She was around the ALL the time, and so she really didn't have much of a desire to go play with them, because that was a normal occurrence for. Say you had pizza every night, you would be excited for the chance for something difference, and this is how I think our dogs "think" as well.
Just my thoughts.
-Tibby