Are bigger breeds more of a challenge to socialise? Questions

Not because of their character but simply because of their size!

It just seems as though it would be easier to carry around a very young pup or/and pick up a slightly older one if they got tired. Whereas with a large-extra large breed, I'd imagine quite quickly they'd weigh too much to pick up easily!

What are people's experience of this? And how much of a problem have you found it?

Not found it a problem at all because I do not carry my pups about, they are put on the floor from Day 1 at 7 weeks old.

I always have a plan re socialising which I pack in by the time the pup is 12 weeks old which is based on this

http://www.deesdogs.com/documents/thepuppysruleoftwelve.pdf

Do you put them on the ground outside of your home/garden before their second vaccination? I was always told that you can take them out after their first vaccination as long as you carry them up to a week after their second vaccination!

Thank you for the link - my blooming computer is not letting the pdf open though for some reason, I shall keep trying!

The only issue I had was taking Bailey to puppy socialisation

He was mahooosive at 7 months when I got him and kept tripping over the smaller dogs We had an incident where he trod on a yorkie pup, no damage just one pee'd off yorkie who told Bailey in no uncertain terms what she thought of him, needless to say he avoided her after that which was quite funny

We moved up to the adult class after that

TBH he's really careful around puppies and small dogs, he's only managed to step on Lily once and that was when we first got her and he must've forgotten she was about, now he's very conscious where he puts his paws

I take them out on the ground before their FIRST vaccination.

More dogs are euthanised due to behaviour problems than catch diseases.

I do not get my dogs vaccinated until they have been with me for a couple of weeks for two reasons.

1 they still have antibodies from their mum
2 no dog should be vaccinated whilst under stress, moving home is stressful.

But you must do what you think is best based on your vet's advice.

I have two breeds which require heavy socialisation if they are not to become a pain, so for me the risk of undersocialisation outweighs the risk of disease.

http://www.deesdogs.com/documents/dogsocialization.pdf

That's interesting. I am aware of the 'socialisation vs waiting for vaccinations' debate/balance but I haven't ever spoken to anyone who puts their pups on the ground straight away.

Do you have a problem with the pups getting tired if you don't carry them to and from places to socialise? It's just to get into the centre of town or a good place for socialisation would involve a bit of walking from where I live.

Lady is a Lab X, Max is a GSD. I ham clearly having to work harder on his socialisation in comparison

No cos I do not walk them there, for example I drive to the supermarket, take a chair and sit down near the entrance, drive to the bus stop, train station, dog club etc.

If I did not drive I would put the pup in a stroller.

I do drive, but the only places to park are actually further away than my place!

A stroller? Genius! That would solve the "too big to lift puppy" issue... Though I might feel rather silly pushing a puppy along I wouldn't want people to think I was 'babying' them.

If you never want to suffer public humiliation, never own a dog.

I do not care what others think, I care about my dogs.I want them to be the best they can be and ambassadors for their breeds; they are.

There is public humiliation and then there is walking along the road with a dog stroller

I can do embarrassment if that's what's needed for the dog though

I always take my pups out 1wk after 1st vac. having checked with vet if there are any nasties going around.

Couldn't agree more.

I've managed a GSD puppy and an SBT puppy in one of these http://www.huggababy.co.uk/c/baby-slings-15.php obviously the GSD out grew it a lot quicker, but still managed to 3 months with him, the SBT would still get in it if I let her There are cheaper alternatives, and are great for getting on public transport.

If you want to hang on to any shred of dignity, give up the idea of owning a dog right now.

Actually, far from feeling silly, it's a brilliant way to meet people to socialise your puppy with and you can explain why you are pushing a puppy round in a stroller. More people will approach you out of curiosity. Then you can explain it's not because you've flipped and your like one of those women who push a reborn doll round the streets in a pram. It's just a temporary measure so you can get your puppy used to the outside world without catching something life threatening before he/she is fully vaccinated.

The TM had both vaccinartions before I picked him up as he was 11 weeks old when I got him. He was a doddle to socialise as he was (and still is) a people magnet because he looks like a cuddly bear.

It does sound like a very good solution to my concerns about having a large breed and anything which gets people coming up to help socialise the better! The responsibility of socialisation really worries me so I want to make sure I have everything planned and in place the best I can in preparation.

This was more what I was imagining at first, but then, the same as carrying, I was thinking a larger breed would get too big for it very quickly.

Having seen the price of dog strollers I think I'd have to nick a shopping trolley and push the puppy around in that

Like Smokeybear, if I ever have a young puppy it will be out and about from day 1. Having lived with a dog who wasn't socialised and who really suffered for it I would take the risk of disease over the risk of another dog ending up like Rupert.

I took mine out from 8wks. we went on the bus, to the supermarket or just sat on a bench on a busy road watching the world go by.

I even went to Chatsworth House on a few occasions just to sit having an icecream with the visitors,chickens and sheep.
Hector got A LOT of attention being a big fluffy teddy bear and this help enormously.
He loves everyone and every thing and this is returned.

I enjoyed every minute of teaching him and still do. Putting in the effort from day one will be rewarding and invaluable when the dog gets older.
I also went to training classes which also helps with the Giant Breeds socialisation.
You really cant do enough, but the more fun and diverse you can make it the happier you and the dog will be.

And you all put pup on the floor? I was always going to take pup out from day one, but was going to carry them. Hence my concern over them being so big!

I also took Merlin out & about from when he was a young puppy, before his vaccinations.

I had a long chat with a local trainer first, who mentioned what SB said, that more dogs are PTS from behavioural issues than ever die of disease. I asked all the right questions: is Parvo an issue in this area? (answer at that time: No, and rarely is).

He was carried for as long as possible, but I lived only yards away from bus stops, a busy supermarket and lots of other shops, some of which allowed dogs in, so he got a lot of people-socialisation of all kinds... every sort of person you can think of, plus children of all ages. I used to sit at the bus stop with him clicking and treating for the right behaviour.

I don't drive, so once his vaccs were done, being near the bus stop meant I could take him to other places such as the seafront, busier shopping areas, even events held locally where there would be people, other dogs, live music, food stalls, steam engines, horses, motorbikes etc.

He became so friendly with other people that he would try to 'mug' anyone, so when he was still young, we stood for a while outside the Co-Op supermarket with people coming & going, and I clicked and treated him for being calm and not approaching anyone without my say-so.

Socialisation with other dogs was less easy.... too many out of control dogs in the area and not enough safe, steady adults or other youngsters for him to mix with. We were also on the waiting list for a puppy class which didn't start til he was 15 weeks old. However he did become very friendly, sociable and played well with others... but when puberty kicked in at 8 months or so it all fell apart. I have needed to do a lot of remedial work on that front ever since, but there is also the possibility that he may have become dog-defensive no matter how well socialised, as it can be a genetic issue.

We had problems with male teenagers and gangs in that area which brought out his guarding instinct, but we moved from that area 18 months ago and he is now much less reactive towards them, as the young males in this area are cut from a different cloth!