Hi there,
I'm getting my puppy in just a few short weeks, and have been doing some research prep for the arrival having to do with proper socialization. While I don't have any other dogs in my household, my boyfriend and I do travel to his parents or my parents homes frequently and there are several dogs in each of those locations that are socialized to varying degrees.
My boyfriend's family has the following types of larger sized adult dogs:
- A female hound / pitbul mix rescue that is about 2 years old and is quite rambunctious but very sweet
- A male hound mix rescue that is probably 5 or so that is very very easy going and gets along with all other dogs
- A male lab rescue that is probably 1 1/2 that was a rescue and is pretty rambunctious also but gets along good with all the other dogs.
- And finaly the alpha female a beautiful rottweiler/boxer mix who was also a rescue that is about 11 years old - she gets along with all the dogs except the first female hound pit mix because we believe the other female took one of her coveted toys once and she never forgave the infraction. They can't be in the same room together anymore... :nono:
Obviously my boyfriend's parents and family have larger dogs and my puppy is going to be so small in comparison. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with introducing a puppy to larger dogs that are perhaps a little rambunctious at times. I was hoping to find a way to introduce my puppy to the family that will keep my puppy safe from either the rambuctiousness of larger dogs that might inadvertantly hurt him, and also protect my puppy from the rotweiler boxer mix who really is quite an affectionate and extraordinary dog but who is a little bit possessive of toys.
I was *thinking* that I could introduce my puppy to them either in a puppy sling across my chest so I have control over the puppy at all times, or perhaps set up the ex pen (or maybe even a crate) in the common room where all the dogs can sniff out the puppy for a little while until everyone feels comfortable during the holidays. Perhaps I'm over thinking things and the dogs/puppies would have their own ways of working things out between themselves, I just really want my puppy to get along well with all the other dogs, and I've been reading so much about very early socialization that I thought during Christmas would be the perfect time to get the puppy and older bigger dogs off to the best possible start :hug:
Also, does anyone know when I can start to walk my puppy on a leash, or perhaps a lead (to be honest I'm not quite sure what the difference is)? I was thinking of purchasing one of the across the body slings to cart my puppy around until I can walk it on a leash or lead, but I'm not sure if socialization can happen properly in one of those things or if a puppy really needs to be on the ground and have the ability of making it's own decisions so I can be there to encourage good behavior and correct any bad decisions (such as jumping) right away.
I was thinking of using the sling if a leash / lead is something I can't start right away with a 9 week old pup.
Thanks so much for reading!
Liz
I'm getting my puppy in just a few short weeks, and have been doing some research prep for the arrival having to do with proper socialization. While I don't have any other dogs in my household, my boyfriend and I do travel to his parents or my parents homes frequently and there are several dogs in each of those locations that are socialized to varying degrees.
My boyfriend's family has the following types of larger sized adult dogs:
- A female hound / pitbul mix rescue that is about 2 years old and is quite rambunctious but very sweet
- A male hound mix rescue that is probably 5 or so that is very very easy going and gets along with all other dogs
- A male lab rescue that is probably 1 1/2 that was a rescue and is pretty rambunctious also but gets along good with all the other dogs.
- And finaly the alpha female a beautiful rottweiler/boxer mix who was also a rescue that is about 11 years old - she gets along with all the dogs except the first female hound pit mix because we believe the other female took one of her coveted toys once and she never forgave the infraction. They can't be in the same room together anymore... :nono:
Obviously my boyfriend's parents and family have larger dogs and my puppy is going to be so small in comparison. I was wondering if anyone has any experience with introducing a puppy to larger dogs that are perhaps a little rambunctious at times. I was hoping to find a way to introduce my puppy to the family that will keep my puppy safe from either the rambuctiousness of larger dogs that might inadvertantly hurt him, and also protect my puppy from the rotweiler boxer mix who really is quite an affectionate and extraordinary dog but who is a little bit possessive of toys.
I was *thinking* that I could introduce my puppy to them either in a puppy sling across my chest so I have control over the puppy at all times, or perhaps set up the ex pen (or maybe even a crate) in the common room where all the dogs can sniff out the puppy for a little while until everyone feels comfortable during the holidays. Perhaps I'm over thinking things and the dogs/puppies would have their own ways of working things out between themselves, I just really want my puppy to get along well with all the other dogs, and I've been reading so much about very early socialization that I thought during Christmas would be the perfect time to get the puppy and older bigger dogs off to the best possible start :hug:
Also, does anyone know when I can start to walk my puppy on a leash, or perhaps a lead (to be honest I'm not quite sure what the difference is)? I was thinking of purchasing one of the across the body slings to cart my puppy around until I can walk it on a leash or lead, but I'm not sure if socialization can happen properly in one of those things or if a puppy really needs to be on the ground and have the ability of making it's own decisions so I can be there to encourage good behavior and correct any bad decisions (such as jumping) right away.
I was thinking of using the sling if a leash / lead is something I can't start right away with a 9 week old pup.
Thanks so much for reading!
Liz