What's considered "well socialized"?

[Princess10]

Some of Princess's behavior has really been bothering me lately & now I'm starting to fear I did not socialize her right-the way I thought I was when she was a pup.

Yes, she was brought home too early (9.5 wks.), but I immediately let her be around my close family & their dogs. After vacc. completion I walked her, asked other dog walkers if Princess could say hello to their dogs, etc. I took her into the pet stores & encouraged her at the vet's office. She's been around various men in my family, kids of all ages & even my sister's cockatiels.

Well now she barks like a MANIAC at other dogs-even driving down the road. She freaks at men more than women, and all dogs that are not part of the family. She's been exposed to my bff's Boston off & on her whole life and we went to her house for the first time in about a year recently. Princess acted better than before but actually pooped when she wasn't even squatting...I guess from nerves? I've seen her submit to my mom's dogs at times but then she'll 'challenge' them in a playful way.

I don't want a yappy dog I can't take out in public, walk to the park with, etc. without worrying what people think of her. Is it too late, can I do anything to fix what I've screwed up?

PS. At the stores, vet, etc. she is terrified & wont bark, but any other time & it's game on.

[Gatord]

My 2 are the same way and they are around alot of people and even people they dont know. Seems they are the worse in the car.

I dont know the answer but can't wait to hear other replys.

[jadabug]

Jada barks in the car too..especially when we pick up my granddaughter at school on Wednesdays..she barks at every kid that walks by the car and she loves kids. Jada was over 3 years old when we adopted her, so we don't think she was ever socialized as a pup. She is good in stores and if I take her into work...she only has this attitude in the car and at home.

[Donnainohio63]

I have no advice for you as my Little Bit and Sadie have become worse as time goes by. Little Bit actually bit the cable guy and Sadie tried to bite the first woman that came here to look at Gizmo. I do not know why they are acting like this all of a sudden. I know they are not well socialized because they are use to it only be DH, myself and the two girls and when other people come over they get scared.

[chestermama]

I would suggest to try and talk to a dog trainer or maybe classes

[Princess10]

(Sadly), glad I'm not the only one. I can relate to the cable guy incident, Princess grabbed the maintenance man's pant leg one time when he tried to leave!

I've thought about classes or something, her groomer does a small breed & puppy play time once a week & I've thought about bringing her to that but I've been worried about her behavior.

It's just so embarrassing, especially since I know she is sooo loving. It's that terrier in them! And me not knowing what to do.

[Britster]

It's definitely work-able! Sounds like you've got a reactive girl. Google links on reactivity/etc.

To answer the question, I think "well socialized" means different things to different people. I mean, reactivity is fairly normal in a lot of dogs, and it's just something you have to work through. Check out youtube channel kikopup - she's got some great videos!

Jackson is far from perfect - he's got this high pitched alert bark that can drive anyone crazy, whenever someone walks in our house. He's got some crazy quirks. But I do enjoy that I can take him ANYWHERE and know he will be fine and go with the flow. He doesn't bark in the car, he can walk past any dog and not care (or maybe just give a sniff), he can handle a kid coming up to pet him, he can walk through a store and not drag me into it/out of it, he behaves in a guests home and I can trust him, he can go on vacation with us, and I realize I'm VERY blessed. But I also spent a ton of time with him.

He's out and about with me *almost* every day and I'm extremely lucky that I was able to do that with him, from the time I brought him home. Not everyone has the ability to do it, and luckily, my schedule allowed it. So I think that's why he's the way he is... because I've brought him almost everywhere he could possibly go, and let him experience all sorts of different things and situations, but I've also got a great communication with him in regards to training so he just tends to naturally behave and know what I want him to do.

Here's a good one:

Dog Training- How to train your dog not to bark-...

How to stop unwanted behavior- the positive...

Barking- Episode 3 - barking on a walk -dog...

[capt_noonie]

Don't give up. All dogs are different! When customers come into the shop, they always comment on how good Uni is, or how she "just hangs out there all day". But the fact is if we take her anywhere, or as soon as she see the Buddy Belt, she goes NUTS! If we take her walking or to Petsmart she goes crazy, like we can't walk fast enough. So she is "socialized" as far as meeting people and dogs, but she's not "socialized" as far as behaving walking in a new place or staying put in a bike basket She bunny hops on her back legs bc she pulls so much. Or looks back at us and barks LOUD like "FASTER HUMAN!" it's quite embarrassing.

[peachesmom1sc]

my lil one barks at my grandson every time he comes in he just moved out in Nov.2011 have had her since Nov.2009 he lived here when we got her i don't care if he comes in a hundred times a day she will bark so we just put up with it

[alaskayorkie]

Yeah, I've got nothing for you other than saying I think a well-socialized dog can still alert bark. Eddie's fine when he's on the ground around other dogs, but he'll bark in the car when he sees a dog and he'll bark when he sees one when looking through the window.

I usually thank him for letting me know, then ask him to no bark.

[Micah my love]

Originally Posted by peachesmom1sc

my lil one barks at my grandson every time he comes in he just moved out in Nov.2011 have had her since Nov.2009 he lived here when we got her i don't care if he comes in a hundred times a day she will bark so we just put up with it

Its the same here with my son who loves them dearly and they him, but they bark like he is a complete stranger

[Princess10]

Thanks for the tips & especially the support! I don't mind alert barking, actually, living amongst some weirdo's I welcome it, it's just ending it. At home I can say 'crate' & Princess will chill, though not completely. I hate to have had to use that as her time out but I had no choice. And she wont go completely silent but I don't mind as long as she puts an effort into it. Places other than home it's difficult to tote around an otherwise useless crate.

[navillusc]

Originally Posted by Micah my love

Its the same here with my son who loves them dearly and they him, but they bark like he is a complete stranger

lol I know what you mean. Sometimes ours bark at us if we come into a room and they are not expecting us, or if we make a noise they don't recognize. I bumped my laptop the other day and my gold ring hit the titanium case and made a noise and they freaked out. I desensitized them to the sound by repeatedly thunking my ring on the case with them watching and it's no longer an issue now that they 'know' that particular sound. It's like they're cats sometimes...but the cats stop when I say "it's okay"...and Brody used to, but Mia learn't him dif'rent! lol I think it's more like they bark when they're startled...but only sometimes, and no clear pattern which things warrant being barked at. lol

They are 'well socialized' in that we can and do pretty much take them anywhere and they cause no nuisance, and complete strangers can walk up, talk to them, touch them, pet them, and they've been fine around all other dogs so far. I watch like a hawk to make sure nothing is about to happen regardless. lol

At pet stores, we do keep them in our arms or in a cart on their memory foam pad...many reasons but also, it stops them from 'autographing' if they were to 'sniff' out a reason...not a habit they have nor one I want them to develop...some canine behaviors I can live without. lol

The other side of their 'socialization' we deal with is that while Brody will wait for hours beside the truck waiting/hoping we are going somewhere and rides very calmly, Mia hops and pops, and darn near hyper-ventilates when the truck turns into a parking lot and starts going slow, whimpering and whining like we're going to slide off the face of the Earth and leave her behind forever. She started this behavior after she'd been with us a while...no idea what the stimulus was...it was a gradual transition from calm rider to near-panic'd rider at arrival time as she became more attached. She doesn't act that way when we leave her at home, tho. IDK...lol

[KazzyK810]

ZoE barks like crazy is she sees any person or animal outside our home, and she always barks at people & animals we drive by in my car.

Here's the strange thing...my daughter is home this weekend from college and she just drove ZoE & I up to the walking trail/dog park and ZoE didn't bark anywhere near as much....so I'm thinking she barks more to protect HER house and HER car.

I got ZoE at 6 weeks old and she's pretty well socialized. She likes most other dogs, and loves people, especially lil kids.

[navillusc]

Originally Posted by KazzyK810

ZoE barks like crazy is she sees any person or animal outside our home, and she always barks at people & animals we drive by in my car.

Here's the strange thing...my daughter is home this weekend from college and she just drove ZoE & I up to the walking trail/dog park and ZoE didn't bark anywhere near as much....so I'm thinking she barks more to protect HER house and HER car.

I got ZoE at 6 weeks old and she's pretty well socialized. She likes most other dogs, and loves people, especially lil kids.

My Yorkie-Poo did this too...they do seem to pick and choose what they'll fight for...lol He...and my first Shep/Lab female...refused to let anyone hit anyone else...ever...but were super friendly until you drew back into a 'hit' posture with something in your hand, and god forbid you tried to hit mommy. He'd tear (bark wildly and act all macho) you up...all 6 or so pounds of him...

I think it's the same with Brody and Mia...who are now 2, but I've only had them for 10 (Brody) and 8 (Mia) months, which would explain why they didn't start until they got pretty well attached and claimed ownership. I have read about pack mentality, and mine don't exhibit much 'pack leadership' characteristics, if any, but sometimes their behavior seems a little skewed...like there's a secret set of rules I'm not privvy to. lol