Quote:
Originally Posted by Britster  I think you sound like you're doing a great job.
Personally, though, I think they should definitely learn to be around SOME other dogs before the age of 16 weeks. NOT a dog park or a place like Petsmart, but maybe a friend's house who has a dog? I'm probably going against what everyone else will say in here, but I don't think it's fair at all to keep a dog cooped up until they've completed all their shots. Rabies sometimes isn't given until 5-6 months old with the little ones. I began socializing Jackson young. I got him at 9 weeks old where he was introduced to my dad's Jack Russell mix, Lily. Then we introduced him to my mom's dog, Carmen. That first day I brought him home he was so scared, etc UNTIL he saw the other dog! It made him sooo happy and right back at home with another dog in the house. Just be smart about where you take him. A dog park is not a good place, etc. http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...ml#post2686463
I posted my thoughts here. |
i agree. i had morgan around other dogs that i knew before she completed her shots. I knew the other dogs were up to date with vaccines so there was nothing to worry about. Her best friend for the first few weeks i had her home was my best friends 80lb pit bull. Then once her distemper combos were done i started taking her to more public places. She didn't get her rabies until she was 6 months but there was no way i was going to keep her inside until then. she went everywhere with me and got to see other dogs, parks, malls, stores, people, etc. there is an extremely small chance that she was going to come in contact with a rabid animal so i didn't worry about her not having that.
Also she was trained to go potty outside so from the very first day home her little feet were all over the backyard. then after her distemper combos were done i started taking her for walks around the block.
puppy classes are great for socialization at that age too.
As for the biting, when she starts to bite your hands ball them up into a fist. this way she can't chew on any of your fingers. she can't get your fist into her mouth so the game quickly become boring. also when she nips let out a loud sharp yelp, like you were another puppy she was biting. puppies do this when their siblings bite. Its how they learn how hard they can play with each other. when the puppy being bit yelps the other puppy will let go. However since you are a human and not a puppy you want to make it seem like any pressure at all from their teeth is too much for you to handle. So at the first touch of the teeth ball up your hand and let out the yelp. hopefully that will get her to start. you can also "end the game" when she starts biting. when she starts to bite say "no bite". at the same time you can either stand up and walk away, or turn your back on her and ignore her. She'll learn that when she bites the game ends and no one wants to play with her.
good luck