[Doodlebug]

I just want to say a word about socialization of our pups. We have done all we can to socialize our two since we have had them and I think they are pretty well socialized. Since they were little puppies we have taken them everywhere, to the pet stores as often as possible, many pet carnivals and dog events each year (we just went to a pet carnival this past weekend where there were about 300 dogs and they were great socializers). We have at least 3 doggie halloween parties that we plan to attend this month and we go to every year--they do great. The reason I mainly like to attend these events is to keep them socialized.

I walk them in a park every day where they meet old friends as well as new dogs of all sizes and for the most part they are great. They meet an occasional dog at the park that they don't seem to like but that is rare. I walk them at the park all year long and if it is raining or the path has ice on it I will take them to Petsmart and walk them there where they usually meet more dogs.

I think as much as anything they receive a surprise each time the pits (I call them the freight trains) run to the fence and they are reacting to the surprise. There has never been a dog in that yard in the 6 years I have had them so you can imagine that they are startled when the dogs come charging to the fence.

We had a problem with the dog in the yard behind us charging the fence and ours charged it too at first. After a lot of work I got them to calm down and walk away from the fence as soon as they reached the fence. The dog in the other yard continued to charge the entire time mine were in the yard but mine ignored it. But I never could get them to NOT charge at the fence when the other dog initiates the charge.

When I first got them, the first dog they made friends with was a very gentle german shepard that my friend owned. They were the best of friends and when we would go to Petsmart I noticed that they always wanted to run up to the big dogs to make friends and the seemed a little afraid of little dogs. I was a little worried that they would only like big dogs so I made sure that they met a lot of small dogs too. I still make sure that they continue to meet other dogs.

I don't usually dress them in the yard except a rain coat if it is raining. And I will have to put sweaters or coats on them in the winter. That's about it.

I just wanted to mention this because I know it seems like they might not be used to being around other dogs but they are around a lot of other dogs constantly.