how do you socialize a puppy that goes crazy around other dogs?

[Lucky3]

hello,
our puppy is 17 weeks and we have no other pets but him. he hasn't been out much since this winter has been brutal(ohio) Last few weeks he seems to go absolutely crazy around other dogs(will not stop barking at them). He did this when I took him to the vet last week & he did it over the weekend wt my sisters 8month old german shepard mix. I mean he seems insane, as if he would tear up the dogs to pieces. is this small dog syndrome? I'm just not sure how to socialize him, if this is how he is acting. If it was the other way around, I think I would run the other direction if I saw a little dog like this. He is generally really good at home, other then lots of chewing. just not sure if this is normal or his personality & what I can do to help? I was thinking of puppy classes, but am worried it will be a waste of time if he acts like this. he is getting fixed on the 25th any advice will help!! thanks

[Lucky3]

bump,, nobody has any advice??

[kjc]

Puppy class will help, also neutering, but I'd wait till he's a bit older. Also a nice, vigorous walk to wear him out and burn off some of that energy before meetups should help.

[tjdmom]

Socialization is very very important at this age. It sounds to me like he is a little afraid hence the barking "get away get away!!" Since you already have a dog who is a little fearful, I would make sure to get him out there and have him experience new things and the sooner the better. I would try to gently introduce him to new things, places, people and other dogs but in a very safe environment where you can be sure he won't be too scared or worse, hurt by another dog.

[Lucky3]

I would take him for walks, but it is impossible right now we are having a record breaking cold/snow fall for this winter we have had 53+inches, so that will def. have to wait for spring. His vet recommended him getting fixed now before he starts displaying signs as in humping & marking, do you believe he is too young? I signed him up for classes in March.


if he is fearful, how should I approach introducing him to new dogs? Thanks so much!!

[Saltypearl]

We live in Michigan and have had the same awful weather but we take Bailee out to play. She LOVES the snow. We can now get her to pee/poop outside when we are out. I put a coat on her but we cannot stay out too long, she gets cold after 15 minutes or so.
Just a thought to burn off some extra energy!

[yorkietalkjilly]

It's work to train a hyper, under-socialized young dog but very doable and actually, it's fun to the owner and the dog! Plain, simple old obedience training will help this very young dog begin to learn how to control his runaway impulses but it takes time, patience, commitment and work from you for less than 5 mins. on a puppy say twice a day. Positive reinforcement only training with treat rewards and praise when he does a command correctly and "uh oh" and no treat, turning away from him for 15 seconds when he doesn't. Keep the training fun and upbeat, make a game of it that he wants to participate in and before long, he's focusing in on you and how to get your praise and treats and keep this game going.

Give the commands in an upbeat voice, not a stern, military command one so he'll think it's fun. Smile when he gets it right! Training for something he wants and will work to control himself to get teaches a dog over time he's in control of himself because you are and he wants to please you and do what you say in time just as much as he wants the food. Eventually, he'll not even need treats - only your approval, pride and happiness in him. Teach him sit, lie down, stand up, turn around, shake, leave it, drop it, watch me(where he focuses on your eyes for long periods to get his reward), stop in place, crate up and wait in the crate for long periods of a minute or two for "release", wait, stay and jump up on the couch or down on command and things like that.

Take him in his carrier(the first 2 weeks - longer if he gets too excited in your arms) around other dogs often and toss treats into him when he's calm - even for only a second or two. In time, he'll get the message that keeping calm gets him rewarded with luscious treats and your leaning over to quietly praise him(don't want to amp him up in this environment), tell him what a good dog he is. He'll have to be taken out to stores, for walks and going up to fences with dogs behind him, to the pet store frequently in his carrier and any place where other dogs are numerous but pet stores are great for this type training. As long as he's not barking, treat him. When he begins to get excited, leave, wait outside in the car for a couple of minutes and go back in, treat if calm and leave if he begins to bark. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Bring him home and let him run outside and play with him and let him release his tensions.

Ask a good neighbor if they will work with you for a couple of weeks, occasionally bringing their dog over for a meeting with him in his carrier and use the same above techniques for a minute or two and then leave with their dog. Short and sweet, frequent sessions are best at first until he's calm for longer periods in his carrier or crate, working to get that treat and your big smile. Let him out to run and work out his tensions outside once they leave and praise him lavishly, playing whatever games he loves. He's been working hard.

In time, together with getting older and learning how to control his impulses and learning how to obey your commands, when he's starting to get excited, ears pricked high, eyes focusing in and alerting on other dogs, you can tell him to "watch me" and feed him treats as he continues to do it or "leave it" so he'll know to avoid focusing on the dogs, treating him to mark EVERY time he backs off the behavior. Remove him from the scene if he fails to obey and he'll begin to get the message of which he prefers.

Fresh, warm, boiled chicken works best when out and about around other dogs for getting his focus off the other dog and onto the high-value treat in your hand or treat pouch when you give a command and in most cases, he'll chose to work for the treat a good deal of the time and forget the other dogs. If he won't focus on your eyes when you tell him watch me, fetch out a piece of warm chicken and put it near your eyes and he'll look and keep looking at you as long as that smelly food is up there. Later, even without the chicken, he'll still focus in on you in case the chicken might magically appear. Dogs live in hope! Occas. put it closer to his nose and bring it back to your eye level - anything to keep his focus on it and you and not the other dog. Squeaky toys or a dog's favorite toy work better for some dogs who aren't food-driven but most small dogs love treats just the same as they do loving words and praise. Treats are the same as loving words to dogs. They will do anything to get that warm chicken piece.

After a few weeks, when your dog is desensitized to other dogs and rewarded for being calm, removed from the other dogs' presence when he's not and learns how to control himself and obey your commands, his behavior will start to be reshaped into that of a well-behaved pet who is a joy to have around. He'll love the training and bonding that takes place as you two work together and you two will become a team he wants very much to be a part of and will find pleasing you is far more rewarding than that of going wild.

You can literally change a dog's instincts with good, upbeat and fun, positively-reinforced training. A well-trained dog trained with positive rewards, who is never scared or intimidated in the process of the training, makes for a happy, feisty, self-confident dog who's a joy to have around and who gives you little if anything to complain about. But not everyone will stick to the training or stay upbeat and make the dog want to work for them and many fail to follow-through with the follow-up training a few times weekly for the rest of the dog's life. My Tibbe is 6 1/2 and he's still trained almost every day of the week because we both love the training. Occas. I'll let a few days in a row pass but he's so well-trained, he'll pick it all back up next session with extra vigor.

[gemy]

Take him to pet food stores, first during what should be quiet times. Do this 3x at least per week. He may or may not run into another dog, if he starts to bark at them - correct him. Then try to move to create more distance between your dog and the other dog, and distract him with a toy or treats.

Do you have friends with well behaved dogs? Take him for a visit. Keep him on lead, and plan the visit with your friends. They need to know his challenges, so that they can help you socialize him. Maybe their dogs are kept in crates until everyone settles in.

Puppy classes are also very good to do with him. The trainer will help you with the barking corrections, and heck you are all in the same situation needing to learn how to behave with each other

Work on the no bark command at home. Also use either your TV or Computer find dog programs that may have dogs barking in the background see how he re-acts.

Good luck