Socialization?
 

Oh girl we know ALL about this! :cool:

When we brought Sully home, he was right at 10wks old. In the first couple weeks that we had him, we took him everywhere. He went to work with me and met everyone there....more than once. I'm a newswriter and I do court beats...so I took him to the courts with me too! (Not sitting IN court, but to the court house to visit all the workers there. TWO different courthouses in neighboring towns.) Anyway, he went to all of our different friends' houses in town, and even to an outdoor Everclear concert....though to be honest the huge crowd and loud noises probably did him more harm than good. But all in all, taking him all those places did him a WORLD of good. He doesn't meet a stranger! In fact, I'm sitting here at work tonight and Sully is sitting patiently in my desk drawer that's pulled out. :D Everyone at the Press says he's our mascot...the Newshound.

I also take Hefner every where with me. He is a service dog so I can get away with it.

We also have dog parks and we have a fairly active "yorkie meetup" group. I still haven't made it to one but I intend to. The last two were rained out. :sad: :rain:

You can usually find a meetup group on the internet. You might also check the local vet offices and see if there are any playgroups you could join.

Good luck. :animal-sm

Here are some suggestion of things to do while waiting for class to start:

Take them for walks outside in your neighborhood and let them see the world. (make sure your pup has all their vacination before you do it)

Take them for car ride so that would be use to traveling.

Carry them when you visit friends and family(make sure they know you are bring the dogs)

Re-enforce what you learn in puppy class for ddb. I bet he learned sit, down, stay and probably a couple of other things. You can also teach some of the things you learn to your new puppy. So when he starts PK he will be ahead.

Or you can teach them some stupid dog tricks. They are always a hit with family and friends.

There is a always something you can do with your dog that will make them a better companion.

Thanks for the suggestions gals :D

I'll have to check for some local puppy play dates. Bailey loves the car. Any time I pick up my keys he's raring to go. As far as taking him with us to visit friends/family we don't have either close by so that's a no go. I take him for walks, but with him being so small, he only walks for so far and then I end up carrying him the rest of the way LoL

Any other suggestions?

Reminder - don't leave them in the car. With spring coming it is getting hotter and dogs can't sweat like people.

For now you can walk shorter distance. When he get older he will be able to walk a longer distance. Or else, just carrry him the rest of the way. :D

:( I will tell you one place Toto will never go again!! The Grand Junction post office!! I have taken her to post offices in cities all over this country ... she is always in her bag and just peeps out and enjoys seeing all the people and never bothers anyone! Yesterday I had mail that required going to the post office, had not driven my little car since we brought it up, the sun was bright and I thought it would be a great day to explore and find our way around the city alone!! NOT!! First of all the phone book listed the wrong address but I finally located the post office which had no parking except on the street and not much of that. Circled the block a while and ended up having quite a walk ... that was OK ... Toto was loving it! Waited our turn and an agent finally waved us over ... I smiled, said a cheery "Hello, how are you" and placed my stuff in front of her ... she immediately pointed towards the lobby and in her most "disgruntled" voice said "there is a sign that says no DOGS allowed in here"!! I smiled and profoundly apoligized and said I was sorry I didn't see the sign and would not bring Toto back in there. I said my mail would only take a moment and I would be gone. She took my mail, began to process it and looked back and said "if you bring that DOG back in here again, NOONE will wait on you"!! OK ... that was unnecessary and Toto, evidently feeling my anger, cowered down in her bag, and THAT pissed me off!!! I said ... "just like I said ... I didn't see the sign and I will not bring her back in here!! I have taken her in post offices all over this country, but I certainly can see that Grand Junction IS special"!!!! She snapped the total and I threw $100 bill on the counter and my look dared her to ask if I had anything smaller!! [my husband insists that I keep a bill hidden in my wallet in case of emergency] I had fully intended to use my Debit Card but I just wanted her to have a little extra to do because she was so darned rude ... there was no excuse for it! Simply pointing out that their policy was no dogs allowed would have been enough and it wouldn't have been a problem ... I have had that happen before and it's fine.
I told this to say ... don't be surprised if your baby is not welcome in some places and be prepared to control your anger! You get used to it and depending on the tone ... get used to saying "I'm sorry". Most stores, unless the sell food, don't mind your bringing your baby along and if they do, guess what? Don't spend your money there!! There are plenty of places that don't mind!! ;)

Wow, that is downright rude! Quick thinking there making her do extra work. Hahahah, that's a great trick that I've never thought of!

I think all the post offices around Seattle have signs stating no dogs allowed (as do most gov't-type places), and Home Depot just added that sign too! Yoda loved going to Home Depot! Hmm, wonder if Lowe's still allows dogs, and yes, I would shop specifically at one over the other if they allow Yoda!!!

My husband works pt at Home Depot. They have a no pets policy but are instructed not to ask someone with a pet to leave.

Oh yea, I've run into that here. That's just lacking manners to talk like that to someone. Like I said, our city has a very strict 'no pets allowed' rule in all stores here except the pet stores. If that wasn't the case, I would have any problems with socializing him, I'd take him everywhere!

Thanks! Didn't know Home Depot didn't allow pets ... every Lowe's store we have ever gone to didn't say anything .... she loves to ride in the cart and look at everything! As a matter of fact we have noticed lots of people in the Lowe's here with their dogs ... most are big dogs on leashes! We had been told that this city was really a "pet friendly" place ... guess that's what surprised me at the post office. I have another little "dig" for the nice "postlady" next time I am forced to go in there! I plan to take my bag [same one I had Toto in yesterday] except with no Toto in it!! She doesn't even want to start anything about my bag!! It's not a pet carrier ... just a bag I had before we even bought Toto and it happens to be her fave!! ;) Seriously ... one civil reminder that they had a "No pets" sign posted in the lobby would have been enough. I asked Patrick last night "do I look too stupid to have understood her first rude reprimend?"

Wow Bettyeanne I think you handled yourself well. I would have been less freindly I think. What the hell is a yorkie in a bag going to do? Id say "look at my dog, does he/she look dangerous to you?" I too, can understand a no dog policy but for crying out loud be polite about it especially if the dog is in a carrier.

Thanks, Harbinger! That's what my Patrick said ... he also said that she had probably had children brought in there that were far more disruptive ... heck, Toto wasn't doing anything but peeking out of the bag, I don't think anyone even noticed her except "grumpy"! :) Grumpy was either having a bad day, which I didn't cause, or she hates her job!! My philosophy has always been, "if you don't like what you're doing ... do something else" or "if it isn't fun ... don't do it!" and in my entire life had only 3-4 jobs and loved them all!! ;)

Grand Junction? Which state? Michigan?

Grand Junction, Colorado. :) [and I am trying really hard to find something to like about it!! ;) ]

:eek: Just noticed you are in Chicago??!?! Now there's a city we totally love!!! We were working on a project there for almost two years and it was a wonderful stay! The only city where we go back and visit friends because it's just so darned much fun!! :cool: