cassie Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 Hi all, Just looking for some advice. I'm bringing my Saint pup home in just under three weeks time. What are some opinions on the best way to socialise him when people come to the house? What I mean is, should I get him to sit first, and then people can pat him? Or should I allow him to approach them at his own free will? Or should I restrain him at first, letting him see that there are people in the house, and once he seems calm, then let him greet them? Or none of these, something else perhaps? At the moment, Zephyr (my Berner) barks when people first come to the house, but settles down once we let them in and he can see that we're comfortable with them. We are working on stopping this, and he has improved a great deal, but it is something I don't want to encourage in the Saint pup. Obviously he's going to be a BIG dog, much bigger than Zephyr! I want to get this right straight from the word go, so he (hopefully) won't present a problem as he gets bigger and stronger. Of course, the Saint will also be socialised outside of our home, once he is vaccinated. We will be taking him to Puppy Preschool as well as obedience training once he reaches 16 weeks old, and on many short walks and anywhere else we can think of so that he can meet lots of different people out and about. My main query, as I stated, is about people who come to the house. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Steph & Bam Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 With Bam I use 'Wait' then 'Say Hello' or 'Okay' he sits and waits for them to come in and then is given the okay to greet them. I've also taught him to say hello calmly, what helps is my dog is a 'soft dog'. At first I'd restrain the puppy until it calms (the tail still goes a mile a min, and I wouldn't expect too much from them at first, just to sit for a couple of seconds) then released to 'ok' or whatever you want to use. JMO - Hope it helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 My opinion for the first week have no visitors.Allow the 2 dogs to get to no each other before people start to come especially if the Berner performs. Personally i believe pups need to make the first move withinn reason & people need to react in a calm fashion & with a giant breed thats one thing i would stress to friends you now drop around alot that you want the saints greeting to be very productive but not over the top,you dont want them hyping the dog up as it isnt fun at 50 kg. teaching it to sit is a good thing but it isnt going to happen straight away so its important it gets to great in a civilized way & if pup sits on its own praise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R00 Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 just to add to Showdog and Steph & Bams posts. I do fairly similar things ( and they work a treat) One of my dislikes is a dog rushing me when I come in to someone's yard. I love dogs, but not when they just get in the way and you can't move etc etc. Anyway the only thing I would add, is if the dog does managed to hear someone come in before you do and goes out to greet the person, tell the person to completely ignore the dog, not even a change in pace or look in the direction of the dog. Call the dog back , he will come as he is a puppy and he (should) know that you will always give him the most affection especially with this stranger is giving him none Once he is where he should be and sitting calmly then get the person to come over and you give a free command. The main point is to get everyone who crosses you dogs path to ignore him (not even look at the dog) until you say it is ok with a free command. And no visitors till he is settled in. Could be 1 week or 5 weeks or any amount of time that is required. Roo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassie Posted March 17, 2007 Author Share Posted March 17, 2007 Thanks very very much for your suggestions guys! I will definitely keep visitors to a minimum, or nil if I can help it, for the first week. It is hard though as naturally everyone wants to see the new pup! Is it better then if I take him to them instead? Or just have no contact with other people at all for the first week (or so)? Thankyou!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doghouse Posted March 17, 2007 Share Posted March 17, 2007 I agree with the above, just keep everything low key when visitors come, my girls tend to go a bit nutz with OH when he comes around and his best friend (both were around in the first few weeks), but for everyone is else it is ignore the dog for 5 minutes and then then they can be welcomed. Stopped the anxiety weeing that Lola had and Problem child jumping up on visitors. Just keep it very calm...it pays off because then when you are out on your walks she wount want to bound up to anyone and give them a loving welcome.. We had a Saint on the farm, not ours the bosses and she was not given the benefit of this and even half grown, she would bowl people over - not a good look.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassie Posted March 19, 2007 Author Share Posted March 19, 2007 Thanks very very much for your suggestions guys! ;) I will definitely keep visitors to a minimum, or nil if I can help it, for the first week. It is hard though as naturally everyone wants to see the new pup! Is it better then if I take him to them instead? Or just have no contact with other people at all for the first week (or so)?Thankyou!!! BUMP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Everyone doesnt need to meet your pup staright away & its very easy to say No. The first few weeks are crucial for your pup & your current dog that has greeting issues & you need to see what happpens with the 2 before the home is open besides that you pup also needs to to adapt to a giant breed that it doesnt now & isnt the same breed . people can wait to see a pup but the wrong intro for the first week or more may mean a life time problem. You also need to remember if everyone is around greeting the pup then the berner is being left out & that can create jealousy issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassie Posted March 21, 2007 Author Share Posted March 21, 2007 Thankyou very much for your reply showdog, I do appreciate it and I will take your advice on board. Thankyou! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 (edited) *If it were me* I would be taking my large breed pup out and about well before 16 weeks. For sure, I would spend a couple of weeks bonding with the pup and letting him settle, but a 4mth old Saint is already fairly sizeable and I would want them to be confident and happy with new environments before that age, than risk a scared large dog. Mel. ETA: Each to their own though, that's why I put my opinion in the asterix. Edited March 21, 2007 by Staff'n'Toller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassie Posted March 22, 2007 Author Share Posted March 22, 2007 Thanks Staff'n'Toller, and yes I think that's a very good point. I will definitely be taking him out and about ASAP so he gets used to everything. You're right, by four months old he will already be HUGE! So yes, must start early! Thanks for bringing that up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R00 Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 Definatly take him out and about in my opinion. The more the better. I personally just control when my dog interacts with people and other dogs. At the moment I almost have my 16 week old totally ignoring other dogs and staying at the heel the entire walk, unless I say it is ok to play. He still gets plenty of playtime with other dogs, just not every dog and not if he pulls towards the dog. When we see another dog who I know is ok, I get him to sit and wait till I give a free command then he can play. But if he just thinks he can play whenever he wants on a walk , then he has another thing coming. hhahahaa. I am always amazed by the number of dogs I see pulling on lead all the time. I feel it is because they are so used to thinking that pulling gets them to where they want to go. I am teaching my dog that the fastest way to get where he wants is to walk calmly and sit. I never ever ever ( I have posted this somewhere before) allow my dog to go anywhere in the direction of the distraction he is pulling towards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cassie Posted March 23, 2007 Author Share Posted March 23, 2007 Thankyou Roo I think that is good advice As my current dog (berner) is my first dog, I made a few mistakes when he was a puppy in regards to letting him pull on the leash. So now with my second dog (saint) I intend to do a much better job, especially considering he is going to be MUCH bigger and stronger! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R00 Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 wooohoooo someone finally thinks my advice is good Seriously though, my 16week staffy will walk an entire walk at the heel. He may forget occassionaly but he is only a pup, so it doesn't worry me and I am not hard on him at all. I just ask him to come back to the heel and give a very slight (puppy) correction with the lead. I just remember that his attention span is very short (so is mine, now that I think about it) So we just enjoy ourselves. But having a pup that enjoys walking right next to you is an absolute pleasure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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