Yesterday Kody and I had a meeting with a trainer at Riverdog. I wanted to make sure he would be OK in a group class since he tends to bark at other dogs. When we first went in, he was a bit nervous mostly at the new location and smells, but then he didn’t bark at the dogs. In fact, he became very calm, happily making me look foolish for worrying so much.
The only time he barked is when we experimented with having him off leash around another dog. He only barked when the dog got close. They just said to let him get it out which he did in about thirty seconds. It was nervous/excited barking, not snarling or something. Then he was a mix of curious and sitting at my feet for protection, but not scared really. He didn’t introduce himself to the other dog, though.
Here’s where things get weird. Because in the 5 minutes or so that he was there he didn’t introduce himself to the dog, the trainer decided he was un-socialized around dogs. Meaning in the trainers words “he wouldn’t have a lot of doggie friends.” But he did a play posture at one point but they weren’t paying attention when he did. I think he was just nervous, the other dog was small, but still twice his size. And I can’t believe after all the going to the gym every day and playing that he did with his brother and all the socializing behavior they did (smelling crotch, lifting leg to allow other to smell crotch, smelling butt, aren’t dogs wonderful) that he isn’t socialized to dogs. These dogs are small and have a hard time getting used to bigger dogs. But Kody walks by a big dog every time we go to the gym and is fine.
Well, I hope I’m right. She is a trainer, but I don’t think they have enough evidence for what they say. And it made me so upset that I couldn’t sleep and I searched the internet for any sign of truth that dogs that didn’t have major diverse dog interaction when they were small had this type of thing happen. It’s nowhere. The dog whisperer talks about socialization, but never says an un-socialized dog can’t be socialized. In fact, his whole schtick is about doing just that. And I just have a very hard time believing that my dog ending up so calm so quick is not socialized. That’s ridiculous.
It was very upsetting to me because as you all know I tried so hard to give Kody everything he needed and tons of bonus stuff. And the idea that I would have messed up on this kills me with guilt. But my vet even recommended he stay away from unknown dogs until all shots were completed which would have been well after the 8-16 weeks socialization phase. I would think if there was some super important thing someone would have told me.
Anyway, as we were walking out to the car we passed two big dogs. Kody didn’t even act scared. Even the trainer said, “Wow, he didn’t seem to mind them.” The point is, 15 minutes around other dogs and Kody is calm. Socialize this!
On a bright note, I was very impressed. Aside from the fact that I think that one opinion is wrong, I really like the people and the place. So Kody and I are going in for Obedience 101 every week. I’m really looking forward to him getting used to other dogs in a safe environment. And I hope, and I bet that after a while, Kody will get comfortable and end up playing with some of them.