[Closed] Puppy Socialising

Same litter? I really do not think they will do anything but play together anyway. It's what they are likely to be used to already.

I am not a behaviourist. I just own two dogs, one of which keeps staring at me.

Yes , very much so .make sure they visit each other's gardens and interact with both sets of humans aswell as each other.

What make are you getting?

Not an animal behaviourist but we've had 3 dogs from 8-10 week old puppies over the last 15 years.

Socialising super important, might be tricky with other dogs but noises, objects, being left alone, toilet training (try not to use the p!ss mats they sell in shops) all so important to get right. Even if you can't do the dog socialising get the other bits right and you can work on the dog socialising stuff at a later date.

Routine is often talked about but we've always been careful not to create 6:30 walk, food at 7:30 it doesn't take long for that routine to sink in and their expectations get rigid (harder to change). We'd always feed our children first (pecking order in the house) children sometimes give the food to the dogs etc.

Oh and get a crate - its not only handy for you but a safe space for your dog too.

Sorry I'll stop waffling now!!!

Good luck & enjoy 🙂

pics are obligatory?

Yes, any socialising is good for dogs as they learn from each other in terms of acceptable behaviour, particularly when their little teeth are needle-sharp you'd prefer they were biting each other rather than you!
We had a choccy lab and SIL had her brother as puppies and they'd just play all day if given the chance.
It's also good to let them know that you control the play and behaviour to "calm down" such that when they meet another dog its not always "playtime". You just need to separate and calm them down for a minute.

Dorset_Knob
Subscriber
pics are obligatory?

seconded - instant ban for not complying.

We’d always feed our children first (pecking order in the house)

We always do this - the dog never gets fed until we have all eaten and is encouraged to stay in her bed next to the table until we are finished. Unfortunately our girls are sometimes likely to feed her from the table but we try to stop this as it encourages begging behaviour.

Crate: Oh hell yes. This. Gives pup their own private space and allow them to learn quickly not to poop in it.

I also cannot agree with the comments so far on setting expectations now when he/she is young. I let my two on the sofa in the UK when they were younger. Now I am in Sweden and sofas are a no-no, as is being fed in the 'drop zone'. Consistency is really important too.

Sooooo many things to pass on. The most important though has already been said... Pictures are mandatory.

It’s also good to let them know that you control the play and behaviour to “calm down” such that when they meet another dog its not always “playtime”.

If you socialise them with an older dog, the older dog will often teach them this with a bit of a woof...

We did the feeding us first thing with our previous (rescue) dog but the new one gets massively wound up around food, so it was pretty impossible to eat cos he'd just be going mental. So, now he gets fed whilst we're making dinner and then he's calm while we're eating. Seems to work, we don't seem to be having any issues with him 'knowing his place'

...nope that didn't post a pic..

Ok, while the puppies can't catch and pass on the virus themselves they can act as fomites and essentially carry the virus on their coats etc so mixing 2 puppies even if originally from the same litter carries the risk of spread from 1 household to another. Add in it might be difficult to socially distance with your neighbour and its another risk factor.

There is a lot of advice out there on how to do socialisation during the lockdown from the Dogs Trust, RSPCA and probably on your local vet's website as well.

We’d always feed our children first (pecking order in the house)

We always feed our cats first (pecking order in the house)