I’m a breeder, not a professional trainer, but my experience - particularly with my breed- is that puppies need to meet and greet a wide variety of people (different ages, races, etc.), places and things in a positive, controlled manner for them to react controlled, positive manner to people places and things. It’s also an ongoing process that you can’t stop when puppy starts looking like a grown up.

What’s been said in the prior comments pretty much covers all the bases. One point I try to always keep in mind is that a good chunk of ‘temperament’ is the dog’s innate personality. Nature certainly plays a roll. You can socialize and train certain dogs until the cows come home and they’ll be ‘good’ but never great. On the other hand, my old guy who’s been abandoned 5 times is as sweet and good natured as the day is long.

Carolyn

:::head exploding::::

They had an x-pen for naps and quiet time, which I had to guard constantly from the kids, and some of the adults.

Socialized? Ya think?

Nothing makes you more popular than showing up to a party with ten six-week-old puppies. We actually took them all out of the crates at the edge of the parking lot and had them follow us like ducklings a hundred yards or so to the picnic area.

The biggest problem is explaining that they aren’t for sale. Well they are, but not to just anyone. No, I’m not saying you’re “just anyone.” Aaaargh!

And MY ZinKutie spent the second 8 weeks of his life going to work at a canine rehab clinic 3 days a week where just about every client that came in commented on his confidence and social skills. And how darn cute he was!

Your descriptions of socializing that litter — such as when the gas company repair guy was in your neighborhood — was very educational.

I haven’t seen a litter of puppies since high school. Any new dogs that have joined my home or my friends’/neighbors’ have been shelter rescues, usually at least nine months old.

“My” litter resulted when my dog, a stray, got pregnant and had 10 puppies. I wasn’t allowed to keep her in the house and she had “21 gentleman callers” one day when I came home from school. She ran away shortly after they were weaned and I never saw her again.

Anyway, I digress.

The smiles at Peets that morning … well, it can be safely said that the ZinKuties made everyone’s day!

One of my happiest memories of raising McKenzie’s litter, that morning. :)

I have noticed that when I bring up that word around dog owners, they talk about taking their dog to a dog park.

And I see this on Craigslist too, from backyard breeders selling puppies. “Raised with kids.” I assume that means being exposed to 2 or 3 children in the immediate family.

But these folks don’t seem to equate “socializing” with exposing the puppy/dog to a wide range of people in a wide range of circumstances.

Would you agree this is part of the confusion?

My breed doesn’t have a lot of rescues, typically, but the ones we see are almost all seniors. People ask all the time, “how can someone just give up a dog they’ve had for 7-10 years?” It’s simple, he pees on the curtains, nips at visitors, etc. The owners did not lay the groundwork through basic socialization and training; so, the dog has been kept in a crate, not socialized, not trained, and the owners never really bond to the dog, as a result. Owners get to the point where they’re redecorating or moving and realize the dog is going to pee on the new stuff for another 5-8 years or they really wanted a dog that was more ‘sociable.’ The senior dog goes to rescue with a host of problems.

I have a 15 year old rescue I took in as a foster 5 years ago. He had been through 2 shelters, 2 rescues, and 3 homes because he was never housebroken. It took about 10 minutes before we went from “Foster” to “Forever.”

We’re working with the Marines on Camp Pendleton, too, to help their dogs pass the CGC so they can remain on base and have the same problem there. We ask the guys, “Has your dog had any training? And then we refer them to the AKC CGC website so they know what the CGC test is. The guys ALWAYS say yes to training but then the dog arrives at the training yard on a chest harness, walking on his back legs, jumping on people, and lunging at other dogs. I take one look and tell them their dog is no where near ready for the CGC and they get all defensive.

SIGH…….

Training is more than sit, down, and stay. It is time spent with the dog, a relationship built between dog and owner, a sense of cooperation between the two, and a feeling of compliance from the dog. Training is not just for dogs; it is for dogs AND their owners.