Socialisation:
It is absolutely essential that you start socializing your Newfie puppy as soon as possible.
Socialisation is probably the most important thing you can do for your puppy but sadly, it is often misunderstood.
More often than not, new puppy owners believe that socialisation is about your puppy becoming friends with everyone, and everything, that they meet so every walk or interaction becomes one big continual playdate. While we all want a dog that is playful, confident and sociable, the expectations and risks involved when your puppy wants to bound over to everything to play, can often be problematic.
Over socialisation, particularly during the challenging 'Kevin & Perry' teenage phase, can lead to a myriad of problems when your now less than 'pickupable' newfie pup or teenager, is aroused by every stimuli it encounters. You've taught your pup to play and interact with dogs, but they have no idea of how to manage the expectations of the level of interaction that they will receive.
Unless you have the privilege of acres of land with nobody about for miles, you're going to encounter many scenarios that can lead to frustration be it in parks, towns, pubs, restaurants etc.... What happens when your dog is on a lead and is straining at the bit to get to a dog on the other side of the street? What happens when you encounter an unsociable dog with reactive behaviour that doesn't appreciate 10 stone of Newfie flying at it because they believe that every four legged being is a potential best mate?
This doesn't just apply to other potential playmates of the Canine species. People often assume that if their dog can interact and play with other species, then they are socialised and safe to be near all other animals. We all want our dogs to get on with other family pets, but both parties need to be willing participants and not just tolerant of what they could potentially be subjected to.
The same goes with horse riders, horses, sheep, cows etc....I'm sure at some point, all of our Newfies will come across any of these potential distractions. While you want your larger than usual bundle of joy to be respectful and aware of these other animals when in close proximity with them, you do not want a dog that will run up to these expecting to interact or play. It will never end well.
Your dog, and their manners, is your responsibility. Nobody wants a frustrated dog like a coiled spring on the end of a lead, suddenly confused as to why you have inhibited play.
Just like humans, dogs need to learn to interact appropriately and politely, and to adapt and cope with different situations. It's a bit like us having our 'work persona' and our 'friends and family personas'. All are vital to who we are but allow us to adapt well in a world that is often challenging. Socialisation is a part of learning to be comfortable in that world. It is about positive emotional experiences and treating each dog as an individual. It's also about developing appropriate skills to avoid and remove themselves from difficult social encounters. We expect our dogs to put up with some real intense social pressure that we probably wouldn't subject ourselves to. I'm sure you have all been in a social setting at some point where you decided to leave because it made you uncomfortable? It is key to learn to differentiate between a dog enjoying or tolerating a social interaction.
What it is about is making sure our dogs are set up in the best way possible to live alongside us in our crazy world. That sights, sounds, textures, people
So instead of focusing on an often misconstrued term, try to focus on teaching 'skills for life' instead of just socialisation and aim for the following:
Socialisation is probably the most important thing you can do for your puppy but sadly, it is often misunderstood.
More often than not, new puppy owners believe that socialisation is about your puppy becoming friends with everyone, and everything, that they meet so every walk or interaction becomes one big continual playdate. While we all want a dog that is playful, confident and sociable, the expectations and risks involved when your puppy wants to bound over to everything to play, can often be problematic.
Over socialisation, particularly during the challenging 'Kevin & Perry' teenage phase, can lead to a myriad of problems when your now less than 'pickupable' newfie pup or teenager, is aroused by every stimuli it encounters. You've taught your pup to play and interact with dogs, but they have no idea of how to manage the expectations of the level of interaction that they will receive.
Unless you have the privilege of acres of land with nobody about for miles, you're going to encounter many scenarios that can lead to frustration be it in parks, towns, pubs, restaurants etc.... What happens when your dog is on a lead and is straining at the bit to get to a dog on the other side of the street? What happens when you encounter an unsociable dog with reactive behaviour that doesn't appreciate 10 stone of Newfie flying at it because they believe that every four legged being is a potential best mate?
This doesn't just apply to other potential playmates of the Canine species. People often assume that if their dog can interact and play with other species, then they are socialised and safe to be near all other animals. We all want our dogs to get on with other family pets, but both parties need to be willing participants and not just tolerant of what they could potentially be subjected to.
The same goes with horse riders, horses, sheep, cows etc....I'm sure at some point, all of our Newfies will come across any of these potential distractions. While you want your larger than usual bundle of joy to be respectful and aware of these other animals when in close proximity with them, you do not want a dog that will run up to these expecting to interact or play. It will never end well.
Your dog, and their manners, is your responsibility. Nobody wants a frustrated dog like a coiled spring on the end of a lead, suddenly confused as to why you have inhibited play.
Just like humans, dogs need to learn to interact appropriately and politely, and to adapt and cope with different situations. It's a bit like us having our 'work persona' and our 'friends and family personas'. All are vital to who we are but allow us to adapt well in a world that is often challenging. Socialisation is a part of learning to be comfortable in that world. It is about positive emotional experiences and treating each dog as an individual. It's also about developing appropriate skills to avoid and remove themselves from difficult social encounters. We expect our dogs to put up with some real intense social pressure that we probably wouldn't subject ourselves to. I'm sure you have all been in a social setting at some point where you decided to leave because it made you uncomfortable? It is key to learn to differentiate between a dog enjoying or tolerating a social interaction.
What it is about is making sure our dogs are set up in the best way possible to live alongside us in our crazy world. That sights, sounds, textures, people
So instead of focusing on an often misconstrued term, try to focus on teaching 'skills for life' instead of just socialisation and aim for the following:
- Teach my puppy to leave and ignore distractions
- Teach my puppy that the world isn't a scary place. That sounds, people of all diversities, noises, textures, different surfaces etc....are not to be feared
- Teach my puppy it can meet and greet, when I give it permission
- Teach my puppy when off lead to not approach people, dogs, children, animals, picnics, dropped food unless I give it permission to
- Teach my puppy to settle in pubs, restaurants, friends houses, training areas, vets waiting room etc
- Teach my puppy that if other dogs bark at it, I give it treats so it doesn't get wrapped up in other dogs negative emotions and learn to react back or join in
- Teach my puppy to play nicely by mixing it with other socially sound dogs and puppies
- Teach my puppy to meet politely and then come away
- Teach my puppy that humans are nice, kind and supportive
- Teach my puppy to be calm and comfortable while being groomed and handled
- Teach my puppy to wait patiently
- Teach my puppy that if humans go near its food bowl, they are probably going to put something even tastier in it
- Teach my puppy if it brings me things and gives them to me I'll give it something else good in return
- Teach my puppy a sit gets human attention , every time, capture it, reward it ...
- Teach my puppy if it is scared or worried about something it can just calmly move away
- Last but not least, Teach my puppy there are appropriate times where you can be as silly as it wants when with close friends and family