Socialisation Deadline Is Looming!

[Cazwah]

I have had one dog who freaks out when you open an umbrella, which I never would have thought to worry about...

Thanks for that! I'd forgotten about the umbrella :D

[luvsdogs]

I have had one dog who freaks out when you open an umbrella, which I never would have thought to worry about...

Thanks for that! I'd forgotten about the umbrella

I had never really thought about umbrellas either & we never had any rain for the 1st few months we'd had Tilba. Then I remember doing some exercises with umbrellas, party poppers etc at a dog club I used to go to. So, I thought, I'd do some of the same with Tilba only to find when I brought out the umbrella. She shyed away from it & still does. I have no idea what spooked her with them, I guess she's just a little nervy around things that doesn't often experience.

Another point to remember is that if you don't do these things with your dog on a regular basis, even if you've done all this socialisation with him now, he can forget them.

[Cazwah]

I had never really thought about umbrellas either & we never had any rain for the 1st few months we'd had Tilba. Then I remember doing some exercises with umbrellas, party poppers etc at a dog club I used to go to. So, I thought, I'd do some of the same with Tilba only to find when I brought out the umbrella. She shyed away from it & still does. I have no idea what spooked her with them, I guess she's just a little nervy around things that doesn't often experience.

Another point to remember is that if you don't do these things with your dog on a regular basis, even if you've done all this socialisation with him now, he can forget them.

So true. I know I have to keep doing these things, I think I'll just keep going over them, taking him new places, etc. Our puppy school reccommends that our pup meet one new noun (person place or thing) each day, so hopefuly that rule will keep us keeping Chestnut socialised. I got out the rainbow umbrella today and it went pretty well. Of course he wanted to chew it at first but then with enough liver I got him sitting and looking at it, and actually staying still while I opened it, twirled it and shook it out (as if it were wet). We also practised giving attention and doign basic commands outisde on the footpath while cars and trucks went by. The actual 'walking' on the walk didn't go so well. He did some spectacular sit and stand stays of his own volition though! Thanks everyone for the advice.