Socializing a new to the family 16 mo old

[Jessilynn]

We have adopted a quiet and calm 16 month old rott, I don't know what she is thinking about because she is so serious all the time. I run a boarding facility on 17 acers and would like to take her with me and my lab but I don't know how much socializing she has had. I am afraid that she won't like all the people that come and go and the different animals. At 16 months is there anyway I can get her to be friendlt to others. She is more reserved and stand offish to people. THnak\
Jessica

[chuss]

take her for walks in public, ie parks, near shopping centres, the mall, etc.. Get people to pet her, play with her. Do all sorts, just make sure it's supervised. Most of all, just give the dog some love and TLC.

[Carina43]

What chuss said. :)

Dutch was very reserved and watchful around strangers when we first got him...initially I wasn't sure what was really going on in his head either. It's been eight months, and it was several months before I dared venturing into a dog-welcome pet store (he also had serious issues with other dogs) - and a couple months after that before I thought he wouldn't embarass me at a dog class!

So, it's taken a while, and I started slow with him, but he's becoming much more social now. He's still reserved - that's his nature and his prerogative - but he is now very relaxed around new people, and if he thinks they might have t-r-e-a-t-s available, he is RIGHT THERE, butt wiggling!

Take it slow, keep treats handy for people to hand her, and don't let her off leash until you are 110% sure she will be OK with all sorts of people, from little kids to people in wheelchairs. :)

[alexav]

Hey fellow Utahn!
Congrats on the new pup. Wherabouts in Utah is your boarding facility?

If she's spayed, you'll have better luck with her not being pushy to the visiting dogs but that's no guarantee.

Do alot of training with her so that she will look to YOU for how to react and not be making up her own mind on just who is OK and who is not.

That plus lots of socialization is the key to success.:)

Keep us posted on her progress!

[Rottnlove]

Welcome! I'm also in Utah!

I think the advice offered has been great and I just wanted to welcome you and congratulate you on your new Rottie girl! :)

[Jessilynn]

Well we went to Petsmart today and everyone flocked to her ( they say .....wow she's cool lookin!) and she did fine. I think that you are all right and it has helped me in the past few days. We have worked on simple comands with success. She and my lab got out and ran across the street to greet a kid and his dog, luckily she trotted up to say hi and then lost interest, so that was a better ending to the story!! Thanks again
ps My boarding facility is in Spanish Fork off the Salem High, it is going to be the four seasons hotel for equines, it is now only 2 months old,
Jessica