Leave me alone...

[jazzie23]

THIS IS GOING TO BE LONG...
Me and Jazmin went to a make up session of Puppy Kidergarten class last night. There was only three puppies there (unusual) my 3 month old Jazmin, 4 month old Stitches (male) and 7 month old Mona (rescue female). This was a make up class and her first time meeting the other two dogs.

Everything was fine until Stitches got there (very playful and vocal puppy, barker). Jazmin wanted to be left alone, he kept on bugging her. She was hiding underneath my chair, he'd bark at her (probably inviting her out to play) she would just sit there and bark right back at him and occasionally smack him with her paw.

After a while it seemed like she might've warmed up and started coming out, while the other two dogs were playing. Well as soon as they would start paying attention to her she'd run right back under the chair and bark. She'd do the same thing when she would be ignored by them - but wouldn't come out and play.

The little playing that she did with Stitches was underneath the chair, and everything would be fine until Stitches started barking again and playtime was over (I don't think she liked him barking, I think it aggrevate it her).

The main part of this story is when Mona (7 month old rescue female) approached her and was jumping all over her, made her run into the wall - Jazmin snapped, baring her teeth and a loud growl (I think telling her to KNOCK IT OFF). Mona walked away, but as soon as Jazmin went underneath the chair again Mona wanted to go at it again - well at that point Jazmin was fumin, hair up on her back baring teeth and all. I freaked out - I have never seen her like this. I grabbed her by her collar and very firmly told her to KNOCK IT OFF. She sat beside me and was quiet.

Will this lead to her being dog aggressive?

She wasn't attacking any of the dogs, although I'm not sure how far she would go on the last incident with Mona if I hadn't told her to knock it off.

She's shy with dogs, there's actually only one dog she'll play with and it's my downastairs neighbor's pug (she loves him to death).

I take her to a off leash dog beach and she runs with me, very shy with dogs and on our last trip she actually got knocked off her feet by two huge labs - they rammed into her (she squilled and got really scared).

I do socialize her, she loves people - everyone tells me what a sweetheart she is.

Instead of playing with those pups yesterday she was playing with a 5 year old girl the entire time, she did so good. Obeyed her commands - sit, down and over. I was so proud of her, just the incidents with the dogs kind of worry me.

[debbiej]

From your description it sounds to me like she was just letting those dogs know to back off. puppy class should not be like that, at least I don't think so. those dogs that were barking, and insisting she play were the ones that were out of control. find a class where the owners are being taught how to control their dogs, socialization to me means getting used to new humans, dogs and situations... under control. be your puppies defender. don't let her get in situations where she has to defend herself.

[jazzie23]

Thanks, makes me feel better.

We see a trainer (one on one) once a week, this was just a four class thing, we missed class so they let us make it up and I thought it'd be good for socializing. I guess not.

[debbiej]

I think a good puppy class is great. it lets the pups get used to being around other dogs. but the other dogs can't be making of pain of themselves to the point of annoying or bulling. I think that dog dog socialization is really important, but shouldn't be a free for all play session. for play, find a good dog or twoshe likes and set up a supervised play session in a safe place.

[jazzie23]

Hi Debbie,
Took Jazmin to the beach yesterday, and OMG she was the best ever - WE HAD A BREAKTHROUGH!

She was a little shy in the beginning but she came around within 10 minutes. It was the first time I saw Jaz playing with dogs, she was running around and even got in the water with me - I AM SO PROUD!

It was a good day, we were there for over an hour and she did so good. Tons of compliments on what a good puppy she is, on how great she looks, how adorable and so on...

So disregard my concern about the dog aggressivness you were right, the other dogs and their owners had no manners and were bullying my little girl.

To top the day off she also played with another dog on our evening walk, turned on her belly - she was being submissive and playful.

Just an update on how well she's doing.

[jazzie23]

Oh and I do have a playdate scheduled for her with a 3 month old rotti mix - female this Sunday - so excited !

[Canadianrotti]

Why the hell is there a 7 month old in a puppy class???

A puppy class is for exactly that, puppies, and a 7 m/o dog is not a puppy. The entire point of a puppy class, is so that they can interact with other dogs that are the same size, and at the same development stage.

I would never let my puppy run around with strange dogs that are months older in an attempt to socialize!!

I am afraid that your little guy was in a loosing situation, and did what he could, he took cover, and did the best he could to ward off the larger, more skilled, advancing dog.

My question is what kind of training facility would do this, and where where the people running this??

[jazzie23]

It is held at my vet's office, I did it for socializing only. I have a trainer that we see once a week for an hour (that's her main source of training). The beach seems to be a good place for socializing - she loves it!

[Judi W]

It is not important that a dog be happy to run with a pack of other dogs that it doesn't even know! That is not to be her job in life. It is important that all dogs learn to be in the presence of other dogs without loosing its mind, but that is certainly not the same as running with a pack. One of the quickest ways for your pup to learn not to like other dogs is to be put in a situation where it is bullied or feels intimidated. That leads to defensive behavior, or like with your baby girl, feeling over-whelmed and timd. Neither of which is to her benefit. Those are not lessons she needs to learn. Whenever you see her being intimidated, remove her from the situation. Don't baby her, just get her out of there and do not deliberately take her someplace where this is likely to occur. Vets should stay with medicine and leave the dog training to dog trainers.

[jazzie23]

I was supposed go one more time (to the puppy kindergarten class at my vet's) - but I won't be, she absolutely hated it last time and I don't need that big red poodle looking like dog (4 month old Stitch) harrassing my puppy.

So, Judi is the beach a good place for her for fun, running around and socializing - she's is supervised the entire time we're there.

Dog owners at this beach seem to be responsible and do not let their dogs misbehave and bully other dogs. She seemed to love it there yesterday...

She was sleeping for 5 hours after we came back

One more question, is it a good idea to let her play with a 2 year old female rottweiler?

[Judi W]

you can let her play of course, but if you see her being bullied or that she appears to be intimiated, remove her from the situation. Yes, it really is that easy. Before you turn her lose, watch and evaluate the other dogs. If it doesn't look good for her, don't turn her out, find something else to do.

[jazzie23]

Thanks Judi, Let you know how her playdates will turn out (one this Thursday with the 2 year old and another one on Sunday with three month old)

[Judi W]

Remember, it is not play if she is not having a good time. You need to remember if you are doing this for her or for yourself. I know you are working very hard with this baby girl and doing a pretty darn good job. Relax a bit, and don't push. As she gets older you will find that dog parties benefit no one - aren't you her best playmate???? Her dog association only need to be to the degree that she functions well in their presence, not that has to interact with them.

[jazzie23]

I just want to keep her entertained, I don't want her to be bored. It seems to be working, this pup doesn't chew on anything in the house, she plays with her toys (she even has her favorite ones).

My mom is obsessive about a clean house and everything in order, and let me tell she would have me and Jazmin out the door in a second, but she absolutely adores her (and my mom doesn't like many dogs or any animals in general). And she could kick me out (I'm 23), but instead she helps me take care of the little rugrat.

I know, I will relax and take it easy, I'm just so far ahead into the future and want to make sure that she's a good dog with humans (adults and children), other animals, so she doesn't do anything stupid and have to be put down.

I don't know if you remember but that's the puppy that was given away by the breeder at 5.5 weeks, and I read how that can cause behavioral problems and other issues - so I wanna make sure that I do everything that will benefit her.

I do greatly appreciate your advices and honesty, you and other members have been a great help. I will take it easy - promise .

I just wanna add that Jazmin has been nothing but improving (by 100%) and she's just the sweetest and best puppy you'll ever meet. I'll post pictures in a couple days. She's so adorable and so big , 30 lbs at 3 weeks.

[jazzie23]

It means a lot coming from you when you say

doing a pretty darn good job

I appreciate it! Thanks!