How does your rott act in Socialization class?

[rsaarinen]

I have been taking Chopper to "get alone little puppies". This is a class soley for the purpose for dogs under 20 weeks old to socialize with other dogs. There is usually around 10 to 15 other puppies there that range from great dane's to yorkies. Granted they keep the bigger dogs seperate from the smaller one, but they all get a chance to run around in the arena and play with each other.

Now Chopper has been around alot of dogs sense he was a puppy. He has played with my brothers dogs which one is a Yellow Lab and one a Choclate lab. He has also meet a couple other puppies in the neighboor hood and always wants to run up and sai "hi".

Here is my question. While at this class from the point we take him off leash he's really laid back. He will usually strut around and meet all the other people in the arena and kinda sit back and watch. He will sometimes chase down another dog to play but seems to lose interest quicker than other dogs. He has never tried to dominate any other dog and if anything will just thorw his left hook at them and jump around. But more than anything when another dog comes up to him he seems to use his butt to kinda keep them away from him. It soooo cute but he never really seems like he wants to "man up" on any of them at all.

Now trust me I have no problem with Chooper being more laid back with how he presents himself and actually i'm happy that he isn't the dog being placed in time out. All the labs parents are so imbarresed and look at me like why isn't the rott being crazy. I am just curious how your dog acts in situations like this and am curious if any of you had a dog like this and how he turned out.

[Canadianrotti]

Raelin was not too into the other dogs, just kinda wandered about, and went to the people with treats
She loves to play ans wrestle with other dogs now, any kind, any sex, any time of day, she just loves to play!

[moondog]

Originally Posted by rsaarinen

Here is my question. While at this class from the point we take him off leash he's really laid back. He will usually strut around and meet all the other people in the arena and kinda sit back and watch. He will sometimes chase down another dog to play but seems to lose interest quicker than other dogs. He has never tried to dominate any other dog and if anything will just thorw his left hook at them and jump around. But more than anything when another dog comes up to him he seems to use his butt to kinda keep them away from him. It soooo cute but he never really seems like he wants to "man up" on any of them at all.

LOL...why the "but"? Isn't your dog a puppy? His response to finding himself suddenly loose amongst a gaggle of loose, jumping puppies sounds appropriate to me. Why should he "man up" to any of them?

In a less chaotic environment, with dogs he's more familiar with, I would expect he'd be more outgoing.

BTW, my puppy's class does not turn puppies loose to play wth each other.

[rsaarinen]

I'm not sure why his butt. But hen a dog try's to get in around him he kinda hip checks him and pushes him out and away from him. I have to say it's the perfect defense and am thinking of using it myself

Trust me I don't want him to "man up", i'm perfectly happy with having him laid back and not agressive. Oh and they do let them off leash but it's supervised by 3 or 4 trainers with spray bottles and time outs are given to those out of hand. I haven't seen a situation get anywhere near out of hand!

[rottielover2004]

Harley was like that is puppy OB, he would go sniff, but he preferred the people. That was at 3 months, Now at 16 months, he loves everyone and everything. A very happy go lucky dog. Could not ask for a better first time Pure rottie.

[ElsasFamily]

Elsa was like that too. As a puppy she was more into the people with the treats than playing with the other puppies. They scared her. We never let them off leash though. Now at almost two, she wants to play all the time. Maybe its just a puppy phase.

[Luvs]

Akasha is 3 years old and STILL uses her butt when playing with other dogs. Kaleb who is 15 weeks old does the same thing.

There are a couple puppies at our schutzhund club that Kaleb gets to socialize with and he has a lot of fun with them!! The other puppies are both older/bigger than Kaleb, but he jumps right in and plays with them, like he is the same size. I think that comes from his playing with Akasha and Keil all the time. He is used to the bigger dogs.

[djfm]

I too wasn't sure why my pup preferred to walk around the other owners hoping to get a treat. He'd play with the other dogs for a few minutes, then go back to hanging out with people. Might be why the standard calls for them to be "aloof".

[BabyBrownz]

I found both our dogs were the same way as well. They'd go say "hi" to the other dogs but then wander back to us humans. The hip bump was a huge part of their play also.

Being laid back/aloof is a far better trait then charging and dominating the dogs play too.
Lynn