Socialisation

[Cob-Web]

In my pre-puppy euphoria before Molo comes home, and having read 'The Pefect Puppy' from cover to cover several times, I am currently planning Molo's socialisation 'schedule' :shock:

I appreciate that he will clearly let us know whether we are taking it too fast, or not giving him enough 'stimuli', but can anyone tell me whether I am being ambitious thinking that we can begin his exposure to the sights and sounds of IW from the day he comes home?

There is a Carabean Carnival nearby a couple of days after we bring him home; is this too soon? He will have had limited socialisation with the breeder (although he is used to 'domestic', he is currently living in the middle of the country, no traffic, street lights etc).

He will be over 10 weeks old when he comes home to us, and I am acutely aware that this is towards the end of the most valauble socialisation period. It also coincides with the busiest time of year for fetes, fayres, carnivals and general busy-ness here on IW, so we have lots of opportunities, if it is in his best interests. It would be the kind of event that we would like to attend with him (as he will be a member of the family :wink: ) in years to come.

I think that there is a difference between the daily school run, which I intend to take him on straight away as it will become part of his daily routine, and these events which are less frequent, but still valauble learning experiences; the IW is full of them, and we love going as a family

Obviously if we did take him, and he was distressed or overwhelmed, we would bring him away again, but would we do more damage by trying so soon after he comes home? Any thoughts and advice would be appreciated

Many thanks                    

[lizzy]

I think your best bet is to assess his personality when you get him home.

If he seems quite laid back and easy going I can't see it being a problem taking him to the carnival for a shortish period, if he is a nervous sort it might be a little overwhelming for him and it might be wise to gradually lenghthen the time you take him out. ( I'm just going of my experience with Evie , who was petrified for quite a while and would not have coped with crowds, but Molo might be a brave liittle lad who just want's to meet everybody )

I think from what you've said you won't have a problem, you seem very much prepared for the little chap and I'm sure he'll be just fine.

One thing I would say is that the first day or so can be quite traumatic for them , leaving there mum and littermates etc so it might be a thought to keep it fairly quiet for those few days! :wink:

Lizzy Molly and Evie                    

[Shirley]

Hi Rachel

The week after I took Morgan home we took him to the local carnival.  It was a sunny day (we don't get them often) and it's usually the busiest day of the year in our town, so I saw it as the perfect opportunity for him to see and hear lots of different things.  He was still being carried around as he'd not had his jabs so he wasn't going to be on the ground in amongst crowds of people.  He had a great time being fussed and watching evryone go by in fancy dress.  We did leave when the Pipe Band started as he diidn't seem entirely comfortable with it.  There were a few other 'fun day' type events that we took Morgan too, through that first summer and I'm sure they contributed to the fact that he is never fazed by anything. First time in a city a couple of weeks ago and he had the time of his life   .

We got Cooper in the spring so it's only now that all these events are being held - as a result he is a lot more wary when faced with new people and experiences (though he is getting better).  Living on an island we don't have as many opportunities to expose the dogs to crowded streets, busy roads, etc so I grab them when I can  

I think that as long as Molo is in your arms he'll feel safe and I'm sure you'll be guaging his reactions all the time which will allow you to leave if he seems frightened.  Others may have different advice or opinions but it worked fine for me!  

One more thing - be prepared to to ambushed by men women and children oooing and ahhhing approximately every 2.5 seconds                          

[Cob-Web]

Thanks Lizzy & Shirley

I agree that we will have to see how 'brave' he is when he comes home - regardless of how he has behaved during our meetings so far, I am sure it will be different once we get him home :wink:

He will have spent 2 weeks without his siblings by the time he comes to us; all his littermates left the breeder today, but becos we have a family wedding, we cant bring him home for 2 more weeks  :cry:  :shock:

He will be running with his dame and sire and seven other cockers during the day at the breeders home, but penned on his own at night as he's not completely clean yet.

This may be an advantage, as he will probably be quite self-sufficient by the time he gets home (especially at night) but also means he will suddenly be removed from an environment where he has had nine 'protectors', I suppose - so he may be a bit lost for a few days.....I think I'll see how it goes as you suggest

Shirley, like you, being on an Island means we have to take advantage of events as they come along....IW closes in winter! How old were yours when you visited 'The Mainland' for the first time? How do you travel? We have car ferries with draconian rules that restrict the location of doggies to staying in cars, or the outside deck only :shock:  :shock:

Thanks                    

[Shirley]

Hi Rachel

When Morgan came home as a pup we flew from Glasgow to Lewis and his ticket was only £5     as I was on the plane too - he was fine then but I couldn't do it to him now though - far too scarey  :shock:   We were going to have Cooper sent up on the plane but BA charge £295 for 'unaccompanied' dogs so we went by ferry and car to Pitlochry - 14 hour round trip  :wink: .

We took Morgan to Inverness (first time on mainland) last summer when he was 15 months.  Like I said, no problems with him as he takes everything in his stride   .  I took both of them to Glasgow a couple of weeks ago - Morgan's now 2 and Cooper is 7 months.  Although Cooper is frightened of some other dogs and barks at them, he was was much better than I thought he'd be    In fact I think it did him good as he's been a lot calmer round strange people and dogs since our return

Both trips we went by ferry - it takes 2 3/4 hours and there is a small area especially for dogs, but more often than not, if it's quiet they let you in the bar and the T.V lounge with dogs.  This trip, it was a gorgeous day on the way over so we stayed outside in the sun the whole time.  They slept in the car on the way down to Glasgow - I had to wake them for water and the toilet      They behaved so well on the trip - I was really proud of them both.  My main worry any time when we're away is that they'll annoy anyone with their barking but they hardly made a sound the whole 6 days - mind you, they've made up for it since we came home  :roll:  :roll:  

I don't think I'd be happy leaving my two in the car as it's really noisy down on the car deck and I'd worry that they were frightened - and apart from anything else, if there are rules to say that it's not safe for me to stay in my car, then I'm not leaving my dogs there either :wink: .  I think that it's awful that they don't have a room or area where you can have dogs.  On our ferry it's just a small area about 6m x 3m with rubber flooring and hand rail to section it off.  There are chairs and bowls of water.  Is it P & O who run your ferry??  Surely it can't be that hard for them to provide something similar! How long is it from the Isle of Wight to the mainland?  Are you planning to take Molo with you on holiday in the future?                    

[Cob-Web]

Hi Shirley

How long is it from the Isle of Wight to the mainland? Are you planning to take Molo with you on holiday in the future?

There are three routes; run by two ferry companies, we use the WightLink routes, both of which take 35-40 mins on a good day, over an hour on a bad  :shock:

We already have a holiday booked for when Molo is six months old; all our family live on the mainland, so we go regularly.

I think that it's awful that they don't have a room or area where you can have dogs

The newest ferry has a 'doggy' area; sounds a bit like yours with rubber flooring and hard plastic seating; but is prominently positioned with glass walls so its like sitting in a goldfish bowl!

I hate the idea of leaving a dog in the car; your right it is very noisy (and scares my daughter each time) but if anything happened, there is no way I'd leave Molo behind.

I have to confess, I do enjoy the outside decks - especailly on the way back home; as it blows the mainland out of your clothes, hair and mind

We would quite like to fly from Southampton to the Isles of Scilly with Molo; are there any good websites or books that give any advice on flying with dogs within the UK? I wouldn't have a clue on how to prepare him or 'package' him!                    

[Shirley]

British Airways have a section on their website which has lots of information about flying with pets.  I found it quite useful when buying Morgan's carrier and booking him on the plane.  Have a look here http://www.britishairways.com/travel/pet/public/en_gb

Some or the 'airline approved' carriers (vari kennels) that are available are really expensive, even for the smallest sizes.  The one I got was really cheap (I knew I wouldn't have much use for it once home) but it did the trick.  It's called a Clipper carrier and you can find them here http://www.roofrackshop.co.uk/pet/marchior...et-carriers.htm.  You'd probably need a size 4 for a full grown cocker .                    

[taniac]

Hi Rachel,

When we bought Jovi home he seemed quite a shy dog, he was definitely the least confident in the litter.  Because he hadn't had his jabs we carried him everywhere, showing him cars, lorries, trains, old people, young people, umbrellas, rain etc etc.

It's funny because he's not a shy dog now and is so confident and I do think it is to do with the socialisation.  When he was carried he wasn't distressed by anything (must have felt safe), but we probably weren't out for more than an hour at a time.  Once he was old enough to go down on the ground he was a different dog to the one that growled at me when I first picked him up and hid his head in my arm pit!  

I reckon you should take Molo everywhere, don't worry about over doing it and if you think he's unhappy just take him somewhere quiet.  You'll soon have a well rounded little man.    

Just to put your mind at rest, we didn't get Neo until he was 11 wks and although he had been exposed to lots of different people he hadn't been socialised in the 'outside world'.  We could take him out almost immediately and he is a lovely natured happy boy.. He does bark and things occasionally but not very often and only when he sees something that he doesn't think should be there (like a plastic chair on the mead lands, a plastic bag caught on a fence, a man fishing on the river jetty stopping him getting to the edge   )                    

[Cob-Web]

Hi Tania

Thanks for the advice. I have to admit my instinct is to 'take him everywhere' with us; they are so portable when they are puppies; and universally loved, too   !  I think we will have to be really careful that we don't overdo it, and make sure he gets lots of chances for quiet time.

I read on one of the other strings that some pups go to sleep when needed if in a 'bag' or 'rucksack' while they are out and about; did either of your two do this?

I spoke to Molo's breeder today; the rest of the litter all went to their new homes on Saturday and I wanted to find out how he was getting on without them. Apparently he is having the time of his life   , running with the 9 adult cockers including his dame and sire. The breeder (jokingly) asked if we had changed our minds  :shock: , cos she's really fallen for him. No Way! However, apparently he howls like a banshee when he is crated - so we may have to warn the neighbours before we bring him home  :wink:                    

[taniac]

When Jovi was younger he would fall asleep in the bag, but as he got older he spent most of his time trying to fling himself out of it!!!!!!!!    

I think a rucksack with a draw string neck might have been the answer!  It's also amazing how heavy a puppy gets after about half an hour, I suppose if you think even 3 kg is like carrying a couple of bags of sugar! I advise taking a strong man wherever you go  :wink:                    

[Cob-Web]

I've had lots of practice with my daughter - its amazing how your arm strength increases as your children get older  

I am looking for a suitable rucksack to strap on my front and carry him around.....we don't have a good shopping centre here though                      

[Sheila]

We collected Lottie a couple of days before she was 8 weeks old and started to take her to places straightaway.
We kept them fairly short, smaller trips at first, but it became obvious that Lottie is a very, outgoing and sociable pup and enjoyed all the fuss. So we would give her a couple of quiet days at home and then a more exciting outing.
She has always loved the car and never been travel sick, even on the long, 2 1/2 hour trip home from her breeder.
I take the dogs out in the car nearly every day and visit lots of new places.
Lottie is now quite happy walking along the pavement with heavy traffic passing, we have walked nearby a railway and even a fast train didnt upset her.
Just give Molo a couple of days to assess his character then
I would start with Molo once he has settled happily at your home.
Puppies attract a lot of attention, which will be great for his socialisation and they seem able to sleep amongst lots of noise, rather like babies. So if Molo has had enough he will just nod off in your arms.
Have lots of fun!!                    

[Sheila]

Meant to mention, about the carry bag.......there is bound to be something on the internet. It might be easier to order one that way if you don't have suitable shops your way.                    

[PennyB]

Petplanet do them (made by Kyven (I got the larger one). My advice is put a harness on them and clip them in as they can fall out (voice of experience here) and much better to hang by a harness than a collar!                    

[Cob-Web]

These are very cute, but I think my OH will balk at the price  :shock:

We've got a rucksack that I am thinking of 'customising'; especially to add a suitable loop to attach his harness to, as hes bound to try and 'escape  :roll:

Thanks all