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Registered: Oct 2003

posted 10-23-2003 07:50 AM         

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What is the best way to get your dog to be around other dogs? We adopted a 2/3 yr old Cocker Spaniel (female) she is spayed. While she was in a shelter for 10 days they said she was locked in with other dogs and mostly just sat in the corner. She is only about 18/20 lbs. I brought her to my brothers house and introduced her to his 2 ****zhu's. One ingnorned my dog the other just started sniffing her and my dog started barking. Last night we took her to a pet store and same thing, when dogs would start going near her she would bark ans moan (we have had her about a month and half and the only (I do mean only time she has ever barked was while other dogs were present. She is a very vocal dog but mostly whinning and moaning).

We really want her socialized, there is a dog park in our town that is seperated in 2 groups (small & large). We are going to take here there but I am sure the same thing will happen.

Any advice would ber really appreciated

Thanks

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Posts: 110
From:Nellis AFB, Nevada
Registered: Jun 2003

posted 10-23-2003 04:57 PM         

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I would take her through obedience training. That is a great way to socialize her. Also, keep taking her to dog parks and over to your brother's house. Time is the key. This won't happen overnight and the trick is to keep socializing her. Do you know her background?? It sounds like the previous owner didn't take her out much and from what I have heard, Cocker Spaniels need to be socialized from an early age or they are rather skittish (like you are dealing with now). She could have also went through some abuse and neglect. Don't give up on her, give her lots of love and treats, and keep socializing her and eventually after some time( it could take months so keep on it) she will come around. I think the trick is time for her to get used to the situations with other dogs cause she really hasn't been exposed that much or not at all. Good luck and keep us posted!

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Posts: 839
From:,Calif. U.S.A.
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 10-24-2003 10:29 AM         

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I have one dog the tri-colored one that is like the welcome wagon. He loves every dog he see's. Then my poodle. They both go nuts when a new dog approaches when they are on leash, but it is because they want to meet. But when my poodle meets the dog, does the sniffing she will then ignore the dog. She will do this 90 percent of the time. Rarely is there a dog she really likes. If they try to sniff her anymore, she growls at them, basically to let them know she is off limits. Definately wants no dogs near when on my lap. But she has never bit or ran after any one of them. Just the growl scare tatics. She has been around plenty of dogs. Just keep bring your dog out but monitor her every move. Let her meet other dogs nose to nose if she will not bite. Eventually she will realize they are no threat to her.

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From:,Calif. U.S.A.
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 10-24-2003 10:31 AM         

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Also, when my poodle does like a dog she will bark at it to play. Some people think she is being mean. But I know she is not.

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Registered: Oct 2003

posted 10-27-2003 07:35 AM         

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I took her to the dog park on Fri, Sat and Sun. I think she did fine, my wife thinks she doesn't like it. It is hard to tell. On Friday when we got to the park there is was only 1 other dog (in the small dog pen)a male min poodle. She seemed to do fine. He kept snifing her and she would just keep walking away. She seemed to really like walking aorund and sniffing. Then 2 more dogs showed up and she just ignored them at first and started to run around with them. On Sat we got to the park there were 3 dogs there and she did fine. Eventually there were like 12 - 15 dogs there. She mixed it up with some of them (just chasing and barking type of stuff) There was a JRT just running around playing and barking and our dog was yapping the whole time, maybe the loudest there (she is only 16lbs). Running up to dogs barking her head off, my thing is while she is barking and looks like she hates it, her tail is waging 100 miles and hour. On Sunday she was the only dog there for about 20 min, then about 4 or 5 showed up gradually. She was fine with some, basically ignored and with others she would get right in their face and bark repeatedly, that is when my wife says she is not happy and does not like it there. She has never been aggressive with any of the dogs but does get in there face and bark like a maniac. Again while she is barking her tail never stops wagging.

So what are people's thoughts? My wife says I just want her to like it so I think she likes it while She thinks are dog hates it there.

any thoughts?? thanks

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Posts: 585
From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 10-27-2003 10:43 AM         

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I think if she is wagging her tail a million miles an hour while barking in their faces that she is wanting to interact and play but may not know how to go about doing that...so she barks at them.
What about her body language makes your wife think she is unhappy there? It's hard to say without seeing her behavior, but it sounds to me like she is overexcited at times and isn't sure what to do with that.

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Posts: 839
From:,Calif. U.S.A.
Registered: Dec 2002

posted 10-27-2003 05:38 PM         

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If she were not happy she would be trying to get you to pick her up or sit on you. If she feared them she would be trying to run them off snarling at them. She sounds like she is having fun. Like I said, when my poodle finds a dog she likes she will bark right in their face non stop. I think the other dogs understand her completely. She is doing great. Just keep on bringing her around where ever dogs are allowed and nothing will faze her.

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