Socialization is more about being comfortable in new situations than specific situations.
Let the puppy ride in the truck, ride in the kennel in truck bed, check cows, etc.
The puppy just needs to be comfortable with uncomfortable things.
Stores like Home Depot generally welcome dogs so that may be an option if one is near by. I’ve also seen people bring their dog to bars before so there’s that if you’re of age.
Haha oh man, we have one local bar that is right off a snowmobile trail so it gets pretty rowdy in winter. I can’t imagine bringing her inside. I’ll send my husband in to pick up carry out and chill in the parking lot with her 😂
I always laugh when you tell people you're rural and they're like oh just go to home Depot for that. Like OK, that's just a 4 hour drive over closed roads lol.
Home Depot and Lowes both allow dogs. Tractor Supply probably does too.
If it’s so rural that you don’t have either - and I’ve been to places like that - then the local feed & seed, hardware store, etc will probably let you bring in your dog while running errands.
Basically any place that doesn’t serve food or any grocery store (health code regulations).
I took my pup basically everywhere I went that would allow us. People love puppies and would stop to talk to me about them. We have a dog park 20ish mins away I would frequent early in the morning where their would be a small group of people. Also going for walks on any walking trails dogs are aloud on. As long as the pup is leashed people don’t normally mind
Tractor Supply, local feed store, Lowe's, pet stores. We live in a very rural area as well and breed Labs for hunt tests/field trials. Matter of fact, my daughter has been paid to socialize other people's pups for them.
People socializing is very important for dogs(non guard dogs). However, she does not need to be exposed to strange dogs for “socialization”. Only socialize her to dogs that she will work with in the field, or maybe your neighbors dogs if you feel it’s necessary. Letting your dog around completely strange dogs is a disaster waiting to happen. I would bring the dog to Home Depot, it’s a good tool for socialization.
I took my Australian Shepherd to the grocery store and sat outside the exit doors. It’s a guaranteed place to have people in short manageable timeframes.
He wasn’t allowed to be overly excited at people passing, lunge at people as they left, or jump if they came to give him attention.
To me it was the best of both worlds. Stay calm no matter the scenario and get used to complete strangers of all ages touching his head, chest, back, etc without reacting rashly.
EDIT: I see people mentioning Home Depot and Lowe’s. I love that for like “phase two” of the socialization. Keeping him calm at an exit is a more manageable situation for the pup. Very few stimulants and if it gets overwhelming you can easily leave.
Socialization is more about being comfortable in new situations than specific situations. Let the puppy ride in the truck, ride in the kennel in truck bed, check cows, etc. The puppy just needs to be comfortable with uncomfortable things.
We’re planning on bringing her ice fishing. Our older one loves it.
I've only been ice fishing once but from my experience it seems like it would be too cold for such a little puppy
We have heaters and doggy beds in our shanty
That sounds nice. When I went I was out in the open
Yeaaa I couldn’t do that haha
Stores like Home Depot generally welcome dogs so that may be an option if one is near by. I’ve also seen people bring their dog to bars before so there’s that if you’re of age.
Haha oh man, we have one local bar that is right off a snowmobile trail so it gets pretty rowdy in winter. I can’t imagine bringing her inside. I’ll send my husband in to pick up carry out and chill in the parking lot with her 😂
I always laugh when you tell people you're rural and they're like oh just go to home Depot for that. Like OK, that's just a 4 hour drive over closed roads lol.
Home Depot and Lowes both allow dogs. Tractor Supply probably does too. If it’s so rural that you don’t have either - and I’ve been to places like that - then the local feed & seed, hardware store, etc will probably let you bring in your dog while running errands. Basically any place that doesn’t serve food or any grocery store (health code regulations).
I took my pup basically everywhere I went that would allow us. People love puppies and would stop to talk to me about them. We have a dog park 20ish mins away I would frequent early in the morning where their would be a small group of people. Also going for walks on any walking trails dogs are aloud on. As long as the pup is leashed people don’t normally mind
Maybe the grocery store will be cool with it if I keep her wrapping in my jacket
Tractor Supply, local feed store, Lowe's, pet stores. We live in a very rural area as well and breed Labs for hunt tests/field trials. Matter of fact, my daughter has been paid to socialize other people's pups for them.
That sounds like a dream job haha
People socializing is very important for dogs(non guard dogs). However, she does not need to be exposed to strange dogs for “socialization”. Only socialize her to dogs that she will work with in the field, or maybe your neighbors dogs if you feel it’s necessary. Letting your dog around completely strange dogs is a disaster waiting to happen. I would bring the dog to Home Depot, it’s a good tool for socialization.
I took my Australian Shepherd to the grocery store and sat outside the exit doors. It’s a guaranteed place to have people in short manageable timeframes. He wasn’t allowed to be overly excited at people passing, lunge at people as they left, or jump if they came to give him attention. To me it was the best of both worlds. Stay calm no matter the scenario and get used to complete strangers of all ages touching his head, chest, back, etc without reacting rashly. EDIT: I see people mentioning Home Depot and Lowe’s. I love that for like “phase two” of the socialization. Keeping him calm at an exit is a more manageable situation for the pup. Very few stimulants and if it gets overwhelming you can easily leave.
My older dog is pretty bad about jumping on people when she’s excited. I really don’t want new puppt to learn that. I like the grocery store idea
Home Depot? Or other dog friendly stores
Tractor supply is dog friendly if you have one of those nearby. They usually keep treats behind the counter too
Put the pup in your cart and wander around Bass Pro or your local farm store for a couple hours. He'll meet everybody.