Should i let him play with other dogs?

[Vlad]

Hello guys! This is Vlad on his most favourite thing to do apparently! It started as socialisation but its kinda worrying me lately. He’s 7 months i started going to the dog park for socialisation but now whenever we go there he only cares about playing with other dogs and i seize to exist the moment we arrive. Yesterday i put him in the fenced area he started playing with other dogs immediately and I thought “lets test if he checks on me” and i moved far from the park but i could watch him from far away. He didn’t care at all if i was there or not he didn’t even stop playing for a second to check on me. Is this something age related or he isnt just bonded with me that much.
I train with him in the morning i play with him at lunch and we go at the dog park later on. Its not like im not interacting with him but all he cares is playing with other dogs.
The benefit is that he sleeps like for 10h straight after dog park haha

 

[Ravenbird]

It's a personal choice. I understand that this is a way of life for many people and their dogs, but I prefer my dog to look to me for all their good things in life. You lose a lot of bond by being the 2nd most fun thing in his life instead of the first. He's learning fast that at the dog park that you don't even matter at all. Can you recall him if he gets in trouble or a dog gets too aggressive with him or if he plays too rough with a smaller dog?

 

[Vlad]

If i call him like 10 times yes lol. At the beginning when he was 3-5 months he had too much interest in training these days he listens to my commands on “ shut up dude im doing it” mood like maybe i gave him too much freedom. I let him play on the yard with his toys while im working inside

 

[Vlad]

It's a personal choice. I understand that this is a way of life for many people and their dogs, but I prefer my dog to look to me for all their good things in life. You lose a lot of bond by being the 2nd most fun thing in his life instead of the first. He's learning fast that at the dog park that you don't even matter at all. Can you recall him if he gets in trouble or a dog gets too aggressive with him or if he plays too rough with a smaller dog?

At this age is it too late for me to become the nr1 thing for him

 

[Ravenbird]

At this age is it too late for me to become the nr1 thing for him

Not at all. At 7 months he is very much entering formative stage of wanting to be his own boss instead of you. Think about a young boy 11 or 12 years old, not old enough to be a cocky teenager, but trying to pry away from parents. This is the time that you (both) would really benefit to spend quality time together. Does he like fetching the ball? Does he like to play tug with you on the other end? Those are physical activities that he can only do with a person. In the house try brain games, teach him simple obedience "tricks" with really high reward treats. "Puppy Push Ups" = Sit- Down- Stand, Sit-Down-Stand. You can teach a down-stay gradually going further away while he stays down, then leaving the room, then leaving the room for one minute etc etc. Always go in tiny steps, make it easy for him to do the right thing. If he's never done a down-stay, then start with a leash and just back away 2 steps, then come back and release him, then progress to walking a circle around him while he stays in place, then further away and further away. These challenge his brain (and yours too, to get creative!) and when he does well, you throw a big party and let him dance around. Keep sessions short, like 10 minutes. Several short sessions during the day will get you further than an hour session once. Let him know it's FUN to do stuff together!

 

[Oh Little Oji]

While I do agree with Ravenbird's ideas above, I also see the benefits of letting him play at the dog park. As you said, it wears them out and they are angels when you get home!

With my previous Dobe, I went ahead and socialized him using the local dog park. My thinking was that I did not want him to be so very unfamiliar with other dogs that if one ever got loose on a walk and ran up to him, that he might be so fearful about something completely unfamiliar.

Now, watch out when your Dobe really starts to reach maturity. Dobes tend to play rough as a breed trait. Add in hormones and an increase in dominance and you might find that dog park play is no longer viable. I had to stop taking Oji when he was somewhere in his 1st year or so – maybe approaching 2 yrs., I forget. There were many scraps at the dog park involving Oji in the meantime. I knew that he, just as with all my prior Dobes would not hurt the other dog, but he played very good defense and never took any damage. So I knew I was safe on that end of things; however, that certainly did not mean that another dog would not one day really lay into him and draw blood and cause damage.

Here's the thing I did: I am all about training and obedience, and had already been establishing a foundation and solid base of that. So, at the dog park I would occasionally expect him to obey some commands. It wasn't that I brought treats or tried to be the most fun thing in his world. It was that I had trained him in some things and I expected obedience even in the presence of other dogs. If he was slow to obey, I corrected him humanely no matter what other dog park goers thought about it.

 

[Oh Little Oji]

Just FYI: With our current dog (just turning 8 months old) who is a hybrid of breeds that are known to not get along with other dogs once maturity sets in): I have decided to go ahead and let him play at the very close by unofficial dog park. We are so fortunate in that because it's not an actual dog park, the people who bring their dogs here are almost without exception, responsible friendly people who keep close tabs on their dogs' behavior. It's like a dog park, but safer.

But yeah. Given that we live in a neighborhood and can't just isolate ourselves on a large property or something, I do not want my dog to be inordinately unfriendly to other dogs to the point of being a danger to them. I also want to take him to places like outdoor spaces of breweries or the farmers' market etc. Given his breed makeup, he could do massive damage to other dogs and would be likely to do so if I did not immerse him with dog socialization at a young age.

He is loving it and just has a ball playing. We will keep an eye on if he becomes too dominant and full of hormones to keep this up, though.

 

[LifeofRubie]

There seems to be a general misconception that socializing a dog means throwing them in a dog park and hoping they get along with other dogs.

I think @Rits has a good graphic but gosh if I can find it!

Socialization, generally speaking, is introducing your dog to new experiences with you as a confident leader and the most important thing!

My dogs are "socialized" in that they can be out and about and ignore "stuff."

Dogs don't really "need" dog friends. That being said, I have one dog who doesn't mind being around other dogs so we will occasionally do events with him in which he's off leash with other off leash dogs. Even so, if we call him, he'll more happily come to us than keep doing what he's doing (this is not me saying I'm an exceptional trainer; that's just his preference).

We were recently in such a situation and there was a dog accompanied by a woman and her child. This kid ran around the 'event' yelling her dogs name and the dog totally tuned her out and continued having the time of her life. Guess what that teaches that dog? There are no consequences for not listening and everything else is more fun than coming to you!

We choose to avoid dog parks, in general, but that doesn't mean our dogs are lacking anything in their lives!

 

[Rits]

I think @Rits has a good graphic but gosh if I can find it!

It's a sticky under doberman puppies!

Proper socialization for a puppy

 

[LifeofRubie]

It's a sticky under doberman puppies!

Proper socialization for a puppy

That's the one!!!

 

[Kaiser2016]

Is this something age related or he isnt just bonded with me that much.

It's dog park related. To him, it's more enjoyable to be there than to build a bond with you.

If i call him like 10 times yes lol.

We never went to dog parks, but this is the kind of recall we had when Kaiser was young. He's at an age where he doesn't want to listen. What I've learned is that it's better to keep them on leash until age 2 when they are mature and more likely to listen. Also, if they are always by your side, they should not want to leave you.

“ shut up dude im doing it” mood

I remember the days

At this age is it too late for me to become the nr1 thing for him

Not at all! We became number 1 for Kaiser around the age of 2, maybe 3 LOL, late bloomers.

Dobes tend to play rough as a breed trait.

This is a good reason you want to eliminate the dog park time. Your picture is priceless by the way, just look at his face Total velociraptor, image that coming after you Also, one day, he may run into an unruly dog who won't tolerate the rough play and then what?

Add in hormones and an increase in dominance and you might find that dog park play is no longer viable.

Exactly! And by then, your dog has already learned to enjoy dog parks and it will be that much harder to stop him.

 

[Gelcoater]

I’m not personally a fan of dog parks.
Most people go there and let the dog go and pay little attention to what their dog is doing.
Then there’s the strange dog aspect. Don’t know the dogs personality or history.

I prefer getting together with someone with a dog I have had a chance to meet one on one and know who they are as a dog before letting mine be around them.

Dobermans play hard as we all know, some other breeds find it to rough and go into defense mode.

The cool thing about Dobermans (at least in me experience? ) is they can tone themselves down when needed.
My moms little dog is older and our female tones herself down well when we visit.
Daisy did as well.
That might be a female trait? Rocky has much less of that, lol.


Another aspect to consider here is the mental read. Dogs in general can read their people in an instant.
Some random dog owner gets nervous because the Doberman is checking it little Fluffy, and Fluffy picked it up, and is now going to shift from defense to offense.
Being around people and dogs comfortable and confident in the situation makes for dogs that are comfortable and confident in the situation.
A couple of shots of Millie at a camp session year before last.
Important to note here none of these three dogs had ever met before this week long experience.
There was another Rottie not in the shot and a Chihuahua that lives with the 2 Rotts.


Millie did well with all of them. Was most worried about the Chi, but she lives with Rotts and knows how to make her point, lol.


As I said not a big fan of the parks personally but appreciate they do work for some folks and in some cases the only real option besides some people parks with baseball diamonds not in use.

 

[Oh Little Oji]

Exactly! And by then, your dog has already learned to enjoy dog parks and it will be that much harder to stop him.

Now you're sounding like the mean guy in Footloose who doesn't let the kids dance.

 

[Ravenbird]

our female tones herself down well when we visit.
Daisy did as well.
That might be a female trait?

LOL, not Asha, she runs over the top of anyone and everyone.

 

[Vlad]

Not at all. At 7 months he is very much entering formative stage of wanting to be his own boss instead of you. Think about a young boy 11 or 12 years old, not old enough to be a cocky teenager, but trying to pry away from parents. This is the time that you (both) would really benefit to spend quality time together. Does he like fetching the ball? Does he like to play tug with you on the other end? Those are physical activities that he can only do with a person. In the house try brain games, teach him simple obedience "tricks" with really high reward treats. "Puppy Push Ups" = Sit- Down- Stand, Sit-Down-Stand. You can teach a down-stay gradually going further away while he stays down, then leaving the room, then leaving the room for one minute etc etc. Always go in tiny steps, make it easy for him to do the right thing. If he's never done a down-stay, then start with a leash and just back away 2 steps, then come back and release him, then progress to walking a circle around him while he stays in place, then further away and further away. These challenge his brain (and yours too, to get creative!) and when he does well, you throw a big party and let him dance around. Keep sessions short, like 10 minutes. Several short sessions during the day will get you further than an hour session once. Let him know it's FUN to do stuff together!

I do this with him he can do down stay and me go far away but sometimes he looks like he’s doing those just to shut me up haha

 

[Ravenbird]

I do this with him he can do down stay and me go far away but sometimes he looks like he’s doing those just to shut me up haha

LOL. That's how they are! Glad to hear you're already doing this. You can always make it more challenging by adding duration or distance or distractions - the 3 D's you can add to any of your work with him. Just add one or the other, not increase all at once. You want to build on success, not set up for failure.