Dog Community

Can 11 year old be socialized?

Posted : 9/7/2009 9:19:22 PM

I have an 13 and 11 year old bichon frises. The 13 year old is fine with other dogs but the 11 year old only gets along with the 13 yr old, no other dogs. He barks like a maniac in every situation. We tried introducing him to my son's pup in a neutral area with no luck. We just moved from a private home to an apt complex and find ourselves having to run inside or away when any dogs are out. We tried giving treats, kneeling down next to him to comfprt him and even scolding him to no avail. He seems afraid.

I have to go into the hospital and no kennel will take this dog. I'm at my wits end. Crying

JackieG

Posted : 9/8/2009 6:16:38 AM

Do you mean that no boarding kennel will take him? For barking at other dogs? Is he lunging, snarling and wanting to attack other dogs?

It is possible to help dogs of any age learn how to behave around other dogs. The best way is to find a trainer who uses positive reinforcement to show you how to help him be more comfortable around other dogs. This takes time and committment on your part but it can be done. Most aggression is fear based so you are on the right track.

http://www.apdt.com/po/ts/default.aspx Here's a link to help you find a trainer.

bichon-lover

Posted : 9/8/2009 9:13:04 AM

Yes, I mean that no kennel will take him. He doesn't play well with others. He lunges and snaps and barks incessantly. We spent several hours yesterday with my son and his puppy. We tried having my son give treats. he was NOT interested in the least.

How do you go about hiring a good trainer? Are there certain questions to be asked?

JackieG

Posted : 9/8/2009 10:02:19 AM

bichon-lover
How do you go about hiring a good trainer? Are there certain questions to be asked?

Most definitely! The link I provided will guide you in finding a trainer.

I finally found this article which is very helpful in guiding you to a good trainer.

http://www.hsmo.org/m_obedience/documents/Handout_Finding_a_trainer_2009_04.pdf

spiritdogs

Posted : 9/13/2009 8:19:57 AM

Unfortunately, a dog's optimal socialization period, when he or she learns to tolerate unfamiliar dogs (and novel situations), occurs between age 8-12 weeks. A dog that did not learn early to be social with others is always going to be at a disadvantage. That doesn't mean that you cannot desensitize your dog to the presence of other dogs nearby, but it takes lots of time and patience. You might want to find a "Feisty Fido" or "Growlies" class in your area. Or, you can try to work on this yourself if you don't have a facility nearby that offers such classes - two good books on the subject: "Click to Calm" by Emma Parsons, and "Feisty Fido" by Patricia McConnell. The fact is, however, that you may never have a dog that is comfortable with other dogs in close proximity. You might want to try to find a dog sitter who will come to your home so that your dog is not placed in a kennel environment, which is highly stressful to an under-socialized dog. There are some kennels that have individual "rooms" for dogs, but not many, so I think a pet sitter would be better. That way, your dog gets individual attention, and can feel secure, too.