5 1/2 Months Too Old for Socializing?

[imwithgreen]

Hello everyone,

I'm adopting a 5 1/2 month old pit bull mix. I know she hasn't really been raised around other dogs, only the ones in her family.

I live in NYC so I need her to be okay being around other dogs especially on walks.

Everything I can find says dog socialization should happen at 12-16 weeks.

Do you all have any advice for first socializing her even though she's already 5 1/2 months?

I'm super nervous. Any advice is helpful!

[Nileska]

My advice to you is find a good training club and sighn up for classes.You will train your dog in a class taught by an experienced Instructor and your dog will get used to being in the company of other dogs as well.Just look in your local phone book..
I have met a lot of our local "pitties"and they are all sweeties and are quite trainable.Your new puppy wii be the prime age to begin the training.....(you can thank me later) ...They may even invite you to join the club eventually.

BTW,geting a puppy is like haveing a kid (well almost) you musi make sure they get a good education.
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[1dog1cat]

I don't think any age is too old for socializing. If you have time and love, mixed with knowledge, you can train your dog to do almost anything. I have an APBT that I adopted at a year and a half. She was nervous around different things and not good with other big dogs. After getting to know her and her trusting me, we were able to concur her fears and let her out with the big dogs with no problem.
For example: Pumpkin feared those big garbage cans. We would walk by and she would cringe, hold back, skitter around it. I just kept on walking and talking. When she wanted to stop and look/smell I let her, then kept walking. She could care less about garbage cans now.
With the big dogs, I had to work on her. She was good with the little dogs, so I used that to encourage her to play or tolerate others. At dog parks I'd be close at hand when other dogs came up to her. I'd talk to her, not pet the other dogs (she'd get mad if I did) and be calm. After being around the same dog, and no threat found, she would play a bit. As time went by she figured out if she was nice and the other dog was nice there was fun fun fun.
She is now 6 years old and I can trust her off leash with any dog in any situation. But I always watch. You never know about the other dog.
Dogs do seem to be more tuned to you when on the leash. The best advice I have is to be calm. Do not tense up, stop, or tug on the leash. Let your pup know that the other dogs are nothing to worry about. Try ignoring the other dog and yours will see you as the leader and learn to do the same.
A pit bull type dog is not anything different from a lab. They really are misunderstood and labeled wrong. Love your pup, train your pup, and you will have a great dog. I have pit bull haters in love with my girl.

[pawsforthought]

I don't know what the equivalent is for where in the world you are, but here you can go to puppy romps and let them play with other dogs their age. Training classes are a good alternative and allow you to practice obedience in the presence of distractions. Other than that, trying to get to know other dog owners that you can arrange play dates with (for your dogs...not you) is another good option. No, 5 and a half months is certainly not too old. I'd only MAYBE say a dog was too old if it was a few years and had never come into contact with other dogs.

Just try do as much as you can in the way of socialising. See if there are any events local to you that you could take her to. I always make sure to get a puppy used to EVERYTHING I can. When our two Aussies were pups (they're a year apart, they weren't puppies together) I carried them before they'd had their vaccinations to a busy street with lots of road noise nearby and sat on a bench for about half an hour. People would come up, dogs etc. I didn't have money, so that's the sort of thing you have to do sometimes if you can't get to things like puppy classes etc.

Good luck!

[oldie moldy]

Gosh, you've received some great ideas so far, most seem to talk to the dog to dog situation. There is of course the people interaction that's worth notice.

When I started socializing my female German Shepherd I fried up some of those chicken hearts, gizzards and livers in flour and popped them in a plastic container. She hadn't all her shots so I carried her and we went everywhere visiting. Most folks were more than willing to give a treat to a cute pup. After we had made the circuit about four time in two weeks she was convinced that the world was populated with wonderful people who feed nice things to puppies. To save on fingers I found a cute little metal fork to use with the treats. The fork kept the peoples fingers clean and untouched by eager puppy teeth; a secondary effect was after about the third time she bit down on the fork, she stopped being snappy in how she took the morsel of chicken. To this day she is very gentle taking food from your hand.

Now, this next part I'm not sure about, I'm making it up as I go along. I've never had a Pit. Pit Bull have an enormously bad press and some of the people you meet will be afraid of your dog. This isn't scientific, but I think your dog will pick up on this "bad vibe" and perhaps the encounter could be less than you might hope. Bear with me please. What would happen if you got one of those funny/cute dog hats and/or costumes and put it on the dog? Yep, the dog would look silly but I'll bet few would feel threatened and most would smile. Imagine Arnold Schwartznegurggle in a tutu. You can't help it, it's funny. And any emoting the people did would be positive and friendly. Probably a dumb idea, but the public perception of your dog is something to think about.

I'm sure you know this but just let me say it: when you take your dog to meet other dogs, keep control of your dog and remain vigilant. You really don't want your dog to be frightened or mugged.

That you are thinking about these things speaks well of you and I'd say you pup is one lucky dog!

Best Wishes, Rob

[Oliver & Henry's Mum]

Rob, both of those suggestions are wonderful! The fork and treat idea is excellent, especially the fork part as I hadn't heard that tip before and it makes such good sense. I also liked your idea to prevent breed profiling. A puppy will put up with a lot of things, like wearing a hat, if they are receiving wonderful treats and smiling faces.

[Nileska]

Actually,some brilliant ideas Rob...BRAVO !....All the "Pitties"that I have met are real sweeties and very polite.They could use a bit of " good press" ....As with any breed,it's the owners.

Richard