My boyfriend's dog is unsocialized and I totally agree with you, CrazyBrit. It's not her fault. He just didn't know any better when he got her.
It's hard to take her on walks, because she gets terrified at things that she doesn't understand. Like if leaves are blowing around or if there's a storm drain, she panics like the world is coming to an end.
And other dogs? She snaps at other dogs if they get too close to her. I don't think he realized how important socialization was until he came home with me and met the family dog, who loves other dogs and is just fine on walks, and who is child-safe (which his dog certainly is not child safe).
He was really surprised when I told him all of the things we did as the fam. dog was little and growing up to get him used to new things and people and places.
He said that he feels bad, and wished he had known more about dogs when he adopted his dog when she was 6 months old.
Now his dog is 6 years, and though we are making small progress with her, it is a very very slow process.
Socialization from a young age is very underrated.
It's hard to take her on walks, because she gets terrified at things that she doesn't understand. Like if leaves are blowing around or if there's a storm drain, she panics like the world is coming to an end.
And other dogs? She snaps at other dogs if they get too close to her. I don't think he realized how important socialization was until he came home with me and met the family dog, who loves other dogs and is just fine on walks, and who is child-safe (which his dog certainly is not child safe).
He was really surprised when I told him all of the things we did as the fam. dog was little and growing up to get him used to new things and people and places.
He said that he feels bad, and wished he had known more about dogs when he adopted his dog when she was 6 months old.
Now his dog is 6 years, and though we are making small progress with her, it is a very very slow process.
Socialization from a young age is very underrated.
