[nano]

Nice advice from RoxyGirl.  You need to go buy the book "Mother Knows Best" by Carole Benjamin.  It is the best book for puppy owners that I know of.  The obedience class is good, but don't waste your money on one at Petsmart, they are not worth a dime.  You can do it on your own, if you study and follow the book.

The most important thing is getting some socialization with dogs that you know are friendly towards other dogs.  Tell her she can say "hi" and keep your LEASH LOOSE!! Get her together with some friends dogs you know and let her have a sniff and keep the greetings short and don't allow the play banter to happen.  Also, you can do a lot of training and socializing by taking her lots of places in public, parks, sidewalks, out front of Home Depots, etc, etc.  I work alot on my dogs NOT meeting people and other dogs and learning to mellow out with distractions like bicycles, strollers etc.  I put them on a nice SIT staying by their side and keeping plenty of distance between them and the distractions.  I also admit that Boxers are big jumpers and my 2 1/2 year old still does it and my puppy is all over the place too.  I make her do a sit and mellow and not meeting people on the street if she is bouncing around and if she calms she may say hi.  Never, ever call come unless you can inforce the recall by leash.  It needs to happen every time, one way or another, as your dogs life may one day depend on it.  Don't let that puppy off leash in the yard.  The leash is your way of getting her to connect with you but only use it LOOSELY, never tight.

Good luck with your pup, sounds like you are on the right track.

Nano

 

[nano]

I forgot to add that what ever you do, do not use a flexi-leash with your dog. The flexi only teaches your dog to pull and they learn nothing by it, only tension is taught and that is not a good thing.   Always use a regular 6 foot lead and a long one for distance training and to use on your walks when you are safe from traffic and so forth, and always keep that leash loose.

Nano

 

[nano]

Keep your greetings short between dogs and end with a good note on them.  Make sure you and your dog know the dog first.  Don't feel pressured to meet everyone's dog. My dogs do not meet everybody and everything. (I would say they in fact only meet and greet about 20% of the other beings we pass). In fact it is good practice and ettiquette for them to learn that they are not to meet and greet until given the permission to do so.  That includes people and dogs. This is helping establish to them that you are the leader of your pack and permission is granted by you and not them.  The command I use is "say Hi" with my hand giving a forward motion in front of my dogs nose.

Dogs do not like all dogs they meet, just like people don't like all people they meet. A dog rushing up to your dog is considered rude behavior between dogs.  Give them some space to sniff each others scent in the air before rushing into any greetings.    Our thinking that dogs just all ought to get along together is not a canine philosiphy, it is man's idea.  I have a male boxer right now that is 2 1/2 years old and he doesn't care to have other dogs sticking their nose in his space.  He just doesn't care for it and can't handle it.  That is o.k.  It is just his personality, no fault of not enough socialization or whatever. He is can eventually handle most others (dogs) within a 6 foot space of him given the time to process it and being put on a "settle" command.  He likes all people, but needs time to settle down for some of those too.  I don't like most people sticking their nose in my business either.  I am kind of an introvert.

Best of luck

Nano

Nano

 

[nano]

I do a lot of training of people on behalf of their dogs.