Super Princess
Well-known member
Our local Bosleys (pet store) dose a drop in puppy socialization class once a week. an hour long, 2 proffessional dog trainers. only for puppies under 12 months.
I thought getting maggie socialized with dogs woudl be a good idea.
the location closest to us has one on thursday nights..the one a little farther away is sundays.
i like the idea of the sunday one much better..but we went to our first lastnight.
Im not really sure what i expceted, but it was a little more overweming then i thought.
25 puppies..all different breeds and sizes. and their owneres..in many cases..more then one owner..so a LOT of people.
they only had one pen, and next time they will bring two. but because they had one..half hte puppies went in right away..and half did not.
maggie was in the 2nd group..meaning they would get passed around to strangers. this part she loved. she loves people. im sure she wondered wtheck was going on..
but then it came her turn to go in the puppy pen.
judging fromt he reaction of the puppy playdate with her sister..i kinda predicted what would happen.
tail between her legs, ..she sat with two other newbies (brother and sister westies) shaking. it was all i had not to push everone aside grab her out and take her home with me.
some dogs were passed back for pee breaks and i had a plan in my head to just LEAVE if maggie was given to me.
i felt so bad for her. (i am one protective mama bear)
so when this bigger dog..started bugging her..i was screaming in my head..but silently watching .
A little jack wrestle..got infront of maggie and was trying to get hte bigger dog to bugger off..almost protecting her.
except..the trainers were keeping an eye ont he situation..
the big dog..was on his side on the ground..inching his way closer to her..so he was under her..nipping up..trying to get her to play back.
finally she had enough.snapped..and her shell broke..she was ontop of him playfully nipping at the bigger dog.
and the trainers got the attention of the whole room to point this out.. theyre like 'look..look at what _____ has done to this little cavalier puppy..he was on his side..tryign to engage her..in many different techinques when one didnt work" and at this point im like ..fighting a tear or two..so proud of her and this remarkable breakthrough..which i had been so upset about ..because i thought he was BUGGING her..he was acutally tring to help her break through..and did.
so then she goes "so whos the mama bear of this little cavalier" now fighitng off the tears i was like "its meee" lol.
they also explained..(as if reading my mind) that had we (me and westies mummie) taken our puppies home while they were that afraid..they would have learend to be afraid instead of facing their fears and learning that it was OKAY.
i think its a good class for both of us to go to. to help us BOTH get over things like that. however i really wish it was smaller..it was so crowded and overwelming.
she of course..gave me the growly treatment afterwards dont think she was quite pleased with me that i did that to her lol.
I thought getting maggie socialized with dogs woudl be a good idea.
the location closest to us has one on thursday nights..the one a little farther away is sundays.
i like the idea of the sunday one much better..but we went to our first lastnight.
Im not really sure what i expceted, but it was a little more overweming then i thought.
25 puppies..all different breeds and sizes. and their owneres..in many cases..more then one owner..so a LOT of people.
they only had one pen, and next time they will bring two. but because they had one..half hte puppies went in right away..and half did not.
maggie was in the 2nd group..meaning they would get passed around to strangers. this part she loved. she loves people. im sure she wondered wtheck was going on..
but then it came her turn to go in the puppy pen.
judging fromt he reaction of the puppy playdate with her sister..i kinda predicted what would happen.
tail between her legs, ..she sat with two other newbies (brother and sister westies) shaking. it was all i had not to push everone aside grab her out and take her home with me.
some dogs were passed back for pee breaks and i had a plan in my head to just LEAVE if maggie was given to me.
i felt so bad for her. (i am one protective mama bear)
so when this bigger dog..started bugging her..i was screaming in my head..but silently watching .
A little jack wrestle..got infront of maggie and was trying to get hte bigger dog to bugger off..almost protecting her.
except..the trainers were keeping an eye ont he situation..
the big dog..was on his side on the ground..inching his way closer to her..so he was under her..nipping up..trying to get her to play back.
finally she had enough.snapped..and her shell broke..she was ontop of him playfully nipping at the bigger dog.
and the trainers got the attention of the whole room to point this out.. theyre like 'look..look at what _____ has done to this little cavalier puppy..he was on his side..tryign to engage her..in many different techinques when one didnt work" and at this point im like ..fighting a tear or two..so proud of her and this remarkable breakthrough..which i had been so upset about ..because i thought he was BUGGING her..he was acutally tring to help her break through..and did.
so then she goes "so whos the mama bear of this little cavalier" now fighitng off the tears i was like "its meee" lol.
they also explained..(as if reading my mind) that had we (me and westies mummie) taken our puppies home while they were that afraid..they would have learend to be afraid instead of facing their fears and learning that it was OKAY.
i think its a good class for both of us to go to. to help us BOTH get over things like that. however i really wish it was smaller..it was so crowded and overwelming.
she of course..gave me the growly treatment afterwards dont think she was quite pleased with me that i did that to her lol.
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