How to socialize my dog with other dogs/pets

I have got a 3 y/o pit bulldog that's a princess-she has never played with any other dogs and probably don't even realize she has a tail & fur!

But, I would love to take her out walking and socializing around others and their dogs. She is my first dog ever and I just want to know how and what to expect. So any advice would be much appreciated. Also, I would love to allow her to be around my sisters little teacup dog but, I don't want her to think it's her baby & throw him around. Thank you for time and help.



Hi
Socialization is very important for dogs, and you could be right - your little girl may well think she's a human if she's never had a chance to really meet other canines :o)

Socializing should begin very early in a dogs life, and be an ongoing process. If you're starting at 3 years old, you'll need to take it very slowly and be extremely cautious at first because you've no idea how she may react to other dogs/animals.

Her overall personality may give you some indications though. For example is she outgoing and friendly with people? Does she happily approach anyone she meets? Is she confident but not aggressive?

Or is she scared of new people and places? Does she try to hide or cower, growl or snap when she's afraid? Is she inclined to be 'bossy' and demanding or quiet and timid? With new dogs and situations she's likely to act in the same way you've seen her act with new people and places.

Pitbulls are wonderful dogs, and they're usually very outgoing, friendly, loving and loyal. BUT, they do have a tendency towards being dog-aggressive, especially once mature, so extra caution is required. You're right to be wary about letting your girl play with a tiny dog. This is because bully breeds tend to play 'rough' and she could unintentionally hurt a little dog very easily, even is she was only trying to play nice!

I would recommend that you enrol her in an obedience class at a local dog obedience school to begin with. That way she can get her first taste of socialization in a controlled setting. If she does well, and is friendly and playful, try taking her on a playdate with a friend/family members dog who is at least as big as she is. Never leave them alone together though, you both need to supervise them, silly squabbles over a bone or toy can escalate very fast, and one of them could get hurt in that situation. Never take her to a park and let her off-leash to play, that's just a recipe for disaster.

Unfortunately Pitbulls have, mostly unfairly, been branded as vicious and dangerous, and it's the responsibility of good owners everywhere to prove that that's not true. Don't give people a chance to judge your dog badly, if she gets in a tussle with another dog (even if the other one is totally at fault and the instigator) it's your dog that will be blamed. Sad, but true. So don't ever allow that opportunity to happen.

Check out my page on socialization for ideas on places to go and things to do.

Best of luck with it, let me know how it goes!