Big Dogs in Puppy Class...

[ParNone]

Oz is in puppy class with 4 other dogs. 2 Lab mixes that probably weigh about 15 lbs, a Rat terrier that looks about 10 lbs and finally a lil’ Westie that’s closer to about 5 lbs. So Oz at approx. 45 lbs just looks huge next to all of them. Well we were having a puppy playtime and they were all playing up a storm, when a lady with a tiny lil’ Chi walked up to the trainer and was asking about the class. After the trainer told her it was a puppy class, she looked at Oz aghast and exclaimed that he was too big for puppy class. The trainer explained, that he’s just over 5 mos old, so he’s still a puppy too.

The lady continued to watch. Oz does kind of dominate the play, so the trainer asked me to call him to me, so the other puppies would play with each other and not just him. So I called him and all the puppies came bounding after him. He may be big, but they all love the big gulag. Since they all ran to play with him, the trainer told me to go ahead and let him play again. He really does seem to understand that he has to tone down his play and not be so rambunctious, when he’s playing with the smaller dogs (Something I haven’t completely gotten across to him, when playing with me yet and I’ve the scratches to prove it). Anywho, I’m glad the lady was still there to see. I didn’t want her to be deterred from joining a puppy class based on seeing a big dog there. I can totally understand her concern, but hope she doesn't miss out on puppy class due to it.

Anybody here who had a bigger dog in puppy class have any
issues with them playing with the smaller dogs?

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[tatsxxx11]

The trend around here recently has been to hold puppy classes for small breeds separately from the medium and large breed dogs. The cut off for puppy classes is 5 months. After that, you are enrolled in basic obedience. Some of the larger breeds are pretty big by 5 months! You must be so proud of your big "galug!" I'm glad that woman wasn't put off after seeing your boy interact so nicely with the other doggies.

[Dixieland Dancer]

Our classes are usually big enough to seperate the big dogs and the little dogs during play time. As Sandra said though, cut off for puppy kindergarten is usually 5 months becuase then the pup really needs a basic obedience class. Give your big "galug" a hug for me please!

[ParNone]

argh! You know I knew "gulag" didn't look right, when I typed it.
LOL!

I'm taking the class at Petsmart and the cut off is 5 mos there
too. Oz started just a lil' before he was 4 mos. old. We got
a lil' bit of a late start due to some unexpected work
responsibilities. As soon as we finish this class, we're going to look
for a basic obedience class, but at a training facility vs Petsmart, so
we can move right on into dog agility. I was just mainly taking
the puppy class for socialization, so I wasn't as concerned with
quality, as I was with location and timing.

I can see how separating the smaller dogs from the big would be
safer for the lil' dogs, but I also think it's a good socialization
for the big dogs to learn to play gentle with the smaller dogs
too. But if I had the smaller dog, I'd no doubt prefer the
separation thing better.

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[robinh]

I have two big dogs (50 lbs & 70 lbs) and two little dogs (22 lbs & 8.5 lbs) The bigger girls have learned to play with the two little ones very nicely. When it's time to gnaw and gnash at each other (a lot of posturing) the big girls lay on the floor so they put the little dogs at an even advantage. There have never been any nips or yelps from this playing.

From my point of view, it's been a positive experience in socialization for all of them. Shows that big dogs can be gentle giants when necessary.

When Molly (8.5 lbs) went to puppy class, she didn't notice the difference in size because of the way her brother (22 lbs) and sisters (50 lbs & 70 lbs) play. I pretty sure she thinks she's a rottweiler - fearless and courageous to the max!

[ParNone]

Hola robinh!

I was going to say that Murph and Maddie socialized Oz too,
but Murph more or less taught him to play rough, so I'm not sure
he was really socialized to play gentle by them. Although
Maddie'll let him have it if he gets too rambunctious, especially
if she's sleeping. And since Murph has a hurt knee, those two
aren't able to play with each other right now. So maybe Oz has
forgotten some of what he learned from Murph.

When we started class, I did have somewhat of a worry.
The first time we let the dogs play together, I was at the ready
to grab him by the halter if need be, but it turned out not
to be necessary. Course I do exercise him before we go to class,
to make sure some of his excess energy is burned off, so maybe
that's what tones him down some.

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[anna_66]

We never had a problem with Roxey being too big, but she was & is more agressive than alot of other dogs in our classes were. When her & the 2 other huskies started playing, the other people would get scared & pull their dogs away (I guess because of the way the dogs"talked" to each other-guess it sounded like they were being mean). I've found alot of people who think Roxey is being mean when all she is doing is trying to "talk" to the other dogs, it's just something huskies do.
Has anyone ever heard that people are more afraid of huskies because of their blue eyes? A lady told me this, I just don't see it personally!

[ParNone]

hi anna!

Murph talks a lot when he plays too. And I find myself from time
to time watching his body language to make sure it isn't real
aggression. So I could imagine a couple of huskies playing like
that could be somewhat unnerving.

I've had a few people shy away from Oz and I've wondered if
maybe it wasn't the blue eyes, because I couldn't imagine they'd
be afraid of a Collie. Piercing blue eyes do give a dog a
somewhat more intense appearance, so I guess it could give
some people pause.

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