Socializing a Singleton - Page 1

This past Monday one of my gals had one puppy - We knew for several weeks there was only one.  She did not go in to full labor on her own so we elected for a c-section.  She is healing fast and is an excellent mom. 

My concern is that the pup does not have any litter mates to learn social skills from.  Pup will have mom and his grand sire is actually a super puppy socializer but will this be enough?  He is going to be super spoiled by all the humans around him and sounds a little selfish but I'm kind of happy to have a light work load a head of me, in the clean up department anyways....  

I'm sure some of you have had singletons, what was you experience like and how did he/she end up as an adult?

dawg,
You will want to stimulate the puppy yourself as soon as it is old enough to respond.
Toys and obstacles, a flirt pole, and yes it will need more attention from you and mom in the absence of litter mates.
Remove the pup from mom no later than eight weeks, maybe sooner.
You may expose the pup to other animals after it's had it's shots but use caution not to have a bad experience.
Do not be the sole care giver, let others help.
She's a handsome bitch by the way.

Moons.

Thanks for the suggestions and the complement Moons

 Beautiful MOM and lucky pup

 JUst let things go naturally...yes, well socialized pup...pups do not learn that much from all the litter mates as my pups get seperated early because of their high prey and play drives and the need to be each one so dominant it causes mega dominance over each other...but they do play once a day..

Nothing lost...your pup will be SUPER DOG...lol  It ought to have a title on it by 10 weeks old...lol

YR

YR - very funny LOL 

Thank you, he is the center of attention.  My older very broody female wants to have him so bad.  This is a new puppy raising experince for us and so far enjoying it.

Can't help you with your question, but I just wanted to comment on mom's good looks. Wow! She's a looker.

How sweet is that photo, she looks SO pleased with her pup!

with a full litter, the puppies fight over nipples, they learn to be strong and accept it.

with Brick, I would pretend to be another puppy. as he grew, grew to accept frustration with ease.
 
lots of time was spent playing on the ground with him, i played lots of hide and seek games. also rolled him over (like a litter mate would do).
 
he's turned into a great dog and excellent pet.
 

Can't help with the socialization....but your dam is gorgeous, & yes, she looks SO proud of that little squirt! Congratulations! jackie harris

A friend of mine had a singleton border collie pup, at the same time a friend of hers had a huge Dobie litter.  She took several pups from that littler and te BC mom raised four pups.  As far as I know all worked out well.  Another person I know took her singleton BC pup to be socialized with a litter of lab pups around the same age.  The pup learned what she felt were some improtant lessons.  I realize not always possible to find another litter, but this is what 2 people I know did.