Posted: 8/17/2010 7:28:39 PM EDT
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Alright guys , I picked up a puppy (6 mos old) from the local humane society of St Lucie County and am having some issues. He seems to have some deep rooted fear issues focusing issues. Only thing I have been able to teach him is sit. The only time I can get him to come over to me is when the house is quiet and there is zero distractions. If I get off my couch too fast he takes off and if any stranger comes around including frequent visitors it takes him a half hour to relax. Even then he will not come near them.
He shows no interest in playing with toys that squeak or even run after anything except my 10 year old lab who is honestly too old to keep up with him. Even when I get him to sit he takes 4 steps backwards before doing so. I walk him 3 miles a day and take him everywhere trying to keep him socialized but he is still very weary of everything. If I pet him he buries his head to the floor or in my lap but won't hold is head up high. I got him when he was 4 months old and he was a resident of the kennel since he was 2 months old say they say. He is a shepherd mix and I was wondering if any of you guys can recommend a decent trainer or professional in or around St. Lucie County that can help me out. I have looked around but cannot seem to find anyone. I'm sure I'll catch some shit from some of you guys but I really do want to keep the little guy. Thanks in advance: J.D. |
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how long have you had him? I'm guessing 2 mths - he's 6 mths old and he got him at 4 mths old  .
I'm not in your area so I can't help with trainers but I'd consider joining a puppy training class. They're typically inexpensive group classes and they really focus more on socialization, with both humans and other animals, and will allow yours to be around other puppies and maybe build a bit of confidence. After that type of training then you could move him to a more custom, private training if needed. Shelter dogs are great but sometimes they just don't know how to act because they didn't have normal lives so far and we have no idea what they may have been thru in their short lives. I applaud you for wanting to work with this dog and for giving it a good home. |
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Hmmm. I'm in St. Lucie county and have dealt with shelter dogs for every dog I've ever owned. I've taken quite a few from like you describe or worse to being normal dogs. I even worked with MWDs in the Navy. The biggest factor is time and patience.
Sounds like the puppy needs to be socialized around both other dogs and people. Bringing him with you almost everywhere you go would be a good idea, especially to pet friendly places such as petsmart etc. He will be shy at first and even scared but gain confidence over time when he sees that people and other dogs are friendly. Being able to play with younger dogs would help too, as they can keep up with him. Sounds like in this aspect he needs to figure out the pack mentality and do normal dog things which he didn't get to do in his earlier months. He's probably really confused because he never got to do such things and his nature is driving it. This helps with socializing with humans as well. Take him out of the normal walk routine as well and try to walk him in other places such as parks, the beach, etc. New experiences are key here so that he adapts to what was previously considered abnormal to him. If you need any more help I'm local, so just let me know. |
| Patience, patience, patience. It will take a while to "break" the dog of his fears but don't give up, it will happen. Experts have said that just exposing the dog to something they are afraid of to "get them used to it" isn't effective and will actually end up hurting the dog mentally in the long run. I'm a firm believer in trust with my dogs. I let the dogs know that I am there and we will experience the "thing" together. I know its weird but it goes back to the pack mentality. YOU are the alpha dog and need to protect the others in the pack. If the dog sees that you aren't afraid of something, it will most likely understand it's something that is either nothing to be afraid of, or something you will protect them from. My dog was afraid of her own shadow and while she still has some things she doesn't like, with patience and repetition, she's gotten alot better. |
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Thanks guys, I appreciate it. I just want him to get a full happy life and I think he is just bound by fear. he'll grow out of it soon enough as the other poster said––patience and varying experiences. you're top notch in my book by getting a shelter dog. screw any douchebag that says give up on the lilttle guy. |
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He just needs time and socialization. Once he sees the world a bit and learns that you're not going to hurt him, he'll come out of his shell.
It is a fair bet that his first two months were spent being mistreated, and the next two were spent with little human interaction "quality time". Matt |
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I would bring him around more active dogs but he is a bit playfully aggressive and pushes other dogs a bit too far. I don't want his rough playin gettin him mauled. Every person i know has pits or protection dogs with no real trainin so i bring him around family dogs that are not so active. I couldn't leave this guy at the pound, i wasn't even lookin for another dog but work brought me to that place that day and i had to get him outta there.
I'd like to get him some real good training but i don't think he can handle it. Seems he has some fear anxiety issues. I wish there were better places to socialize him around here without the dog park. |
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He will be fine - you have to have your A game on though and be in it 120%.
You only get out of a dog what you put into it. If you're doubting it now, how can you put your most into him? Also, most dog training is training the owner - not the dog. He might play aggressive with other dogs at first because he has to figure it out and establish himself as a dog and some part of the pack. Dogs rarely maul one another. Lots of play might look like it to you with growling and biting and rolling around, but there's a difference between fighting and playing. Most of the time fighting comes because of the owners, and not the dogs. Two owners on edge and apprehensive about the dogs mingling and you get fighting. When you come in to pull them off they keep fighting because now they think they're fighting for you (the pack) as well. Dogs can sense when you approach another dog / owner and are worried / anxious / apprehensive. As for other places than the dog park - walton rocks beach just south of the powerplant is a dog friendly beach. I go there often with my dog or to fish and it isn't too busy. It would give him a new experience and meet a new person / dog every now and then. If he swims it will exhaust the crap out of him as well and if you go in with him you will bond like hell. You could also walk him on crosstown parkway, long stretches interspersed with people and other dogs here and there. He doesn't have to meet and greet every dog, but at least seeing them might help until he gets accustomed to the idea of other dogs in his daily routine. |
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