Hello Everyone worried about my new puppy

[aussielover93]

I am new to this and just would like to say Hi. I also would like to ask a question. I just bought an Australian Shepherd puppy and he is so scared, I mean he is scared of everything my kids,my boyfriend,other people, noises, he doesn't run around and play like other puppies all he does all day is hide. Please is there anything I can do to get him out of this?Thank you in advance for your help.

[Cassiepeia]

He's a baby right now, who's been taken away from his mum and siblings. He's bound to be a bit scared, it's a terrifying time for him.
I'd be very quiet around him, let him come to you and give him treats when he does.

We have some great trainers here who are better equiped to answer your question.
For their benefit can I ask, how old is the pup now and how old was he when you first got him?
Has he been checked by a vet? What did the vet say?
Was he a rescue or did you get him from a breeder?
If he's from a breeder, what does the breeder say about his behaviour?

Cass.

[calgal]

I adopted a baby Chihuahua last Monday. She has three broken bones in her foot, is in a splint and isn't allowed to run around. I carry her all over the house, outside, took her to PetCo and she too is afraid of everything, but I can tell she is also inquisitive. I think we just have to continue taking them out and about all the time till they are used to their surroundings. I'd say don't coddle her, but at the same time just talk to her when you take her around and let her know it's all ok.

[briarlow]

Was she reared in kennels or in the house?

I hve a working breed, used for similiar work who have to be bred inside a house, if they are bred in kennels people can have big problems with them.

It could just be all the madness of a new house, new people and new children if your pup wasn't brought up with children.
Can't wait to see photo's I love the breed.

[Fuzz Puppy]

Hi welcome to Global Paw. I'd praise the puppy when he's calm in those situations and act calm yourself. Good luck.

Hannah

[aussielover93]

He is about 4 months old I have only had him for 1 and a half weeks, I have not taken him to the vet yet, and I bought him from a breeder and she said that he was a very friendly dog until she came back from Canada. She found that he was scared of her and everyone else too. He was really scared when I went and seen him I just want him to come back and be the normal Australian Shepherd I am used too. Thank You So Much.

[shandoggy1]

First, Welcome to GP ! I would take him to the vet and start socializing your boy Take him EVERYWHERE with you. You don't want him to grow up to be a fear biter. Plus he is 4 months old already and should have been socialized as early as 8 weeks. I got my ACD when he was 8 weeks from a very reputable breeder, but they lived out in the stixs of Massachusetts where each house was seperated by miles of woods so Cai was scared plus we had a 2 hour ride ahead of us. By the next day he was warmed up to us and the socializing began. I took him to petco, petsmart, pet supplies plus, just to take him. As soon as he had all his shots I started taking him to a dog park to get him around other dogs and he has grown into quite a nice boy. Why was he sold at such a late age (4 months)? Was the breeder going to keep him?

[aussielover93]

She actually sold him but I guess the other people decided to have a female instead. I don't know I just know that he is very scared and I do take him out, I have taken him for walks, to petsmart, and to the Lake. Nothing has helped him so far. He is scared of everyone but me. Thank You.

[Barrett]

He needs a lot of socialization and a big confidence booster. Socialization should be your main priority for the next few months. You need to take him someplace new every single day if you can. Bring lots of treats and make everything a game to him. Keep it fun and don't push his limits, meaning don't let him get overly frightened of anything. Work up slowly. If he sniffs someones hand, give him a treat. If he was scared of an object or noise but was brave enough to slowly check it out, praise him and give him a treat. Act very confident around him and don't coddle him at all. Just coax him to be brave and praise him when he is..especially for going up to strangers for a sniff. In the beginning ask strangers to ignore him and not pet him. Just let him sniff them and get a treat from them and move on. You can work your way up to letting him get attention once he is not scared anymore. You should do this every single day if you can...no less than 3 times a week at the least!!! At the same time as the socialization training, take him to puppy kindergarten. This is a dog training class where puppies can socialize with each other and you can learn basic training techniques. This is a GREAT way to socialize him and give him confidence. As he learns commands and gets praise and treats for doing what you ask, he will gain tons of confidence. He will always look to you for instruction and feel comfortable and confident to do as you ask. He is a working dog and needs a job. While he is still a puppy, obedience training should be his first job. You can add other jobs as he gets older. A job will give him confidence too.

Here are a few links to read up on.

http://www.inch.com/~dogs/socialization.html
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Con...153&A=1391&S=1

and here is the best one...there are tons of other training links on this website to read up on, besides the socialization links.

http://www.uwsp.edu/psych/dog/lib-puppy.htm#soc

Barrett

[aussielover93]

Thank you so much Barrett and everyone else who have given me some great advise. I will try anything and everything to help him get out of this phase or whatever he is in. Thank You........ Denise

[Carrie]

Everyone gave you great advice. My feeling is that by 1-1/2 weeks, a normally adusted pup would not be this afraid, even in new surroundings. I would expect it to show at least a little curiosity, a little play and some habituation to some people. This is a dog who should have had, in four months enough experiences to be able to handle these things.

I hate to dampen what should be a joyful time and I hope to God I'm wrong about this which I am about to say.

I have serious reservations about this pup. I'd place money on it that he was not socialized at all by these people who originally bought him. Socialization is vital to a puppy to turn out well adjusted. And it needs to be accomplished by the truck loads by the time the pup is 3-4 months old. This is what forms most of their personality. After that time frame it is extremely difficult and rare to be able to make up for that lost time, as their personalities are, for the most part, set.....or formed. This hiding and doing nothing else all day almost sounds worse than no socialization to the outside world. It almost sounds like it had no interaction at all, even with the owners, no stimulation. I'm very concerned. I would have a vet check him out too, just in case he can come up with something...maybe something else.

If it were me, (I hate to say this) I'd tell the breeder that she sold me a puppy who obviously had no socialization and that I want my money back and she will have to deal with the pup. She must not have screened these buyers well enough if they traded the pup for a different sex. That seems to be a frivilous reason. And then to return it like that. They weren't responsible buyers and the breeder may well have been careless in selling them the pup in the first place.

Like I said, I hope I'm wrong. I hope you can bring this pup around by careful and gradual socialization. I wish you all the best. Maybe you can talk to a good behaviorist.

[aussielover93]

Thanks again everyone for your help. Here is a update on my dog Toby, he is so much better he is still affraid, but he plays all day with the other dogs now, he totally loves me and my daughter, but he is still alittle leary of my boys and my boyfriend. He is alot better with my younger boys then my older son and boyfriend. He walks great on a leash, sometimes things will scare him and he'll go inbetween my legs. I of course would of liked to have a typical Australian Shepherd but I love him anyways and he trusts and loves me so there is No Way I could give him back and have him be so scared again and not have me there to be his safty net. I did also find out he reallywasn't 4 months when I got him he was 6 months but anyways I'm keeping him and still hope he comes out of his shell completly. Anymore advice would be great? Thank You All So Much.......

[sammy]

I agree with Carrie. I think either he is a very timid shy pup or he has not been socialised. It's hard to return a dog, but a shy aussie is a nightmare. An aussie is a LOT of dog anyway but one that isn't tempermentally sound and in a pet home, complete with kids is a prescription for disaster. Most good aussie breeders think twice about placing pups in pet homes esp with kids. It's easier to return him now and have the breeder carefully place him or work through his issues before rehoming him again than it is to end up having him PTS in a year because he's become a fear biter and bit someone in your home. Keep in mind aussies are bred to bite things that move fast and running children are prime targets. This is a hardwired instinct not something that can be trained out.

If you are REALLY committed to keeping this pup you need to really be on top of this situation. Get help (more help than advice from an internet forum), read everything you can get your hands on about puppy socialisation and shy dogs.

This is the type of situation that needs to be handled really well, which isn't easy to do in a busy family home even for an experienced aussie person or dpg trainer. You need to ask yourselves really honestly is this is the best situation for this pup.

If you are 100% committed to keeping him then-

Get the help of a trainer who uses dog friendly methods, no correction based training for this guy. Enroll him in a puppy class asap.

Don't push this pup into situations he is worried about and don't coddle and coax him. Set him up for success and build on his successes. Ignore scaredy behavior and praise and reward confident behavior. It sounds like you are doing too much too soon with him which will only overwhelm him and back fire.

The first book I would read is Culture Clash by Jean Donaldson and also...

Patricia McConnell wrote a book on the topic.... I think it's called Scaredy Dog or something to that effect. Both won't likely be available at local bookstores but can be ordered in or bought on amazon.com or through dogwise.com.

What does the breeder say about this?

edited to add- I just reread my post and think I should add that I am not anti- aussie. I hope it didn't come across that way. I own an aussie and they are my all time favorite breed, but they are don't often make good family pets and without the benefit of good breeding , excellent and careful, socialisation and good training they can be aggressive towards other dogs, fear biters and a huge problem. They are a herding dog intended to have a JOB. They *can* be great pets too , but not in your typical family home. These dogs needs lots of exercise both mental and physical.

[aussielover93]

Thank you for your post, but I have had Aussies before I got my first Aussie when I was pregnant with my first son. This dog was an AWSOME dog he never had a job to do he was just my kid and he loved it, he would do anything for me and did it well.That dog was with me for 11years he was always and inside dog and we even lived in an apartment once.He did great, he was a little aggressive towards other male dogs. He loved all of my kids. It's funny I talk with alot of people who have Aussies and I have never heard that Aussies should not be in a kid home. I think that is just Crazy!!!!! My Aussie was so protective of my kids and NEVER hurt them he was here for everyone of my kids but died right before my daughter was born. Toby I have had him for about a month now and he has come so far I'm not giving him back to be hurt again, or not be worked with just because I have kids. He has never hurt my kids or bit my kids and my kids are not with him by themselves. Thank you again for your advice but I just don't completly agree with everything you said. AUSSIES ARE GREAT WITH KIDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sammy]

I have a child. I also have an aussie who is very intense and from working lines who most certainly will herd and nip children if the right circumstannce arises. I'm not implying that aussies *can't* be good with kids nor that they don't love kids. I am certainly not implying that an aussie would intentionally hurt a child. It's got nothing to do with that. Herding instinct is herding instinct. When that instinct kicks in nips can happen. Kids stimulate herding drive quite often.

There is also a HUGE range in aussies in terms of herding drive and exercise/work needs. This is because of a division between the working dog and the show dog lines. I have met aussies that were quite sedate, had very little herding instinct and could make very nice family pets-- sort of like little goldens. Those dogs aren't true or typical aussies IMHO. Aussies certainly would never mean to hurt a child but sometimes herding drive kicks in when kids run and they don't mean to hurt the child but they feel it's their job to keep them where they "should" be.

This issue also isn't just about aussies, it's about an aussie who is very shy and was afraid in many situations. THAT sends a big red flag up for me. Too often a situation like this ends up very poorly for the dog.
I'm glad the dog is showing improvement. That's wonderful. I can understand not sending the dog back- I doubt I ever could either. But understand these issues can be quite serious and need to be dealt with carefully and properly in order to have a good outcome for the dog. I'll be interested to hear how things go. I'm more than happy to help in any way I can.