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SCARED OF THE WORLD AT 10 WEEKS

Posted November 26th, 2009 by caroline
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Aidan I have a question about a little puppy that was born near our house. The mother is a very fearful dog. She is a stray who hangs around in this village. She has gravitated toward us as we give her food and show her kindness. She hangs around our house and gave birth to her pups on our land. (only 2 survived) She kept them hidden but she let us come near and pick them up.

Now they are about 9 weeks old and already seem to be very fearful of the world. I have been hand feeding them and trying to teach them a little with the clicker. They have started to follow me when i go for walks with our dogs. They get along with our dogs really well and especially with Haiku. She lets them jump all over her and plays with them. Pascua is learning to tolerate them.

We have found a home for one of the pups but the other one is still homeless. I would like to try to help him to be more sociable but i don't know how to do it.

If i pick him up he seems to be scared. he doesn't try to struggle but he won't accept food when he is picked up. We took him to the vet, first time in the car, he was completely stressed out. he was drooling heavily the whole way and then he was sick. I have been trying to get people to call him and give him treats, but he won't come close to anyone except me and my partner. If I try to pick him up and bring him closer and just talk to the person he has started to panic. Do you think there is a way to help him? I have been reading Ian Dunbar and he paints a bit of a bleak picture for a pup who has already become fearful through lack of socializing.

We have been considering bringing him inside to take him away from the influence of his mother ( very fearful) because i imagine her reaction to the world is not helping him. But I am worried about getting overwhelmed and ending up with 2 reactive dogs.

The pup is 9 almost 10 weeks old and a mixture between possible German Shepard father and large Portuguese Podenco mother. So if he turns out to be a big reactive dog that means big trouble

What do you think? How can I show him to be less fearful?

I Would really appreciate your opinion.

Caroline

Comments

re: SCARED OF THE WORLD AT 10 WEEKS

On November 26th, 2009 pos4015 says:

Hi Caroline, I don't think lack of socialisation is the issue here, it sounds more like either modeling from the mother as you have suggested and/or inherited temperament. If you can manage a lot of socialisation over the next few weeks you might get a better picture. Of course, the risk is that you will bond strongly with the pup which might present an issue for you if the most sensible outcome turns out to be euthanasia.

The really quick fix for shyness is targeting, teach pup to target two outstretched fingers and have people present their fingers for pup to touch. Don't overwhelm him, just get the behaviour and click it. Don't let people leave their fingers out there if he isn't interested. Tell them to put their hand behind their back, wait a second or two, then try again.

If this opens up a whole new world for pup then the outcome is likely to be acceptable. Otherwise, consider the life pup will lead if he is truly anxious and fearful of the world.

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