Hi! I'm New!!

    • Bronze

    Hi! I'm New!!

    Hey I just joined this forum hoping to get advice and what not for my dog. He's a PeekaPoo named Puppy and is about 18 mos old. We're about to finish Obedience School and so far he's doing really well. He never really needed it in the first place. He doesn't have any behavior problems that they've been talking about in class(barking,chewing,agression). I find it strange that no one ever says anything about the more docile dog. I always have to read up online how to boost there confidence. I really wish I would've went with the one on one trainer instead. Puppy's really shy and doesn't do well in crowds and is terrified of other dogs. My fault for not socializing him when he was a pup. I plan on starting him in the doggie daycare at the pet place. Hopefully he'll be more comfortable. I know he gets the commands when it's just me and him but it's much more challenging around other dogs and people. Well thanks for reading.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Welcome to the boards!  Puppy sounds like a sweetie.  He certainly is cute!  Believe it or not, you really did the right thing taking group classes instead of privates if Puppy is shy.  That's one of the things I did to boost Mick's confidence.  I found that haiving Mick do a little obedience helped calm him when he was nervous about something (a little heeling in the vet's waiting room, stuff like that).  If ;Puppy's terrified of other dogs, I'd hold off on the doggie daycare for a little while, tho.  Just my opinion. Hope you don't mind.  [:)
    • Bronze
    You really think so? I guess I should say that the longer and more familiar he is with other animals the more friendly he is with them. I've had other dogs stay at my house for weeks and at first Puppy was scared of them and wouldn't go near them but after awhile he got used to it and they became friends. I had a cat once and the two of them were best buds. The trainer also suggested that I put him in the daycare and take him to outdoor events where they allow dogs and get him familiar with crowds and people. We'll see. I'll definetly try the daycare just because I really want him to have friends and be less afraid.
     
     
    • Gold Top Dog
    When I read your original post, I was wondering why you'd put him in day care if he was terrified of other dogs.  Now I understand better!  [:)]  Personaly, tho, I'd go with the trainer's suggestion to get him out in dog friendly places instead.  You'll have more control over what and how much he's exposed to that way.  I started Mick out on the fringe of crowds, and, moved closer as he became more at ease (Besides being insecure, Mick was afraid of people he didn't know when he was younger, but you'd never know it now).  It's good to hear that you want to get Puppy over all this and socialize him.  There are so many people out there who would just give in.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Hi, welcome.
     
    Romeo, was abused and tied up to a tree for most of his first 6 yrs of life.  He was scared of people and did not know how to play with dogs, although he has always been really sweet.
     
    So, I started out slowly.  I would ask people not to fuss, not to bend down, to let him come to them.  With other dogs, it was the same thing, well not really, but I would watch his reaction like a hawk, my neighbor had a Peekapoo as well and she was his first friend, once he was comfortable with some of the dogs in the neighborhood, I started taking him to the doggy park during the week and at times when I knew there were not going to be more than 2-3 dogs, as I saw him getting more confident, I increased his park time, people and dog time, until one day I took him to doggy daycare, he was temperament tested and passed, I explained what his situation was and he started going on Tuesday and Thursday was placed in a group of 8 small dogs and he would stay for an hour...long story short, Romeo is now the doggy park greeter and at doggy day care all the girls and dogs adore him.
     
    Oh, he now also suffers from "Napoleon" syndrome: little dog who thinks he is a big dog.  He  loves to play with the big boys, his "pack" at day care are two Great Danes and a Mastiff.
     
    Time, love and perseverance will pay off.  Good luck with your baby, he is absolutely adorable.

    • Gold Top Dog
    Talus was very shy in puppy class too....
    He came out of his shell about the third week and hasn't stopped since...
    We did training class so he could socialize with other dogs...
    He's always been great with people 'cause we took him everywhere as a puppy....