[fourdez]

Ricky was extremely fearful when I got him at 4 month, so much so, that I hired a dog behaviorist to come in and teach me how to work with him to get over the his extreme fear. One of the more useful exercises was to lay on the floor, completely flat with no eye contact, out stretch your arms and let him approach me. Little by little he started playing with my fingers and coming closer to me. He is now one year old and he still does not like to be held, thats his nature and nothing is going to change that. But, he loves to lie next to me in bed or sit with me on the sofa. He plays catch with me , and we play with his toys, just like any loving little dog...until...I pick him up from a standing position, then he spends his energy trying to get free. So, I've learned to interact with him on his terms. Thank God, my other 2 love to be picked up and hugged and kiss, so I snuggle with them.