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PrincessDiana · 03-09-2008, 05:12 PM

So before we started taking Franklin outside, I would have NEVER thought that he'd be a shy dog. He was very well socialized (or at least I thought). Turns out, he's only socialized to humans. Since we finished his shots, we've been taking him to the dog park a couple of weeks ago, and we've been letting him "play" with the other small dogs in our apartment complex. Turns out, he's very VERY shy!

The first time we exposed him to other dogs, was at the vet while he was being groomed. We weren't there to see it but the vet techs said he did very well (they're supervised the whole time).

The second time, we let him outside to play with our neighbors Yorkie/Shih-Tzu mix their two Chihuahuas. I also wasn't there for that but my BF said he did pretty well.

Now when we go to the dog park, he's basically terrified. He walks around with his tail between his legs and usually just sits by me or walks around very slowly and cautiously. The first time we went, there were no dogs his size, just a rather large beagle that was very friendly but probably scary. The second time, he was much better. There was a terrifying

4 lb Poodle with pink bows in her hair. He still wouldn't play with her but he at least sniffed around. Third time, there was a Pug and a Jack Russell Terrier. He sniffed, even ran a little bit.. but was still terrified.

We went to a different dog park today, and it was MUCH busier than the one we normally go to. There were maybe 30 dogs there. There were a couple of small dogs so we tried to get him to play with them. No dice. He was completely in shock. THEN this 20lb ball of fluff (I have no idea what breed it was) ran over and started jumping on him and trying to hump him while the owner half-heartedly yelled at him to get off. I finally picked Franklin up because the poor thing was scared to death. I'm really worried that experience traumatized him even more than he already was.

I wonder if he's just nervous because he can see through the fence to the big dog side? I thought that but then yesterday when we went on our walk, there were two 4 month Pomeranian outside that he was scared of also. When other dogs approach him, he just stands there nervously while they sniff him. He even lifts his leg for them. Sometimes he'll get the courage to sniff back but usually not.

We're trying to decide if he was bullied as a puppy? I mean, he had brothers and sisters. We did have to delay his shots (thus delaying his socialization) because of all of his health issues, but I still have never seen a dog so scared of other dogs before. I mean, he LOVES people.

Any clue as to what's going on here? It's okay if he never warms up to other dogs, I'm just worried that he'll be terrified every time we go in public. Are we helping or hurting by continuing to take him to the dog park?

Any suggestions would be GREAT. I would love for him to have playmates and eventually want to get more dogs, but I don't want him to always cower in a corner.

It makes me so sad for him.

03-09-2008, 05:12 PM	#1
PrincessDiana I ♥ Franklin & Maggie Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 2,068	Shy?! So before we started taking Franklin outside, I would have NEVER thought that he'd be a shy dog. He was very well socialized (or at least I thought). Turns out, he's only socialized to humans. Since we finished his shots, we've been taking him to the dog park a couple of weeks ago, and we've been letting him "play" with the other small dogs in our apartment complex. Turns out, he's very VERY shy! The first time we exposed him to other dogs, was at the vet while he was being groomed. We weren't there to see it but the vet techs said he did very well (they're supervised the whole time). The second time, we let him outside to play with our neighbors Yorkie/Shih-Tzu mix their two Chihuahuas. I also wasn't there for that but my BF said he did pretty well. Now when we go to the dog park, he's basically terrified. He walks around with his tail between his legs and usually just sits by me or walks around very slowly and cautiously. The first time we went, there were no dogs his size, just a rather large beagle that was very friendly but probably scary. The second time, he was much better. There was a terrifying 4 lb Poodle with pink bows in her hair. He still wouldn't play with her but he at least sniffed around. Third time, there was a Pug and a Jack Russell Terrier. He sniffed, even ran a little bit.. but was still terrified. We went to a different dog park today, and it was MUCH busier than the one we normally go to. There were maybe 30 dogs there. There were a couple of small dogs so we tried to get him to play with them. No dice. He was completely in shock. THEN this 20lb ball of fluff (I have no idea what breed it was) ran over and started jumping on him and trying to hump him while the owner half-heartedly yelled at him to get off. I finally picked Franklin up because the poor thing was scared to death. I'm really worried that experience traumatized him even more than he already was. I wonder if he's just nervous because he can see through the fence to the big dog side? I thought that but then yesterday when we went on our walk, there were two 4 month Pomeranian outside that he was scared of also. When other dogs approach him, he just stands there nervously while they sniff him. He even lifts his leg for them. Sometimes he'll get the courage to sniff back but usually not. We're trying to decide if he was bullied as a puppy? I mean, he had brothers and sisters. We did have to delay his shots (thus delaying his socialization) because of all of his health issues, but I still have never seen a dog so scared of other dogs before. I mean, he LOVES people. Any clue as to what's going on here? It's okay if he never warms up to other dogs, I'm just worried that he'll be terrified every time we go in public. Are we helping or hurting by continuing to take him to the dog park? Any suggestions would be GREAT. I would love for him to have playmates and eventually want to get more dogs, but I don't want him to always cower in a corner. It makes me so sad for him. __________________ Diana , Mommy to Franklin, Maggie, Oliver, and Millie - RIP Piper Last edited by PrincessDiana; 03-09-2008 at 05:16 PM.