Keep avoiding direct confrontation for a good two to three months and keep all interaction with him low key until he's less anxious when he sees you. Sit on the floor to call him to you and look to the side when he's coming your way. Cover yourself with treats as you lie/sit on the floor and allow him to get them one-by-one to increase his sense of well-being in your immediate presence and associate being near you with good things. When the anxiety-piddling starts to decrease, begin the confidence-building and obedience training and life-enrichment puzzles and games and lots of exercise with this little one and he should begin to change his ways. Training a dog is a wonderful way to bring about a total change in his demeanor, lack of confidence and behavior problems just start to fade away as you continue to patiently work with them and make it all great fun and very rewarding.
__________________  Jeanie and Tibbe One must do the best one can. You may get some marks for a very imperfect answer: you will certainly get none for leaving the question alone. C. S. Lewis |