Annie&Badger --
I think everyone has made you overly concerned about your little dog being shy and fearful. My Bichon is that way. But, he's four years old now and has become very friendly and playful with a lot of my relatives, friends, and neighbors. (My vet said to me about my little Bichon, "Usually Bichons are very outgoing - but occasionally you find one like yours that is a little shy and fearful." Believe me, that's all he said, and I already knew that. He just felt that that was my dog's personality and temperment and it was acceptable to him.
When you take your dog out, if he is afraid, I would definitely hold him. But, do get him out occasionally and let him become more used to other people and dogs. I think that being secure in your arms will help him realize more quickly that he is safe. And, later, when you are certain that another dog is gentle, you might bend over and pet that dog and let it sniff your puppy. Perhaps this is as far as you want to go for a long time. But doing only this will help your puppy realize that other dogs can be nice and won't hurt him.
Children are a wonderful want to socialize a dog. Sometimes when a little child is just lying on the floor, a pup will feel that it's not threat and run all over licking its face, etc.
My pup (who was really a little afraid of children) totally loved to play with them in the yard. This way, he could run all over with them and still easily stay out of their reach. We started out having the little children run away from him - and he'd usually take out after them - and then pass them and before long they were having fun and running all over. And, he could do all this without letting the children even touch him.
I have quite a bit of company at my house - friends, family, and neighbors. My little pup was much more secure with people visiting us. For some reason, he thought if they came here - they were okay. And he has grown to love many of our visitors and goes crazy happy when they come over - dogs and people!
My pup has become friends with two other "small dogs" that belong to my neighbors. He was careful at first, but after three summers with them, he's not afraid anymore. They play together occasionally, but more often just ignore one another.
Yorkies are such small little dogs - I don't think we need to panic about socializing them with strangers and strange "larger dogs." They are predominately housedogs and usually are never around other people or dogs without our being right there.
Take your little pup out and around as much as you can - I think if you do hold him and make him feel secure, he'll learn much quicker that nothing out there is going to hurt him. I can't imagine deliberately putting a little puppy in a situation that frightens him.
Anyway - I think you just have a shy, fearful little dog. Take him out as much as you can - let him see a lot of other people and dogs - and do whatever you need to do to keep him feeling safe and secure when you go out. I think he will overcome (some) of his fears much quicker this way. But, I think he will always be a sweet somewhat shy little guy. There is nothing wrong with this.
I just flat out wouldn't worry or take seriously all the stuff you have been told. It's too bad you didn't visit my vet. You would have left his office feeling that you had a cute shy little dog.
****** I sure think that taking your pup to classes and putting him on the ground around strange people and other dogs must be making him more afraid - not less. I would just haul my pup around and keep him feeling safe and secure wherever we go. He'll grow and gradually accept many other people and other little dogs and not be afraid of them. And, he may always be shy - but like I said, that's okay........ He's just a loveable, shy, little pet -enjoy him the way he is.... Keep him safe, and happy, and secure - he'll do just fine.
Carol Jean |