I wish Jackson liked people more
 

I really wish Jackson liked people more. I don't understand it, really, because ever since I got him at 9 weeks old, I've socialized him around all sorts of people. He's WONDERFUL with people he knows (even if he only sees them once a month or less...) as long as he knows you, he will jump up, lick you, greet you like crazy (people like my aunt, grandma, parents, siblings, etc). I posted this thread which describes him to a tee http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/gen...hy-yorkie.html and I was happy to see others have the problem.

The funny thing is when we're at the dog park, he's pretty much fine with people and will approach them willingly. He loves every dog he meets and if your a human with a dog, you're good in his book, lol.

But for example, tonight... (I live at home with stepdad, mom and sister) my step-dad had his family over. It was his mother, 2 sisters, teenage girl, 3 year old girl and 10 year old boy who were all very well behaved. Jackson will go up and sniff them but the minute they try to pet him he cowers or backs away. He was just very uncomfortable and it was obvious to me. If a strange kid he doesn't know runs really fast, he begins barking at them. Now after about 30 minutes - 1 hour of them being here, he becomes a lot more relaxed. He will even do tricks in front of everyone no problem. He just has an issue with people approaching him or petting him or even making eye contact. I gave him little bits of treats when he did the right thing and asked the one kid to give him a treat which he took but still wouldn't allow a petting. I feel like this has gotten worse since my mom's dog died and now he's the only dog. It's almost like he's unsure of what to do. I'd love to add a 2nd dog who is very friendly and outgoing to everyone and I do think it would help but I don't think adding a 2nd dog is possible right now. Plus, I wouldn't want Jackson to be an influence on the new dog. Jackson's a very great dog otherwise, he doesn't bark at strangers on walks or at the park or in public places. He's well behaved. He'd just prefer people to not pay attention to him.

I don't know, I'm not expecting him to love every one he meets but I would love if he was a bit friendlier and not so shy. He's such a cute dog and people want to pet him. I'm just wondering if people have overcome such an issue, or if it's more of a personality thing that you can't change?

Well...Lucky does the same thing ... even with is doggie friend's mommies and daddys!! They are always sooo nice to him but he will only let them get so close then it's jump away time!!lol

Laci also does the same thing....sometimes I sweat it looks like I beat her, if someone approaches her she cowers down and nearly crawls away.. I to have always socialized her. WE frequent the dog park, my friend has several yorkies.. Laci is NOT a fan of little kids at all... I guess just like humans dogs have thier own personalities....she is friendly to all my daughters friends who come here but when a stranger comes in the house or someone she never met she stands on the stairs and barks and wont let them pet her!

I had a maltese like that once. He wasn't mean to people or anything . . he just could care less about them. He wasn't one to run up to strangers with his tail wagging, etc. He was a ONE PERSON dog and he was Mine and mine alone.

He was never nippy with children or strangers - like I said, just distant. My aunt referred to him as 'aloof'.

I was a little disappointed sometimes; but I learned to forget it. He loved me and my immediate friends/family and that was enough for me.

Maybe your shy one needs to be in his little crate when you have a houseful? That way he wouldn't feel scared or threatened by all the action. I think it is a good idea that you had the children approach him with treats. Maybe he'll make the connection: Children = Treats. This could help.

As long as he's not growling, showing teeth, or biting - Iwouldn't concern myself too much about it. We're not all meant to be outgoing and popularity plus!

My female Jewels is just like your Laci and we havent so much as raised our voice to her. It is just her personality

Chip is the same way - he'll approach people he doesn't know if he thinks they aren't paying attention, but as soon as you turn to pet him, he runs in the opposite direction. We got him at 7 weeks and tried socializing him and everything - I actually attribute it to him coming home so young and not learning socialization from his mother. He's gotten a bit better since we brought Smokey home, who is the complete opposite and will lick you to death no matter who you are... my husband jokes and says he's like the squirrel on Madagascar that says "I liked them before I even met them I liked them!" Chip will get jealous sometimes when strangers are paying attention to Smokey and you can tell he's still being cautious, but is more willing to approach the person. Then there are very few people, he'll take to right away... our friend came over to help us move last month and this was the first time Chip met him. Our friend sat down and Chip jumped in his lap and started kissing him... we all stopped out of pure shock!

[QUOTE=jeanm1963;2896773]Laci also does the same thing....sometimes I sweat it looks like I beat her, if someone approaches her she cowers down and nearly crawls away..QUOTE]

This sounds exactly like Buster. He will cower down and hang his head like he has been beat. This little guy gets treated like a king. But this part I don't understand. It is embarrassing when friends come over and he does this. But that's my Buster, I don't know what to do about it. Maggie is not that way, she does not want to be picked up unless she knows you, but she does not cower.

Thanks for the comments! It does make me feel better that we're not the only ones. :(

I actually am considering signing him up for an intermediate training class which involves:
For dogs and puppies who have completed Basic Doggy Good Manners. Dogs must know sit and down (for hand signal or verbal), stay, wait, loose leash walking and basic recall to participate. Topics covered include heel, heeling past other dogs, advanced stays, stay for petting and stranger approach, stand for exam and advanced recalls with high level distractions.

He never took a basic class but I've taught him all the basics as well as many tricks and fun things so they usually accept you in a class, even if it helps him a little bit, that'd be cool. :) It's a 7 week long class for $145 starting late January.

I really think it has to do with an individual personality. I've had 3 yorkies--2 liked other people, one didn't. All 3 were socialized the same way. I think of it as kids in a family-- no two end up the same, even though they were raised in the same house.

You seemed to point out that your pup might be shy around kids
If this is the case you might be able to make this behavior go away

A lot of Yorkies are frightened by children
They are fast
They make quick uncoordinated movements
and they tend to lunge toward dogs

This frightens smaller dogs
The way to make your pup more comfortable with kids is enlist some of your family's children
Have them come into your house with a trest in their hand
and warn them that they are not to acknowledge the dog until you say so
Have the walk in
and walk to a chair or a couch
after your dog goes to them and isn't cowering any longer
then you say it's ok to give him the treat

do this a few times
and you'll soon see that the pup will think
Hey Kids.... Treats :p

Your not alone, I am having the same problem with Bella. She is terrified of kids. And some kids specially small ones can't seem to understand that she is scared. Bella gets to a point that she barks and snaps at them. I am even afraid she will bite them. Most of my family has not had dogs before and they think I exaggerate by telling their kids to leave Bella alone. Since the kids run by her on purpose just to get her to bark at them. I really wanted to socialize her by taking her to family get togethers, but it doesn't seem like a good idea anymore. She is worse then before.

I have many of the same issues here too..everyone seems to think Harley is a puppy and automatically want to pet him,i have to warn them that he is not always the friendliest dog when he doesnt know you..and to approach slowly .he will bark like crazy when he isnt sure about someone..i too have socialized him lots and think its more of a personality thing..some are just more highly strung.

Brit, since you got Jackson at only nine weeks, I'm guessing he didn't come from a knowledgeable breeder. Puppies need lots of human contact and handling in those early weeks to grow up to be properly socialized adults. Was he raised in a kennel instead of home raised?

It's sounds like you have done a wonderful job of socializing Jackson since you've had him. He may just not be able to overcome his shyness with strange people.

He was 9 weeks old but he was also already 5.1lbs at 9 weeks old, he's my big 12.5lb boy now :p He also never had biting issues or anything, which I was real surprised about. No, he didn't come from a reputable breeder but he was never kenneled. She just had an ex-pen in her basement. She was definitely what you define as a BYB but she was really nice. I went to her house to pick him up and all the dogs were running loose in her basement (mother and littermates) and I think that was all they had ever seen... no real experiences with kids or other ppl. She definitely was not the kind of breeder to expose to new things. Her female dog had just gotten pregnant. I definitely know better now and my next dog will come from a responsible, respectable breeder but of course, I wouldn't change Jackson for the world... besides the shyness thing, of course :p He's really the perfect dog in nearly every sense except this issue. I guess it's just something we'll have to work on and if not... I will accept him for who he is. :D


Thanks for everyone's stories and tips! :thumbup:

I think I did mention Winston's problem in your other thread. He is simply a stuck-up snob though, he doesn't really cower from people, he just ignores them. But he loves me and that's what's important I guess!

Thanks! :thumbup: I'm going to keep trying this. Because he WILL take treats from people, kids and adults alike. So I guess that's a good first step.

I kinda wish that shadow was alittle shy. He will run up to complete strangers and ask for attention. We took him to the dog park last saturday and he was more interested in the people then the dogs. As a matter of fact any new person that came to the park, he would run up to them and greet them by jumping on their leg.

Thor is definitely a people dog, and loves running up to strangers in hopes that he'll get food. Sometimes he's pretty obvious about it, and after sniffing them, he loses interest, often while they are in mid-coo. As you know, he's generally quite uncomfortable with other dogs, and sometimes he'll bark at people out of nowhere. Like, my superintendent, who he's met 100 times, and is always nice to him, every so often Thor will decide he's An Enemy and will bark his little brains out.

I also have Thor going to a doggy daycare that specializes in small dogs. He goes twice per week. They say he is making progress, but it's very slow.

I guess what I am saying, bottom line, is that it seems to take a reeeeeeeeeally long time to change any kind of fear-based behavior. I treat and distract Thor *every single time* we pass by another dog, and I've been doing this for almost a *year*. And the other night, he went completely apes**t because another (small) dog was getting treats from "his" corner store cashier. I mean, he was all out, lunging against his harness, waving his front paws, and bark bark bark barking. I'm sure he was quite pleased with himself, because of course the dog's owner eventually paid for their stuff and left, ie, Thor successfully scared the treat thief away.

It takes a lot of patience, I guess. :rolleyes:

My yorkie that passed Sophie was like that too. She was soo shy around new people, she would cowar..ppl prob. thought i beat her too but that's just how she was when she got here. They all have different personalities. I worked with her and more and more she got used to new people..and would go up to them, sniff them and then run back to me but she wouldnt really let them pet her or anything. She was so attached to me, like a shy little girl at her first day of school or something. Teddy on the other hand throws himself on people lol