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03-09-2008, 05:12 PM | #1 |
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. |
Welcome Guest! | |
03-09-2008, 05:24 PM | #2 |
YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Land O' Lakes, FL
Posts: 735
| I will be watching for responses. I took my two with us to a fish show this weekend. Normally they're very good. I guess there were too many people, and they just shook. Wore their little butts OUT, they did, just shakin'. They're friendly enough, don't growl or anything, but they sure don't like crowds. How do you get them over THAT? |
03-09-2008, 05:46 PM | #3 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: nj
Posts: 1,256
| Do you have any friends with dogs? It might help if you had a dog buddy for Franklin that you can go on walks together. When I first got Milo I would take him to Petsmart twice a week just to walk around and see and smell other dogs. I find with him that as long as he gets to sniff the butt first he is great with other dogs, when they approach him face to face he backs off. I asked the women who owns the doggy daycare about this and she said that in the dog community it is proper to introduce butt to butt not face to face. I hope this helps. Good Luck with Franklin. |
03-09-2008, 06:14 PM | #4 | |
I ♥ Franklin & Maggie Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,068
| Quote:
__________________ Diana , Mommy to Franklin, Maggie, Oliver, and Millie - RIP Piper | |
03-09-2008, 06:40 PM | #5 |
Donating YT 11K Club Member | I would try to take him to meetups every month but before you do introduce him to other dogs slowly, mostly dogs his size and i guess bigger and bigger as he gets more used to them. But only dogs that are really friendly and won't attack him. My Sophie is also shy. She still is but is becoming less and less shy as time goes by.
__________________ Primrose, Teddy..RIP, Livie..RIP, And can never forget my duo Sophie and London, Run in Peace <3 |
03-09-2008, 07:41 PM | #6 |
I ♥ Franklin & Maggie Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 2,068
| Anybody else? I need suggestions!
__________________ Diana , Mommy to Franklin, Maggie, Oliver, and Millie - RIP Piper |
03-09-2008, 11:40 PM | #7 |
Donating Yorkie Yakker Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Redmond, WA
Posts: 379
| Just want to share my experience with you..... My Kimchee is also very very shy in front of dogs, but he is super friendly to most of the people. When we first took him to Yorkie meetup once a month, he used to jump up to our shoulder for protection. His tail would tuck in between his legs, and salvia will come uncontrollably from his mouth (that's a sign of anxiety). He would also walk around cautiously away from where the other yorkies were playing. It was so bad! I have been trying a lot of different methods, praise him when he sniff others' butts, etc. I also took him for one-on-one training, he came back very slightly improved. We still go for the meetup, he still hates it, but he was a bit more relaxed, no saliva coming from his mouth. I would say I see a bit of improvement again. I was told that some dogs don't like to play with others. So I think I am not going to 'force' him to play with others. But I really want him to play and have a buddy, so we recently brought another yorkie baby home. It took me 2 months to train (tell) him that it is okay to play with other dogs (my new baby yorkie). I praise him a lot with treats when he tries to play with her. He now plays with her a lot, running around the house, fetching, tuck of war, etc. Now I am happy that he will play with his 'sister', and I am not going to try to ask him to play with other dogs. I have heard of taking your yorkie for some agility training will build up their confidence, too.
__________________ I my little stinkers: Kimchee & Mochi |
03-10-2008, 12:59 AM | #8 |
My Little Man! Donating Member | It kind of sounds like my Maxi. Once he got all his shots he was introduced to the outside world. For them it might be very scary at first. Maxi was very socialized but when I took him to the dog park for the first time he was confused and scared as he never saw so many dogs at one time. He was around 6 months at that time. He is 1 years old now and he definitely has more confidence in him so this spring we will return to the dog park and see. Just try to build confidence in your furkid and it should work out.
__________________ By purchasing pet store or other puppy mill puppies, you support the abuse of innocent animals! |
03-10-2008, 05:35 AM | #9 |
Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: nj
Posts: 1,256
| Try to remember that thy feed off of us. If you walk inti the situation scared and nervous for Franklin then he will be scared and nervous. Pack leaders are always calm and assertive, you have to work on your composure as much as Franklin's that is why I suggested earlier to work with friends dogs because you will be more relaxed. |
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