Scared of Strangers and Children!!!!
 

Ok what to do...Punkin Puss is 9 months old...and everytime I take her out she freaks out if a stranger comes near her...she hides...she shivers... etc..
Recently, my cousin came over with her son..and Punkin got sooo scared she hide under the bed...I figured if I brought her out and let her get acquainted with the little boy she would relax around him...instead she was so scared she crapped in my hands.... then she hide again and was shaking like crazy..I had to take her to my moms house till they left...I dont have children but someday I hopefully will... Im not sure how she is going to react when I do have children...she is ok around people she knows.. and we have other pets (cat and birds) and she totally gets along with them...By the way she is also afraid of loud noises and if you raise your voices she always thinks your yelling at her...and gets the sad puppy dog face.. until you talk to her and give her love....then she is okay... Anyways, I felt so bad for her...any suggestions on what to do?? (Reason im asking also is im having people over for Christmas dinner)


Thanks everyone and Happy Holidays!! :confused:

Might be a good idea to let her stay out of site for Christmas. Maybe bring her out after all the commotion has died down.

I would try to begin working on having her around more people, maybe start with older children and work your way down. Try to explain to them that she is a little scared and that they need to hold her tight and talk calmly to her. Don't let her jump away and get hurt.

Is she kennel trained?
Can you pop her in a kennel and have her contained and given a safe no one goes near here zone while the party is on. If she is toss in a nice smell t shirt of yours and let her hang out and turn on some music for her.
After wards find yourself a calm quite willing kid ( who's parents says OK) who loves candy and click and treat.
So you get the kid to sit in a room far away from your little one.
If pup is stressed increase space even in other room but in sight.
if pup is calm click and treat pup and kid for being good and call it time.
Next time bring kid and pup closer and a wee little longer in time length and click and treat both.
Keep going till both can sit in close proximity and no one is stressed.
Why are you treating and clicking the kid two reason one you want kid calm and to you want kid to come back.

Can work in park with you just working dog end of it but you run the risk of a kid getting inside the dogs stressed out zone to fast and without notice.

Joy

Oh this is sooooo cute!!
 

Joy, WHAT a great idea!! I am going to try to clicker train my 2 and 4 year old grandsons!! :D

My Angel hated kids. I could never trust her around children. With her it wasn't fear so much as aggression. I wish you the best of luck in your quest to socialize your pup. You may want to try taking her with you when you go out, slowly...

:thumbup: Excellent advice! :thumbup:

I agree. Don't force pup to socialize when she is sooo afraid. If she has a safe place where you can shut her up, great. If not, let her hide.

After the holidays, try a systematic desensitization like Joy suggested. A good, positive trainer could help you if you wanted more guidance.
It *is* something you want to address because, interestingly, more dogs bite out of fear than for any other reason.

Great idea, Joy! The quicker you help her love people, the happier you will be. Just work with her a little and I'll bet you'll be pleasantly surprised how quickly she will socialize.

This is excellent advice from Joy and Carol :number1ri

My first rule of thumb when a new rescue comes in is to leave them alone until they start coming out on their own. I especially never force anything onto them until they are ready and I make sure they have a place away from the gang.

I think it is very important to note what Carol said "more dogs bite out of fear than for any other reason"

Good Luck and go slow.

Here is what I found , I supposed it will be interesting for you to read .

www.pawsnpals.net/infotrngsocial.html


Have a very Merry Christmas .

My Jewels is scared of kids. Not as scared as your Pumpkin sounds but she will come sit on my lap if my daughter gets too loud. If we have more children than my daughterr in the house she will hide. I just think some yorkies arent tolerant to childreen and there is very little you can do about it. My other yorkie is bigger and loves children so all of these yorkies are different.

Fear and aggression go hand in hand. fear leads to fear aggression which is one of the aggressions that get missed. we all think dominace but if someone is scaried so badly they fight, right??
Also I would try and watch the kids how do they aproach Angel. Is it over the head and quick head on movements.
If so try putting her on a halti for control and then teaching the kids walk up to the side and reach under the chin or at the side.
Over the body and fast straight on movments is considered rude in dog language. Angel may be a smart dog talker and finding them very rude which causes her to responded as she would to a rude dog.

As far as clicking kids I am doing it more and more with the ones I sit.
Works for husbands too.

Joy

Good Article Diego! :thumbup: :thumbup: I'm going to save this one...


Francie

When I first got Gus he used to do the same thing. I have 4 kids in the house and Gus is fine with them. And I also started taking Gus out with me where ever I went so he would get used to being around people. He woulud do just fine out but here at home it was a different story. He out grew that stage and we no longer have that problem, now he seems to be the little tough guy with men and small children here at home. He's only bit once, A worker at PetSmart who was trying to froce a santa hat on him. Other then that I tell the kids who come to the house to not be afraid of him when he barks at them and don't try to play with him till he gets used to them. After a while Gus will slowly approach them. He seems to do better when the kids are sitting on the floor. After he gets used the kid he is fine. Now men,,, that's a different story. He will stick by my side and as if he is protecting me and will even go after their pantleg when they turn thier backs. He's only 2.9 lbs but you would be surprised on how many are scared of him. This is what we are working on at the moment.

I would say not to force you baby, but slowly take him out and get him used to people, I have a inclosed doggy bag that I take Gus everywhere in. He just loves it. People don't even know he's in there. I think he learned it was ok to be around others because of that. He was around others who didnt even know he was there. After a while I would let him stick his head out and he would let older kids, women and some men pet him. It worked for us. Good luck to you!