Help Socializing puppy
 

Help! A male guest came by the house today and I tried to make an introduction to meet with the puppy. My guest put out his hand to let him sniff and then bit him. My guest tried giving him a treat. The puppy then peed while I was holding him. Now my puppy is scared even though the guest has left and he is fearful to come back in the house after going outside. I feel like I went 10 steps back in the puppy training and socializing. I feel bad for the dog as he is still anxious and don’t know what to do. Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

How old is your puppy?

He is 5 months

If this guest is a frequent visitor, have him leave a t-shirt that he has worn about 3 days and hasn’t washed to give to the pup to get him familiar with his scent. Have the pup on a leash, instead of holding him when this guest arrives, as the puppy may be trying to protect you.

Start slow. Buy a Dog Carrier, or Dog Stroller, one that has a mess cover, and take the dog out in public. If you use a Carrier, I love ours, set the carrier down inside the safety of a shopping cart, even at PetSmart and other Dog Friendly places. Take your dog with you to as many places as you can. Even when your just running to town for short trips.


DO NOT LET ANYONE PET YOUR DOG WHILE OUT AND ABOUT. Just let the dog ride in the COVERED Carrier. Your dog will feel safe inside of the mesh and unthreatened by people. The idea is for the dog to see the world and feel safe.


Little by Little, and I really mean Little by Little. This would be after the dog is very comfortable out and about and napping inside of stores inside the carrier; start letting your dog walk on a leash at Pet and Farm Stores. But still, hold off on letting people pet him.


Dogs can have a SHY GENE, just like people. Any mammal can. The problem is people think these dogs were abused. Most times they were not. They are just shy and or nervous. Like people, they just need time to process the world around them, rather than being 'thrown into it'.


Some folks will let other people feed their dogs to make the dogs more friendly. This can work.
We do not let others give our dogs food. I do not want my dogs to take food from others. Even at Pet Stores and Farm Stores where the employees want to hand the dogs treats. We take the treat from the person and give it to our dogs. Some people would argue that dogs need to eat from others for the fact that sometimes, in our lives, travel, sickness, and other events can happen. We have found that if someone fills our dogs dog bowls with their dogs regular food, no problems. I am talking about people offering the dogs treats.

Dog Strollers are also good, if your dog is barking while out and about, to take a quiet walk around the block......just work with the dog slowly. I am betting he has the Shy Gene and or never got out when younger and he is just Scared!

That would be a great idea about the t-shirt. I’ll have to remember that if it happens with someone close. I has Finn on the leash....as we’re umbilical cord training. My mistake was trying to force a meet & great. He’s doing better. He was fearful of my 6 foot medical skeleton too. I started putting the bacon treats around it. Baby steps

:thumbup:
I do not allow any stranger to offer my dog a treat, there are so many crazies out there you don't know if the treat will harm them. You do not want you dog to get use to taking food / treats from strangers.

Thanks Myrna. That’s some great advice. We were doing that previously at the pet stores have a little carrier for him. He is seeing people and other animals and he is getting calmer. I haven’t been letting strangers pet him when we’re out in public. I’ll have to remember not to let people pet him in our home too. My mistake for trying to rush a meet and greet in our home. We were doing good that’s why I felt I went backwards.

I like the idea of not letting people give him food. That way he won’t learn any bad habits or take anything that is not good for him.

Thanks for your help

Keep treats in your pocket, when your visitor comes give HIM the treat to offer to your baby. In time your baby will associate this gentleman as good because of the treat offering. In time when your pup gets to know this person the treats can be stopped.

kjc suggestion is also a great way of getting your pup to recognize the scent of this person.
Let us know how things work out, you have a lot of great advise here.

Thank you.