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 extremely bashful puppy
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| Author | Topic: extremely bashful puppy |
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shelbymom New Member  Posts: 3 |
posted 10-12-2003 01:20 PM
 
We have a Sheltie that is almost 4 months old now and I am at the end of my rope with her. She is a very bashful dog... she does NOT want anything to do with humans. If she sees one of us even looking at her, she runs and hides. I'm guessing it is because the lady that bred her kept her in an outside kennel (and apparently only fooled with her when she got her shots and got fed/watered) Housetraining her is becoming a nightmare!! Shelby won't let me get close enough to her to pick her up and go outside, so she's been using certain rooms in our house to relieve herself. Those rooms are the kitchen, bathroom, and DS's room. So we put up gates in the kitchen doorway and Adrian's room, and since we just painted and tiled the bathroom this weekend she doesn't want to go near the bathroom (I'm guessing it's the new smell to it) I am currently 29 weeks pregnant, so me and my huge belly cannot chase after her to pick her up and make her go outside, and DH does NOT want to help me with her at all.... so I get stuck with cleaning up her messes. This is becoming a huge problem. DH will forget almost every time he goes into the kitchen and leave the gate open... and I cannot count the times I've stepped in a pile of dog crap because of it... and guess WHO gets to clean it up?!?! ME!! Even though I am tedious about keeping gates shut, when he leaves them open and she uses the bathroom in the floor I get to clean it up. Currently, Shelby is hiding under our bed. She got into my makeup bag and ate/chewed up a tube of burgundy colored lipstick... and it's ALL OVER HER FUR. I tried to pick her up so I could take her and give her a bath, but she ran and hid and won't come out. This is getting REALLLLLLLLY frustrating!!!! I am thinking of taking her to the vet to see if she has some sort of PROBLEM from the way she was raised until we got her... and getting his advice... I know that I am at the end of my rope with her and since I'm not getting ANY help I can't take this much longer. Ashley IP: Logged |
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LauraLea New Member Posts: 5 |
posted 10-14-2003 08:11 AM
Shelties generally have a reserved personality. If not socialized early, they can become timid, and if they have a bad experience with people (like you described her breeder), then because they are sensitive dogs, they can need some help to be social, well-adjusted dogs. It sounds like your pup just needs some training, positive reenforcement and confidence building. I would suggest starting her in a puppy class if you haven't already. Being in an environment with strangers and other dogs will expose her to much needed socialization. Plus, your puppy trainer can help you get her comfortable gradually. Shelties are very intelligent dogs, and doing well at something (their 'job,' whether it be herding your kids or taking an agility class) will bring up her confidence and can completely change even the most timid sheltie's personality. Some people suggest starting really, really slowly with a puppy like this. Let her come to you rather than you go to her - I know this is hard when you are potty training. Maybe you could offer her a treat (something super yummy that she can't resist - like a small piece of cheese or chicken) and then gently pick her up & take her outside every 3 hours so she can go potty. When she does go potty outside, give her lots of praise & love & maybe another treat. Soon, she'll associate going potty outside = treat = big fun. Because shelties are so smart, potty training goes much faster than with some other breeds (my sheltie figured it out within a week & a half). If you try to chase her to take her out, she'll only get more frightened. Shelties are sensitive and don't respond well to scolding or punishments well at all. But they are typically very food motivated and have a natural desire to please that you can use to your benefit. As far as her hiding from you, rather than looking directly at her (which can be intimidating), I would sit on the floor so you're at her level, not look right at her, but maybe hold a toy that she likes and a yummy treat (again, if she's really shy, it'll have to be something irresistable). When she comes to you, praise her & give her lots of love. With a little time & patience, your little girl will become comfortable and learn that you aren't going to hurt her and that she'll get lots of love from you - then she'll be a wonderful & devoted companion! If you have any other questions, feel free to email me! IP: Logged |
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Maisey Member  Posts: 1387 |
posted 10-14-2003 08:56 AM
Excellent advice above, I was gonna tell you that although it's a good idea to have a vet rule out physical problems, it really does sound like these were caused by the human contact she has had previously. Her experience tells her she can not trust humans and has made her wary. It will take time, patience, and a soft touch to bring her out of that. She has to build confidence. Working with a trainer would be great. I hate to say this...but the other stuff, such as leaving the gate open and who is gonna do what when it comes to the dog, isn't the dogs fault and is certainly not going to help her out. The responsibilty stuff should have been worked out prior to getting the pup. I have an Aussie mix and a Catahoula X pup, both herding type breeds, both very soft and sensitive. yelling and roughness makes them shut down. She is very young, so I have no doubt that with time she will come around. I would take advantage of the offer above and and soak up all her good ideas and experience. I'm assuming DH is your husband...and hoping you have a sense of humour, cause I can't help myself, I was thinking that you should get one of those training collars used on dogs for DH...you know the ones with a remote control for you and a lil' zap for him. He may remember to shut the gates then. (GRINS and only kidding) IP: Logged |
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shelbymom New Member Posts: 3 |
posted 10-14-2003 06:28 PM
Thank you so much for your replies! I am pretty sure that it's her breeder's doing that made her this shy. It's sad too because Shelby is a really sweet and good natured girl. We've been working with her using treats and that seems to be going pretty good. She has discovered that coming to us and letting us pet her equals a treat. She knows her name, but is still not ready to come when called. She is never disciplined harshly, when she is chewing on something she shouldn't I reply with a "no no" and replace whatever she shouldn't have been chewing on with a chew toy. And I don't say anything to her if I catch an accident on the floor. There's no need to say something when I find it because she wouldn't understand what I was trying to teach her. However, if I catch her in the act I pick her up and take her outside and say, "we potty outside Shelby" and let her sniff around and bring her back in. The only time I can pick her up is when she is caught in the act though. LOL! And Maisey, you are so right about the shock collar for my hubby. LOL!! Sometimes I think training a puppy is easier than training a husband. ROFL!! And LauraLea (hope I spelled that right) I have read that Shelties tend to pick out one person and claim them as their master. Is this the case with yours?? We have found that Shelby is particularly drawn to our 2½ year old son. -Ashley IP: Logged |
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jeminn Member Posts: 166 |
posted 10-15-2003 07:49 AM
Hi Ashley- I just wanted to add that my good friend has a sheltie and went through a simialar experience (her dogs name is Shelby too..  It took almost a year to bring her around. But, I can also tell you that she is now one of the sweetest dogs I know. She is still reserved with strangers, but has completely warmed up to her family, and if someone new comes around and she is able to approach them on her terms, she is eventually in their lap. So, it is as important to work with other people and explain your dogs temperment as it is to help your dog so she learns to trust in human contact. Her sheltie is so smart and so much fun and my friend is not what you would call a "dog person" really. I know they will never own anything other than a sheltie because of the dog she has become. They are very loyal once the trust has been established and it sounds like you are on the right track approaching things the right way. My aussie came from a similar background when I got her at 11 weeks- NO socializing. She completely freaked when I took her to my son's ballgame and had children approach. I had to back up a few steps because she did seem fine with us, and our children ( but even that took some time in the beginning). I decided a ballgame with tons of people walking around was too much at this stage. I worked very hard at bringing her out of this, and eventually I was able take her everywhere with me, once she bonded to our family. I had treats ready to give to strangers who wanted to approach, and had to explain to everyone what I was doing and asked them to approach her in a certain way, giving her a few treats. By the end of her first month with us, she was back at the ball games and doing so much better. I also took her in the car everywhere too because she was just so tuned into her surroundings and being in a car with me gave her a lot of exposure to "life" outside without being in the midst of everything, and everyone, taking it in on her own terms. For you, right now, the most important thing you can do is establish a bond of trust with your dog, and your family, and then as she progresses, get her out and about with treats in hand. I also took treats to the vet and asked him to give them to her just to "imprint" so to speak that the vet was a good guy too. She is now 6 months old and doing great with everyone she meets. I like having a dog that is somewhat reserved with strangers- I like knowing someone is coming up the driveway or coming to the door because she lets me know. She looks to me for her cues as to whether this person is welcome or not and that is ok by me, one of the reasons I picked an Australian Shepherd. [This message has been edited by jeminn (edited 10-15-2003).] IP: Logged |
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puttin510 Member Posts: 1179 |
posted 10-15-2003 01:21 PM
Sounds like the dog was rasied by other dogs at least fort he early stages of life and has no trust in humans. Have you ever heard of the tieing them on a long lead to your body method. They eventually learn that there is nothing bad about you. All the time that you are home put her on a long leash. And make her go where you do. Treats are great to get her to love you too. ------------------ IP: Logged |
Jas Moderator Posts: 536 |
posted 10-15-2003 03:20 PM
Temperament can be learned and genetic. This is why it is important to purchase a dog and select a breeder you know has raised the dogs indoors in a family environment and has put a lot of time into socializing and hand raising the puppies. A lot of what your dog is going through may be reversed if sufficient time is spent with the dog and training the dog; however if she won't let you near her this is a problem. Expect that it will take some time for her to trust. With a four month old pup do not expect she knows what you are asking of her, housetraining takes some time and consistency. Unless she has a medical condition, the reasons she is relieving herself inside is because she is not getting enough supervision and is confused about the right place to go. You need to watch her more and don't give her the chance to go. She'll need to go outside every couple of hours and especially after play, eating, sleeping. I would look into crate training her when she can not be supervised instead of using the gates. Dogs do not like to go to the bathroom where they sleep. The good thing is that she is young and with enough socializing and positive training she should be fine. She'll need a lot of praise and rewards to help her and make sure training is always kept fun. It might be difficult with your baby on the way but hopefully you can convince your husband can continue working with her when you are unable (busy with the baby). Its not going to happen overnight, but puppy classes and further obedience will help. One other thing is exercise, give her lots, a tired dog is a good dog!!! good luck IP: Logged |
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