Introducing a very Shy Puppy into A New Home?

Thanks so much! :)

I'd never heard of the baby powder behind the ears trick, I will definitely have to do that. I'm also ordering some Flossies today, can't wait to get them!

Monet had a great case of the zoomies this morning. It was the first time I've been allowed to really play with him. Before, he'd play on his own, but never invite me to play too. This morning, he brought me all of his toys, one at a time. I would throw them and he'd bound off the bed, pounce on the toy, and throw it in the air. Then he'd run around the room and leap back up on the bed, we played tug a bit, and then I'd throw it again. We played like this for a 1/2 hour. It was so absolutely adorable!

Last night, he was all tuckered out because we walked for that 1/2 hour, plus the 15 minute walk earlier in the morning, and I took him out a few other times during the day for about 4-5 minutes. At one point, he laid on his back, stretched out with his legs up in the air, leaning up against me. So different than the dog I had 5 days ago!

I'm so happy to see he's starting to show his happy, playful self. He's definitely a sweetheart.
 
Aren't zoomies the best! I absolutely love to watch them have the zoomies, with their bottom all tucked under themselves. They always have such a happy expression on their face as they are racing around.
 
Yes, it definitely is! I was so excited he was actually wanting to initiate play with me. The changes are amazing. :) We still have a long way to go, but he's come so far!
 
Still not eating!!

Thanks! :D He's making progress in some places, and not making any progress in others.

He's got a chewing fetish, he got a hold of my iPhone charger the night before last, when we were taking a nap. He just gnawed open a little of the covering, so I covered it with electrical tape and it's fine. He didn't chew off any wire, thank goodness. He's also a shameless sock thief and brings it to you like it's the best thing in the world! I try to redirect him to another toy, if you verbally correct him, even quietly, he freaks out.

On the good side, he's starting to include me in his play, and he's been going on walks in a ton of different places. He's getting better about that. He's great in a car, just lays down and patiently waits.

He's still not eating enough. He's very skinny, there's not a whole lot of fat under all that hair. The vet has him on nutri-cal, the high calorie supplement, to see if we can get any weight on him. He's on a tablespoon of wet food also, and he's got a mixture of his old food and some Blue Buffalo Puppy. He'll eat the BB, and leave a lot of the old stuff. But, he averages about 5-15 pieces of dry food. I've almost had him a week now, and he's still not eating much more. You can smush the wet food into the dry food, and he'll just pick up the dry pieces, get the wet off of it, and then drop the dry piece.

I've been reading as many of the threads on not eating as possible. I've heard a lot about picky eaters being made, so maybe feeding the wet food is causing him to not eat the dry? I just want to get weight on this boy. He acts starved, but he just won't eat. I can't make myself do raw.

Here are some photos of my boy:

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I've been reading furiously on this forum, trying to find the answers to my multitude of questions. I have found solutions for most of it!

He refused to poop for about 36 hours straight when I transitioned him to my apartment... But thankfully that has resolved itself. He also still refused to eat, but that's residual from before. I gave up and used some hot water, mixed with his canned food and then stirred into the dry. He LOVES it. Eats his whole portion and licks the bowl. I don't mind heating up a bit of hot water if that's what it takes to help him gain weight.

I took him to a horse show today, and he was a star! He was terrified at first, but eventually he settled and laid down beside me, just chilling. He even ventured to visit a few people, a definite first. Granted, one girl had a piece of pizza, but considering the fact he wouldn't take food when he was nervous, that was good. He even got to feeling comfortable enough that he rollsed over on his back and let me rub his tummy.

We have run into a snafu. My roommate adopted a Border Collie mix, and she was just spayed two days ago. Well, Monet is not neutered yet... It is in the works. He's decided he's in love with her. He even peed right outside her crate this morning. :( That was fun to clean the carpet. Is marking near a female inevitable? He ran back upstairs fast this morning before I could get to him, and that's when he did it. He's generally very potty trained... in fact he's started waiting by the door when he needs to go out. It's just this new girl has him all in a tizzy.

He LOVES his Flossies. I found some at Incredipet and bought him two. He goes to town on them, I have to take them away after a while, because he would eat the entire thing before he stopped.
 
suristo said:
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.. Is marking near a female inevitable?
Click to expand...

Nope, my intact male would never dream of urinating in my house even when there is a girl in heat here. Now ouside that's a different story.:wink2: I think it is an extension of house training.

My friends' bi blue marked in her house last week. He was bred 3 days prior so I guess he was feeling like a big man.:rolleyes2: He is currently revisiting housetraining 101 and under strict watch in the house like you would a puppy so far so good. If that doesn't work,he will get a belly band. Usually with shelties, they pee on themselves once or twice and they stop that behavior.
 
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I just got all caught up on Monet -- what a perfect name! I, too, have a shy boy. Taking him to obedience class really helped. tonight we start Rally class, and that will continue the socialization. I can tell from reading this thread that you are doing everything right for him -- letting him take his time, but stretching him on being with people. Sounds like he's falling in love with you! :wink2::wink2:
 
Unfortunately, Monet managed to jump out of the car before I could get to him this morning, and he headed for the hills. He has been lost for 6 hours now, no luck finding him. I'm just about to lose it. :( I cannot believe I haven't even had my boy for two weeks.

I've put a post up on the announcements board, and I'm printing flyers as we speak. I put an ad on craigslist, talked to the animal shelter, and put in a newspaper ad for tomorrow.

Please, please pray for his safe return. I need all the help I can get. :(
 
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