Scared new puppy

[shelee]

Lots of good advice here - definitely slow down the treats and very tiny pieces to avoid the tummy troubles. Shelties are the exact opposite of Goldens so your friend is coming from a different set of expectations. Generally Goldens love everyone and everything immediately. You will have to have a LOT of patience but I'm sure Ella will come around. Just baby steps and feel good about any little spark of progress.

Yes, that is true. I had sent a message to the breeder to make sure I understand how much food she told me to feed her because it seemed so much. I did mention to her how scared Ella is and she replied "well you don't have Golden or a Lab!"

 

[Piper's mom]

I love Trini’s advice of sitting on the floor and letting her go to your friend. Also as she said reaching over the head can be an aggressive move to a dog, you always want to approach under the chin and they should want to come to you. This is something you can’t rush.
You need to look at it from the puppy’s perspective, everything is new and they’ve been yanked out of the only home they know. As much as we want to take them out and introduce them to everyone with Shelties it’s better to give them a week or so to get used to us before we start heading out into the world (their world was very small as a puppy lol).
My bi blue Blueberry is now 21 weeks old and that first week she was unsure of everything and I found taking her out was just too much for her in the first week. They also can be going through a fear period at that age and while you don’t want to stop everything you also don’t want to do too much.
Into the second week I found Blueberry was able to handle the people and noise much better and while it was no paws on the ground I’d ask strangers (in whatever stores allowed pets) to hold her. Very important to get them to experience being held by people they don’t know ...I’d feed her treats while she was being held ( as much as you can with Covid).

 

[Elei]

Congrats on the new puppy, Ella!

I agree with pretty much all the advice. Let her hide if she needs too. Don’t let anyone pet her if she doesn’t want to be petted. Basically don’t force anything.

If you have a fenced yard you can have friends sit in the yard while Ella is loose. Have the friends ignore her so Ella doesn’t feel pressured to interact. Hopefully she can relax and learn that other people are just an ordinary part of life, and nothing to stress about.

Similarly, in parking lots, parks, stores, etc.. I would just let her stay as far away from scary stuff as she wants. She can observe from a great distance and slowly learn all this stuff is just part of the world.

Kip is very confident and brave but he isn’t a huge fan of strangers petting him unless he asks for it. This is totally fine. It’s like not wanting random strangers to hug you, I think. So Ella may never be super friendly with strangers, but as long as she learns not to be scared, I think that’s fine.

You could read the book “Control Unleashed: The Puppy Program”. Lots of tips for working with any pup who is scared of things.

 

[Elei]

I don’t think the pandemic is an excuse for breeders to not do any socializing outside the home. It’s too important for the lifelong well being of the dog. You can still do lots of things safely with your litter - it just might take a little more creativity.
I have a breeder friend who did an incredible job socializing her Sheltie litter during the pandemic.

 

[trini]

I don’t think the pandemic is an excuse for breeders to not do any socializing outside the home. It’s too important for the lifelong well being of the dog. You can still do lots of things safely with your litter - it just might take a little more creativity.
I have a breeder friend who did an incredible job socializing her Sheltie litter during the pandemic.

I totally agree with this Elei...all the things we are currently doing with Laddie, road walks, car rides and sitting in the car in busy parking lots could safely have been done even during the worst of the pandemic. It is sad that so many puppies are now struggling to make up for that so critical socialization time.
Trini

 

[KarenCurtis]

I don’t think the pandemic is an excuse for breeders to not do any socializing outside the home. It’s too important for the lifelong well being of the dog. You can still do lots of things safely with your litter - it just might take a little more creativity.
I have a breeder friend who did an incredible job socializing her Sheltie litter during the pandemic.

Agreed.

 

[shelee]

Is that her in your avatar?

I have one shyer, a singleton, but not fearful of everything. He did require alot more socialization and sensitization to certain things. Many new things for this pup if he was unsure or scared of, the third time (of exposure) was the charm.

Other posters mentioned the “hand shy” of not wanting to be pet from overhead. That is not uncommon actually. In the wild something coming from above over a small animal was never good. Pet the chest and sides and move upward to rub the ears works best for him.

Boiled chicken makes a nice, mild special treat.

Be prepared for some regression phases, especially 5-12 (or 18) months.

Sounds like you picked a gentle, softer temperament. I bet she will be great for obedience with you and not pushy, dominant.

luckily for you, she is in the critical period for socialization. 8-10 weeks is also a fear period and imprinting can happen. Luckily you got her earlier rather than later because the window on socializing has not closed and you can make up for some of the lack of
exposure . It runs from 4-12 weeks I believe.
https://www.paws.org/resources/developmental-stages-of-puppy-behavior/
Even as a veteran dog owner, I end up googling puppy stages to remind myself every time we hit a new stage!

I kinda side eye the breeders response to you but I don’t know context and tone. I have never had a pup react like this to strangers. Even my shyer one but two of mine were bolder and goofier temperaments over all. They had other things to work on instead. Just remember you are catching up a bit but you are not at all “too late” if this is a covid socialization issue. She may never blossom into lab like and that is ok. But she should improve. As long as you can stay calm and upbeat most of the time, she will feel that. They really are more intuitive about feelings than most breeds. Give it a week and please report back.
Did you meet the mom or dad?

Yes, that is Ella in my avatar. The breeder said the mom was on site. She told me about the dad, but honestly I can't remember if he was on site. I did not see the mom. She said Ella (she had named her Nora) was more calm than the other girl puppies she had in the past. The pups were crazy when we were there! Very hyper and playful with each other. There were 2 males and then Ella left. Ella was MUCH larger than her brothers. The pups didn't come to either my husband or I, but neither did they shake out of fear. They were supposedly trained to go on potty pads. In the room she showed the pups to us, they were allowed to go on a blanket. I don't believe they spent alot of time outside. Like you, I have never had a Sheltie react with so much fear with so much trembling. My previous 2 Shelties were very shy and one never did come around to anyone but the 3 of us (my husband and daughter) but she also did not shake or tremble when seeing strangers and both were not afraid of walking outdoors, people walking by, cars etc. If a relative tried to pet them, they just hid, they did not shake. That is what my concern is, but I do not have near as much experience as others. I have a appointment for a well puppy check with my long time vet next week so will get his opinion.

 

[Sandy in CT]

uckily for you, she is in the critical period for socialization. 8-10 weeks is also a fear period and imprinting can happen. Luckily you got her earlier rather than later because the window on socializing has not closed and you can make up for some of the lack of
exposure . It runs from 4-12 weeks I believe.

I don't necessarily feel this is gospel that applies to all dogs. Yes, to some, but how do you explain rescues that are locked in cages for years, adopted out with someone who takes the time to enable them to gain confidence and then they bloom into this great dog? On the other hand, there are rescues that never blossom. There are pups, well socialized during that exact time frame - some are great, some are not. I guess, my point is, I don't feel all is lost outside that 12 weeks and I sure as heck wonder who thought it up! Think on it.... how much socialization truly does happen prior to 12 weeks when pup is not fully vaccinated? It may set a stage, or help push dog owners to act, but I don't feel it is as cut and dry.

Deacon is 21 weeks - same age as Blueberry. He has actually been paws on the ground longer than Blueberry who had to wait for her titers. Both pups have been with other dogs in the home, with owners working on socializing. Blueberry is leaps and bounds ahead of Deacon who is just now coming into his own confidence with different things. If that window was closed at 12 weeks, I'd have a pup afraid to go on walks and Blueberry surely would be a lost cause waiting for her titer results. Instead, Blueberry has a more confident personality to begin with so she is meeting life head on with each activity she is introduced to. Deacon is a 'let me wait at the door and watch for a while before I decide if I want to enter the room' type but he's getting better.

Deacon lives with 2 pups who he races around with, herds and terrorizes at home, came from a litter of 5, we have dogs all around us, he went to puppy school - he does NOT like other dogs big or small. I'm not giving up because he is past that 12 week time frame - I'm just taking it slow. Introducing things in HIS time frame, not mine. Deacon is a loving, soft hearted wanna be lap dog - he's not some high energy, super confident, out going, ball of fur rolling around everywhere. He's getting better, he's just slower at attaining confidence in things.

Point is - socializing and training is a life long thing. I know with Brodie, we did all according to the experts - he went through a fear stage at about 16 months where we literally had to start from the beginning. His door wasn't closed at 12 weeks either. Maybe it's sort of like vaccinations.... we know from titers that vaccines provide more immunity to our dogs than just a year, yet many are convinced they MUST be vaccinated annually, hence they bring their dog to the vet for an annual check up which IS super, super important and many folks would brush off to save money. Maybe the folks preaching that train of thought are doing the same thing - saying something to give a sense of urgency to those who might not act in any way otherwise unless they feel it is some vital threshold they MUST pass over or face having a wild animal in their home instead of a well behaved dog. Who knows...

 

[SheepOfBlue]

A rough video that I made playing around at flyball, strapped a cam to Spifire. But if you can handle the movement it shows the perspective of how big people seem from down there.

 

[Daisy1015]

I don't necessarily feel this is gospel that applies to all dogs. Yes, to some, but how do you explain rescues that are locked in cages for years, adopted out with someone who takes the time to enable them to gain confidence and then they bloom into this great dog? On the other hand, there are rescues that never blossom. There are pups, well socialized during that exact time frame - some are great, some are not. I guess, my point is, I don't feel all is lost outside that 12 weeks and I sure as heck wonder who thought it up! Think on it.... how much socialization truly does happen prior to 12 weeks when pup is not fully vaccinated? It may set a stage, or help push dog owners to act, but I don't feel it is as cut and dry.

Deacon is 21 weeks - same age as Blueberry. He has actually been paws on the ground longer than Blueberry who had to wait for her titers. Both pups have been with other dogs in the home, with owners working on socializing. Blueberry is leaps and bounds ahead of Deacon who is just now coming into his own confidence with different things. If that window was closed at 12 weeks, I'd have a pup afraid to go on walks and Blueberry surely would be a lost cause waiting for her titer results. Instead, Blueberry has a more confident personality to begin with so she is meeting life head on with each activity she is introduced to. Deacon is a 'let me wait at the door and watch for a while before I decide if I want to enter the room' type but he's getting better.

Deacon lives with 2 pups who he races around with, herds and terrorizes at home, came from a litter of 5, we have dogs all around us, he went to puppy school - he does NOT like other dogs big or small. I'm not giving up because he is past that 12 week time frame - I'm just taking it slow. Introducing things in HIS time frame, not mine. Deacon is a loving, soft hearted wanna be lap dog - he's not some high energy, super confident, out going, ball of fur rolling around everywhere. He's getting better, he's just slower at attaining confidence in things.

Point is - socializing and training is a life long thing. I know with Brodie, we did all according to the experts - he went through a fear stage at about 16 months where we literally had to start from the beginning. His door wasn't closed at 12 weeks either. Maybe it's sort of like vaccinations.... we know from titers that vaccines provide more immunity to our dogs than just a year, yet many are convinced they MUST be vaccinated annually, hence they bring their dog to the vet for an annual check up which IS super, super important and many folks would brush off to save money. Maybe the folks preaching that train of thought are doing the same thing - saying something to give a sense of urgency to those who might not act in any way otherwise unless they feel it is some vital threshold they MUST pass over or face having a wild animal in their home instead of a well behaved dog. Who knows...

Um ok these are the standard developmental stages anywhere i have ever read ever. Just like human children and I have degrees in that. Nothing is absolute, but the point being she for her dog at the perfect time to socialize. Inmeant to encourage but now am left feeling embarrassed and like an idiot for participating. I will see if i can delete and stop posting so as not to spread “false information.”