scared of everyone
- Thread starter mary
- Start date
Ann
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We had this problem as well with a dog this age. I'm convinced there is something about the "teenage" months from around a year to 18 months that makes some of them skittish if they are introduced to new homes then. We consulted lots of experts and the only thing that worked for ours was time and patience. With some, it's a matter of weeks. With ours, it was months. Don't give up!
Don't force her. Use lots of high value treats if she'll take them from you (ours wouldn't). If she won't take treats, toss them across the floor so she can pick them up. Sit quietly on the floor at her level and let her come to you. Lots of love and praise when she does come to you helps. If there's one person in the house she is more afraid of, have that person ignore her completely until she's more comfortable and confident.
These dogs have to come to you in their own time and can't be persuaded. It's about building their trust and confidence. If you're persistent, she will eventually figure it out and adjust.
You said "her own people". Do you not own her, or have you just adopted her? Good luck, and let us know how it goes!
Don't force her. Use lots of high value treats if she'll take them from you (ours wouldn't). If she won't take treats, toss them across the floor so she can pick them up. Sit quietly on the floor at her level and let her come to you. Lots of love and praise when she does come to you helps. If there's one person in the house she is more afraid of, have that person ignore her completely until she's more comfortable and confident.
These dogs have to come to you in their own time and can't be persuaded. It's about building their trust and confidence. If you're persistent, she will eventually figure it out and adjust.
You said "her own people". Do you not own her, or have you just adopted her? Good luck, and let us know how it goes!
Beau was exactly the same way when I first brought him home. Practice and Patience.
I brought him outside and spent a few minutes with people in the park and then walked away. (I increased the time with people in park in slow increments)
Inside the house was a bit tricker especially since I don't normally have a lot of visitors. But what I do have is a closet. That's been Beau' favorite place to hang out from day one. So, I let him own the space. I just cleaned out the bottom . But anyway, Beau would hang out when I did have people over and we just ignored him. when he would show curiosity I gave my friends treats to give him. In fact, I had my friend give him treats as they entered the door. that way he knew not to be threatened.
Any how to make a long story short. As of this minute this shy guy could Give George Clooney a run for his money when it comes to working a room. He can smooze his way from person to person. Just give your baby time and space, eventually they'll come around. there's another sheltie at the park who is the same way, but, she let's me come over and give her some girlfriend love. Her owner says I'm one of the few people in the park she'll let do this.
I brought him outside and spent a few minutes with people in the park and then walked away. (I increased the time with people in park in slow increments)
Inside the house was a bit tricker especially since I don't normally have a lot of visitors. But what I do have is a closet. That's been Beau' favorite place to hang out from day one. So, I let him own the space. I just cleaned out the bottom . But anyway, Beau would hang out when I did have people over and we just ignored him. when he would show curiosity I gave my friends treats to give him. In fact, I had my friend give him treats as they entered the door. that way he knew not to be threatened.
Any how to make a long story short. As of this minute this shy guy could Give George Clooney a run for his money when it comes to working a room. He can smooze his way from person to person. Just give your baby time and space, eventually they'll come around. there's another sheltie at the park who is the same way, but, she let's me come over and give her some girlfriend love. Her owner says I'm one of the few people in the park she'll let do this.
What I mean about her own people are the people in the house we have unfortunately sheltered her after losing our collie and Shepard very quickly.Mind you she was 15 and half but we were devastated by the loss of sheba so rapidly and because of that we never let her out of our site.
Thank you for the input I hate to see her so scared of people this our first Sheltie and apparently we have a lot of learning to do things I"ve read say that a Shelties brain is wired different then other breeds I love the breed she is joy to have in the house and gives me the greatest greetings when I come home from work Hana will jump into my arms when I hold them out and will even wrap her body around my head you can't get a better greeting then that.