Sheltie shyness

J

juliap

Forums Novice
I think my dog is shy or something. I have never had a puppy act like this before. I have been trying to socialize it as much as possible. I have been taking it everywhere with me. It acts friendly and will come up to anyone. I decided to try and teach it some tricks. I have taught many puppies and dogs to sit before. This dog acts unlike any I have ever seen before. When I sit down to teach it it won't come up to me. It stops and acts scared. Even when I show it the treat. I tried teaching it sit and making it sit like I have done for many dogs. After several tries of this usually the dogs do it by themselves. My puppy when I say sit and point my finger puts its head like its scared and runs under the chair. Just the command seems to scare it off. It seems ultra submissive. I am also having trouble getting it to come when I am at home or outside. Sometimes it comes but most of the time it stops short. Is it just to young to teach yet? It is nine and a half weeks old. This is the sweetest most calmest dog I have ever had.
 
Give it time, shelties can be shy. Merlin took a long time to learn down and until he was 5 months he would simply not perform it in public.

Take your time, don't rush and just enjoy bonding and building up trust. Also, don't force socialising as that can be detrimental, always let your pup approach in his own time, no matter how long it takes. Actually, sometimes it works well ignoring them or not making lots of noise or eye contact.
 
I agree, give it time, some puppies cannot adjust as fast as others and when you sit down the puppy might think your approaching it and when you give a command it might become confused, frustrated, or scared. Just let it walk around and become used to your presence and soon it might start following you out of sheltie nature, but be as calm as possible and don't get frustrated, or your puppy might get more scared. Before taking it with you everywhere, your puppy should adjust to it's surroundings before it has to go somewhere new, maybe make it comfortable with one room and eventually it will move through the rooms and become more comfortable with you there. Maybe even talk to it softly once and a while so it can get use to your voice. Once it's comfortable, THEN start trying to train a little bit. Good Luck!:yes:

I have a sheltie puppy of my own and she's very bold, but the first week I saw her (at the pet store) she was shaking like mad, but she eventually warmed up to me and now she's very different from what she was in her first week or so adjusting.
 
I have had it for two and a half weeks now. At first it was really shocked and just slept a bunch. I think its pretty comfartable in its surrondings now. It is comfortable with the house and follows me everywhere. Also when I take it places its like my little shadow. It plays all over the house and comes up to everyone. The only time it shows shyness is when I sit down to try and train it. Also when I call it to come it stops short. I am thinking the come thing may not be shyness. I think it does not want to go in the crate so it avoids me when I call it or it does not want to come in when its outside. I think I will wait on the training it does not seem ready. I will wait till it builds up its confidence some more.
 
Training should not be a time where the dog gets shy, but rather gets excited. Shelties are sensitive bright creatures and really respond well to learning new things. I recommend using lots of treats and reading up on shaping behaviours. It will be fun for both you and your pup! Good luck.
 
At your pups mealtime, sit on the floor and show him/her the bowl. Say nothing. When pup gets curious calmly praise and feed a few kibbles. Feed a piece or two while you calmly talk sweetly. Try this a few timew. To teach sit, raise the kibble up just above your puooys nise, that usually gets them into a sit. Praise, feed and when yoyr puo sits quicky, start using the word sit.

You might have a shy sheltie. I havw had some success with early socialization, training, and most of all, being a calm and kind leader.
 
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While your pup might be shy it should not stop you from training. It might take longer but no need to wait until pup gets over shyness, this way they might never do.
To begin with try hand feeding every bit of kibble that comes for his meals for couple of weeks. Change position when do it, on the floor, sitting, standing, walking by your leg etc
See if your pup will come when you run away/ try at home your hallway space first/, when comes reward like crazy with some goofy games, tugging, food.

Play fun games with other dogs or by yourself.
Take some toy or even sock and drag it by the rope like you would do with a cat.
Get Crate Games DVD by Susan Garrett, not only it helps to make crate fun place to be, it is also helps puppy to develop confidence and good choices in life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebjBo_spqG0
 
I will ONLY feed my dogs inside their crates. That way they never have an issue going in as they will receive either a meal or some type of reward for going in. By the time they realize their crated, they've long forgotten that coming to me was the cause of it.

For shyness, I have 2 puppies myself and didn't experience the shyness with sitting down. It may just be that your puppy still isn't exactly sure what humans are and has never seen a human sit down and be so close to the ground with it. And instead of pointing your finger to sit, use a different hand signal (I start with my hand facing the ground parallel, and then turning it so my palm is facing up). Always use the same tone with your training, even if you get frustrated. And only say the command once. If the dog does not respond, just guide it down by placing a treat over the head-don't push on the butt but you can gently touch the hindquarters to get the wheels turning about what it should be doing with its backend. It's NEVER too early to start training, and with a smart dog like a sheltie, the earlier the better!
 
Great advice! I agree...do not stop the training, as positive training will only create a tighten bond with you and your dog.
 
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