Terrified of Puppies

[Sylverlily]

We took Sundae to beginner's puppy obedience class #2 yesterday... The first 15 minutes of class is puppy playtime, and there are about 6 other puppies in the class. As she did the previous week during the first class, she tucked tail and ran under our chairs - and at a few times even begged to get up onto our laps. She is so terrified of other puppies - even the calm ones. There is a Yorkie HALF her size who just wants to sniff and Sundae runs from him just as fast as she runs from the puppies who are 5x her size.

She was so worried about the puppies around us on leashes that she couldn't concentrate on the commands and had a hard time paying attention to us at all (once we got home, she did perfectly on all of the commands). The instructor says she'll be fine after her confidence builds, but I'm not sure how to build confidence with other animals?

I know Shelties are skittish, but is this something we can expect to continue, or will she really get better over the next 3 classes? Do I need to worry about her being aggressive with or terrified of puppies in the future if she never warms up to them?

 

[sarasomething]

my dog used to be scared of other pups too, even ones much smaller than him... i just decided to let him have his space - if he wanted to get away from the puppies, i let him get away. i know they also go thru "fear periods" where they are more skittish than normal. eventually he decided he wanted to start checking out other pups (it took him months to decide other dogs looked like fun). but now he always wants to play with other dogs.

another thing u can try is feeding your pup treats when other dogs are around, so she focuses on getting treats instead of running from the other dogs. reward her for ignoring the dogs, or tolerating them (rather than running from them).

go slow. my pup took a long time to start gaining confidence around other dogs.

 

[dmeyer123]

I'm not too crazy about the idea of "puppy playtime" at the beginning of obedience class. I actually don't think there is a time for it in obedience class. The dogs need to learn that they are there to work with their handlers. Working with their handler should be the fun part of the class. If you do puppy playtime the end of class would be more appropriate. After ther puppies play and get excited, it must be difficult to redirect them into a working mode.

Please understand, I'm not saying learning to work with the handler shouldn't be fun...I believe just the opposite. Making it fun is the secret to the game!

 

[Princetopher]

Sylverlily/Sundae

We took Sundae to beginner's puppy obedience class #2 yesterday... The first 15 minutes of class is puppy playtime, and there are about 6 other puppies in the class. As she did the previous week during the first class, she tucked tail and ran under our chairs - and at a few times even begged to get up onto our laps. She is so terrified of other puppies She was so worried about the puppies around us on leashes that she couldn't concentrate on the commands and had a hard time paying attention to us at all (once we got home, she did perfectly on all of the commands).

well there are a few things to consider. is your puppy too immature for the class as it involves interaction? you have already attended 2 classes so i doubt if you could wait for a later date to attend as it is already paid for. since there is success at home, continue to gain the insight at the class and work it through at home. you may accomplish just as much and continue to work on the social aspect with Sundae. maturity comes with time as i am sure you are aware of. keep going forward and we look forward to victory testimonies.....
the faulks

 

[Sylverlily]

is your puppy too immature for the class as it involves interaction?

Good question... Sundae is about 15 weeks old now. Most of the puppies in the class are about the same age; some being a few weeks younger (I think the class is for 10 weeks - 5 months).

I'm not too crazy about the idea of "puppy playtime" at the beginning of obedience class. I actually don't think there is a time for it in obedience class. The dogs need to learn that they are there to work with their handlers. Working with their handler should be the fun part of the class. If you do puppy playtime the end of class would be more appropriate. After ther puppies play and get excited, it must be difficult to redirect them into a working mode.

It makes a lot of sense that puppy playtime would be at the END of the class as a reward for good work, at which point maybe Sundae would be curious enough and have a little more courage to go and greet other puppies. She does so well at home that I feel like she has more fun learning than playing!!!

A lot of people told me how rewarding working with Shelties can be, but it amazes me the way she looks into my eyes with such seriousness and sincerity (is there any other way to describe it?) as she does exactly what I ask her to.

 

[SheepOfBlue]

Sca was a HUGE chicken at the start of puppy class and he was the biggest one there. He came from a tiny litter and is my only dog so I think that mattered. By then end of class he was raring to go to class and see his buddies. Now he is Mr Social Butterfly and thinks everyone needs to play with the Sca. We just did the class and they got less scary.

 

[BarbV]

I've always had love-hate issue with "puppy playtime" as well.

My forever pup was in a class of 6 retreiver/labs....he was in terror the whole time and kept hiding underneath my legs. That class was a free for all.

When I got Bacca, they did do puppy play at the end, when pups were more tired out, and they did segregate them into smaller groups based on size, energy level and confidence, and no more than 3 or 4 to a group.

This seemed to work o.k., but I was not fond of it. I would have preferred informal playtime outside once the class was finished. That being said, it did teach Bacca how to deal "off-leash" in unusual circumstances, and the trainers were very quick to seperate out dogs that were out of control.

I think if its managed, its can be a good thing.