First Week in the big city, and fear...

[Joely and Peter and Dood]

Hi! Dood is such a lovely boy and we are very thankful to have him. He is great with us, got him at 8 months old, but has a LOT of fear walking through Brooklyn. The noises are all new to him. And in NYC there are a LOT of noises. We adopted him from PA. A straggler from a previous litter, and he has been a farm boy up until now.

We've taken him to the off-leash park, and he had it totally to himself, but he cornered himself in an area where he felt "safe" and did not want to play with me or explore..

We can't avoid taking him out in the city, and are trying to introduce him slowly to his new enviornment.

 

He is very submissive, and often on walks very LOW tail, or when scared between the legs... Poor boy.

 

Other than his fear of Brooklyn, he is such a well adjusted dog already! Wonderful in the home and full of love for us

 

Any tips?

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Gosh, I was born in Brooklyn and it still scares me! One week to get used to all the new sounds? I would think it will get better as he gets more used to his new home. Maybe when the weather permits windows open and he hears all the sounds from his safe place.

[Adina P]

I think enrolling in an obedience program for the sake of giving him something ELSE to focus on when you take him out would help.  It's amazing what a solid obedience training plan can do :) It's more than just learning that the human word 'sit' means to plant his butt on the ground.  It is confidence and trust building work.  It helps the fearful, the aggressive, the shy, the over-zealous and all those between develop a stronger bond and work ethic and to learn to trust you and that they CAN cope in the big world while at your side and working.  That's my two cents :) 

[Joely and Peter and Dood]

good thoughts.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Yes, obedience will help build Dood's trust and confidence in YOU.  He will then be better about being in these types of situation.  It will get better, but will take time.  He is ADORABLE :)

[Margot]

Woof!  The previous idea from Sue (and Murphy & Bella) about leaving the windows open to hear the neighborhood sounds is a great one, even though it is frighteningly hot right now.  Whenever I meet other Doodles, we always comment on how most Doodles are afraid of sounds, big scary things (balloons, trash cans in the dark), so all of this makes sense, especially at first.  Like anything scary, when there is a scary/loud sounds, just give him a nice "it's OK, Dood" and a scratch on the head, and hope for the best.

[cheryl & oliver]

Margot, Oliver is terrified of anything new in his world.  He ran from a balloon, was terrified of bicycles, etc.  And yet he is fine with thunder and fireworks, who would have thought it?  I just sit with him, like u do and do the same thing.  After a minute or two he will let me show him the balloon, and he was fine with it.  But new things do scare him...

[Margot]

P.S.  Do you have steps on your building where you can sit at night and watch the world go by with him?  Perhaps if he is sitting close to home with you and maybe a favorite toy, he will be able to hear the sounds of the neighborhood, see things, and feel a bit more comfortable.

[cheryl & oliver]

Joley, my son and dil live in Brooklyn Heights on a very nice street.  There are people there walking their dogs all the time in the neighborhood.  Maybe with the nice weather you could sit with him somewhere in the neighborhood and let him get the feel of the area, the sounds etc.  Maybe a dog park with other dogs might be a good thing to gradually introduce him too.

[Joely and Peter and Dood]

Hi Cheryl:

We live in Brooklyn Heights/Cobble Hill! Very close to your son!

[Coco Chanel and Cheryl]

Try sitting on your steps and letting him watch the world go by! Walk him and let him get used to it all. Don't walk far at first and as he gets used to the area. He will come around. The city is noisy and he came from a quiet farm, that's a lot to get used to!! Time will be your friend.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

This is quite the change for him so go slow. I think the ideas about the windows and steps are great because he will feel safe when hearing these things. Give him time to adjust and training class would help be around, dogs, people and noises and will help him too. Good luck-be patient.

[Linda and Murphy]

My DS lives in downtown Austin. Murphy was quite uncomfortable with all of the sounds. Buses, statues, underpasses.

Murphy was 4 at the time.