Scaredy pup - and its not even Halloween yet

[Emery & Watson]

When I picked Watson up from the breeder, I knew I had chosen a pup that was a little timid. He loved people but would need to be coaxed to new environments and situations. I knew he would need to be socialized well. I went online and found checklists of things to socialize him with, took him to puppy classes, puppy play hours and really tried to expose him to as much as I could (while being careful before he had all his shots).

From 12 weeks old, we have walked the same neighborhood blocks.  As a young pup, he used to pull all the way home and become a little sled dog.  With training, trailing different collars and harnesses, I have to admit he is making great strides in being able to walk nicely and being able to heel.

BUT, even now, I must remember that I have a scaredy pup.  Anything "abnormal" can spook him and he'll either refuse to walk or want to turn and dash the other way.  

Regular spooky things

• Rolling things with wheels - and the children that get off of rolling things with wheels
• An open mailboxes
• Trash bins
• Garage doors and cars entering/exiting
• Loud trucks or cars
• Children tapping on windows

Any of these things can make him stop dead in his tracks for a few moments, refuse to move, and/or try to dart all the way home.  As Halloween is approaching, people are starting to put out more things outside their houses.  The most recent "scary" thing is a 3' blow up Darth Vader on my neighbor's lawn.  I'm curious to see what will happen as Halloween approaches, the lawn decorations come out in full force and kids come to trick or treat.  

Perhaps I'll start wearing old costumes around the house :)

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

We have had some issues along these lines.  It began with our Sophie when she was just a puppy.  We were going through training at the time and I asked our trainer about it.  The first thing it happened with was a baby stroller.  She just freaked.  Our trainer taught us "Touch It".  We were to tell her "touch it".  Then we were to show her that we could "touch it" and then just use treats to coax her into touching it.  This has worked on many things since then.  Halloween does stink for a dog like this though but give it a try.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

One of the things we did was go to a park that has tons of activity - kids on a playground, soccer and baseball fields, a basketball court, kids on bikes and skateboards whizzing by.  We simply went and sat on benches and let the dogs absorb the activity.    Again, we go as close as possible to the 'offending item - be it mail boxes or strollers etc. before the dog is overly discomfitted and we watch it. We gradually get closer and closer - over days and weeks not minutes. Exposure, exposure, exposure!   As for the giant blow up figures, Ned has never liked them and we walk by them only as close as we must be to get by.

We also walked on traffic-filled streets, near train tracks, schools,  and yappy dogs on extend-a-leads.  Our big technique is to have the dogs sit and watch and it seems to have worked for us.

[Wendy and Myla]

Watson is so lucky to have such a great owner!  You have obviously watched everything and know exactly what will set him off!  Halloween is an awful time for puppies/dogs and I would advise you to ignore it this year and just keep working  on "socializing" him with his fears and hopefully by next Halloween or the one after, you will have acclimatized him to all of his fears!  I believe that too much too soon can set him back a lot!!!!