Doodle Down Under!!!

[Pam and Ginger Snap]

I took Ginger to a puppy playdate today, with 4 other puppies.  Everyone played together, chased, mouthed and had fun......except Ginger.  She sat under my chair the whole time.  She watched, but was too shy to join in.  We play again next Monday. 

 

Any suggestions on helping Ginger change from a wall-flower to a party-girl?

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

Maybe 4 was overwhelming. Is it possible to have one at a time?

[Pam and Ginger Snap]

But none of the other puppies were overwhelmed : (

[Camilla and Darwin]

Darwin was a little shy as a puppy and it took a couple of play dates for him to warm up to his playmates. But now he loves them all! Every pup is different and I bet your will be just fine given time. :-)

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Tara was the same way at puppy class! They had time during class when the puppies (10) ran loose and she just wanted to be held. At the same age though she was fine with one or two dogs that were her size or smaller.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Just go again and again.  The first times we took Ned to get-togethers, he stayed on the fringes, then he found other little dogs to play with. He still does not run with the big dogs but when people come with doodles his size he plays. Otherwise he trots around visiting people and dogs - whether doodles or not.  Last time he really was running around chasing other dogs and got attacked by an Australian shepherd - guess it thought Ned was a small sheep!

[Suzann, Rosey & Bandit]

what kind of dogs were they?  bigger, smaller, boys was it aggressive play?  It took Rosey a while at care to come out of her shell but he workers gave her one on one time with little dogs to build her confidence and now she is the life of the party there!

[Camilla and Darwin]

I agree with Sue, maybe have 1 puppy first, then work up to more as she gets more comfortable...

[BG and Gavin]

You likely already know this, but don't reward the cowering behaviour by coddling, petting or talking to Ginger while she is under the chair.  Just totally ignore her.  A trainer I had early on used to always say "what you pet is what you get."  I am sure she will come out of her shell once you go a few times.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I like that phrase, "what you pet is what you get." 

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

This is what Rooney's breeder also taught us - if you give her coddling type behavior you will encourage this.  That said I am understanding your concern.  Rooney has always been - well I wouldn't even call it shy but I would say reluctant at first.  After having Labs who are the first ones to rush in, I thought something was wrong with Rooney after our first puppy park experience.  BUT you should see him now so please don't give up.  Take Ginger to the dog park EVERYDAY if you can, perhaps even try to go when no one else is there.  Walk her around on the leash and let her check in out in what may feel like a more secure situation.  At our park the smaller dogs try to meet at a certain time and the larger ones at a different time - were the playmates size appropriate?  Even now Rooney doesn't rush up to a new dog, he lingers and lets the others do the meet and greet first, I accept this as his personality but he does get out there now and run and play.  Don't baby Ginger but keep working with her - she'll be fine - Rooney says so - LOL.

[Kyoko]

I agree with everyone. I would continue to socialize her.... Charlie was not exactly shy, but was very awkward at puppy play group. She acted as she did not know how to play..... She still have "peer interaction " issues..... If there is a trainer there, it would not hurt to ask about it either....

[Kathy Spyker]

My Lilly would lean on my leg whenever I first took her to the park, but after about the 3rd time she just started to run with the "big dogs" ;-) It just takes a little longer for some dogs to feel comfortable.