Skittishness in your puppy?

[Crystal about Murphy Bach]

QUESTION:

Is anyone else dealing with a very Skittish personality in their dog?

Not so much with Women he has met once(he loves them), but always the men(even if they have met-well "met" = he saw them and ran away), Also in large groups of people he seems so scared. He'll run away, or pull on the leash and almost escape.

How do I get him to let people pet him, he is not treat motivated AT ALL.

I have read not to force him into any particular situation he may be avoiding, but then what do I do? Just let him be skittish and shy ? 

People ask me, is he like this at home, when it is just you and him, OF COURSE NOT, he wants to cuddle and play and love love love. 

Granted- I'd rather him be like this then jumping all over people, 6 to 1 half dozen to the other? 

Read more here: http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/puppymadness#ixzz2xkkfx2Hy

[Crystal about Murphy Bach]

UPDATE: I just read the attached forum and it helped me with a good starting place:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/puppymadness/forum/topics/sudden-...

[Shanen Sadowski]

I have the same thing with our 8 month old. She LOVES people, but when I take her out, she acts terrified of men-backing away, pulling at the leash. If they are patient and stand still talking to her, she will wag her tail and try to get closer, but will still back away then. It's like she wants to go to them but is too scared. She acts the same way if my teenaged son has friends over, but is fine with my daughter's friends, and of course with my husband and son. I'm going to try to take her for more walks in town (we live in the country) so she'll have more opportunities to interact with men, and also want to try to get her to pet stores more often where people (men) are more likely to be willing to work with me on it-patiently waiting for her to come around so she sees it's a good thing w/a positive outcome. Good luck. Will be glad to see what others say on this.

[Crystal about Murphy Bach]

Thanks for responding, Murphy is 7 mos old, he is great around my husband also, our friend's seven year old daughter who lives with us and her. But when our friends come over in groups Murphy disappears. :/

I think he is just not use to the noise maybe, or that he gets overwhelmed and is not sure if he knows these people, or does he even care to. Our other dog is 9lbs Chihuahua Poodle (tucker) loves people and jumps on their laps doesn't matter. So I for sure thought Murphy at this point would be learning from him and see that it is ok to be around us humans.  

I live in a very dense neighborhood, and walk him super early in the morning before there is much action and it is usually nearly light out around 6am, so I too need to take the extra time to take him to home depot or even the pet store is a good place, there are other dogs, men and women. And more regularly also.

Question: Did you get your dog from a breeder? How old was she when you got her? I am wondering if this has to do with Murphy's behavior. He was from a breeder, had a doggie door to the outside and had a kennel on the inside of the house. I am suspecting he didn't have much interaction with people for 4 months when we got him. SO I figured he is just scared in general. Either way taking him out during busy hours of the day may be VERY useful for us and I know he will get better and more social especially because Tucker is super social.

But if he doesn't get more social it's all good. I just need to know what I am working with here, and doing the best I can at it!:)

Good Luck! 

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

My Josie is almost three and is still fairly skittish/shy. She has improved immensely since when we brought her home at 4 months. Even we scared her but her living conditions I considered less than perfect even though she came from a well known doodle breeder. Patience and love is all I can suggest. We find if who she is meeting sits low she's more apt to approach on her own. She's very food driven so that really helps us. I've come to the resolution that's just her personality she's now an absolute love at home.
She is a doodle but with a splash of greyhound so my daughter thinks she has identity issues! Lol. We lovingly refer to her as our whoops-a-doodle.

[Crystal about Murphy Bach]

Like I said, The little Lover Lane is loved no matter what, thanks for sharing:)  :) 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Do NOT reassure in voice or actions, stay calm and matter of fact. Take the dog just to the edge of their comfort zone.  For example go to a park and sit on a bench and let him watch people.  We have a park with a childrens' play area, basketball hoops, baseball diamonds, a library etc.  If you have those kinds of things, just go watch, eventually getting closer and closer to the action, and eventually meeting strangers.

[Crystal about Murphy Bach]

That's really good advice. Thanks! 

I'll try this also. 

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

Hurley is 28 months old and remains hesitant with strangers.   He even backs away, and hides behind me, from someone he knows that comes to the house with a hat on or an odd package in their arms.  His trainer said it is his personality for starters.  Per her instructions we act like it is nothing.   I go up to the person using my Hurley tone which is sort of high energy and excited sounding bringing Hurley with me.  His tail is always wagging in a friendly wag and when he is okay with the person he shows such happiness and excitement like they are there to see him.

 Additionally, she told us to instruct the person to just put the back of their hand out and not to look him in the eyes but stand quietly giving him a chance to sniff them.  It does work even though strangers seem to be disappointed that Hurley won't immediately let them pet him.  Frankly, I prefer that he is hesitant rather than not afraid to go up to anyone.  

Maybe that will give you some ideas that might work for you.

[Crystal about Murphy Bach]

Thanks Diane,

I never thought to use the same tone as I do with Murphy when I am excited when I go up to people, that is great advice... I feel I am training the humans most of the time.." Hey can you please hold your hand out palm down, don't look at Murphy in the eyes, sorry don't approach him please he is training", the humans do great at learning new commands and dog training.

And yes, most people get all sad like it is their fault Murphy acts that way, but it is really just how Murphy is around people. And also true, I would rather Murphy be like this then all over people and overwhelming.. But he is cute and I understand people sadness because they want to pet him, but I get that ALL to my self (evil laugh), maybe it's a good thing... :)..

But really I just want to be able to walk without him freaking about the person walking on the other side of the street. This will get better as we walk more, around more people.

And thanks for the suggestions. 

[Deb's Yarrow and Schatzi]

Hi Crystal.  Yarrow is 7 months old this week.  She's quite skittish around people she doesn't know especially if they reach out to her.  She still tries to hide between my legs or get away.  I've been amazed a couple of times when she's actually let strangers touch her. One was a little girl about 4 years old.  That really surprized me because she's generally extra skittish around children.  I know that when I'm meeting a shy dog I crouch down and turn to the side and don't make eye contact.  This sends a non-threatening message and the shy dog will usually come check me out.  It's hard to get random adults to do this though.  Basically, I keep taking Yarrow into places where people gather, ride bikes and skateboards and just people watch with her, sending peaceful energy down the leash, talking to her calmly about whatever and feeding her treats for paying attention. I figure she'll eventually replace her skittishness with confidence.

[Crystal about Murphy Bach]

Thanks Deb, This helps.

I think Murphy will eventually do the same. Being around action, like the baseball park by my house is good. 

Glad we aren't alone in this. :)