Timis puppy

Kimmie&Jack · 07-04-2008, 08:14 AM

ummmm.....the Title should read TIMID puppy. (sorry)

I am newly registered here. I know this isn't the spot for an introduction, but this is my very first post. I am a wife and mom to 4 children (ages 14, 12, 6, & 3). We brought a puppy (13/ 1/2 weeks) to our home on Wednesday evening. His name is Jack. He is a Lab mix. When we saw him, he was active and played with the other animals at the farm. He wasn't interested in us terribly, but he licked on my younger children and let them pet him.
We liked his age, breed mix, and thought we were making a great chioce for our family.
We haven't yet made it to 48 hours and we already are seeing some conserning behavior. Jack is a wonderful laid back guy. He enjoys running and playing some, is sleeping well at night, and is doing okay with the housebreaking. BUT......he is afraid of adults (this would include my very tall sons). I am doing okay with him. He tolerates me, but doesn't crave my petting. We are doing lots of treats and walks with just the 2 of us. Stopping and talking with neighbors and asking them to give Jack a hello and throw him a treat.
My husband and oldest son are disappointed he is not all over them with kisses or wanting to be touched.

I read the post here about shy dog/puppy and saw some sililarities.
The biggest difference is Jack loves my girls. He is not in the least afraid of them. I think I've even seen him walk over to me 6 yr old and lean against her. For eveyone else he gives wide berth and won't come near.

Do you think this puppy will come around. Is this just a time issue? I keep telling my family he is just a baby and his whole world is now different.
Any suggestions to help this along?
Thanks
Kim

rosemaryninja · 07-04-2008, 09:05 AM

Where did you get this puppy? What do you know of his background?

It's not that uncommon for puppies to fear males, especially ones that have naturally shy temperaments. Men are bigger, tend to speak louder, have gruffer voices and tend to lean over the top of a dog's head more (this can be quite unnerving for dogs).

Fortunately, your pup's mind is still very receptive to learning positive and negative associations with different stimuli. The key is to make him associate men with positive experiences as far as possible. Your husband and son should start feeding him his meals by hand, petting him, talking to him calmly, walking him, playing games with him. They should take care not to be too overbearing -- eg don't go after him if he doesn't want to be cuddled, don't approach him from over the head (kneel down and move your hand towards his chest rather than bend from your waist and reach over his head).

carrie_griffes · 07-04-2008, 10:01 AM

Rosemaryninja has it correct, the pups whole world has been changed and that takes some adjustment in itself. It sounds as if the pup hasn't had much experiance with people or at least adults so it will take some time but I believe that the more positive exposure he receives, the more comfortable he will get.

The walks, intoductions, and treat process works very well in associating people to good things. Keeping it low key for now will allow him to relax into the household and figure out where he fits in.

Paitients and practice from everyone will be rewarded and your husband and boys will be pleased in the end. After all, he is a pup and will have to exibit and release the energy all pups have.

Kimmie&Jack · 07-04-2008, 10:08 AM

Thanks for the response.
We don't know much about the background, he was at a farm where he was born. Listed in the paper. We originally saw him, he was busy and fun, and loved his coloring, but we thought he might be too active and left him. We sent my husband back 2 hrs later. He came home with what looked like the same puppy, but acts so different.

This morning things are going better with my oldest. We are seeing very slow progress. Jack got up and ate a treat that my Matt had thrown toward him, speaking calm, soft, and nice. Also this morning Jack took and played with a ball sock that my Matt had made.
Jack doesn't like his current puppy food that we bought, but is interested in a sample the vet gave. Matt is using that sample food as treats and everytime he walks in the same room with Jack, Matt tosses a treat. (My husband is doing all similar things)

The sad thing is Matt is the reason we got a dog in the 1st place. He is the one that became asking, and now he has to sit and watch the other siblings enjoy the puppy.
The more I read and talk to people I am hearing over again and again that some of this is typical. Jack still seems more timid than the adverage dog. I really hope we can turn this around. jack was intended for the whole family.

carrie_griffes · 07-04-2008, 03:10 PM

The adjustment phase is just that, and adjustment. When my husband decided he wanted a german shepard, we went to find one and he picked the one who got into his lap and wouldn't leave it.

All the way home, that same puppy drooled so bad we had to put a towel under him. Upon reaching home, he found a corner and would seldom come out for a few days. After a week, he was seeking out my husband more and more. After a couple of weeks he actually started playing with everyone, greeting people at the door and generally just became a moor outgoing attention demanding dog.

The point is, the pup will relax and adjust and forget he was ever afraid of anyone in the first place if everyone is paitent and attentive.

LuvmyRotti · 07-04-2008, 03:29 PM

Rosemaryninja/Melissa has great suggestions to follow. I agree too with the adjustment period. Plus, you said when he was at the farm he was a happy playing dog - he's just somewhere new and it's scary to him. When we picked up our Bernese puppy and got him home, the first thing he did was run and hide behind a plant. For the next 2-3 days he would run and hide behind anything he could. I looked at my hubby and thought "oh oh" - does our new puppy have issues? Now 2.5 years later - he has such a bold personality.

Keep us posted and good luck!

Kimmie&Jack · 07-04-2008, 09:38 PM

Thanks again for the kind replys. You have all said things I had been thinking over the last couple of days. He wasn't around adults, the children at the farm took care of him, this is an adjustment.
He is beginning to wag his tale when we walk into a room. He is doing well with my younger children. My husband having the day off today has really helped with Jack being more comfortable with him. We are seeing progress.
I feel much better that others have had similar adjustment phases with new puppies. I will try to remember to post an update !!! (in a week or two).

Thanks
Kim