[teri-poo]

hi, i have a 6 month old terrier poodle mix. the pet shop we got her from called her a terri poo. she a great puppy and very smart for her age. pretty darn silly too. loves the attention she gets from my family and my girlfriends family. some of them even call her baby because she loves to be held like a new born baby. its pretty cute.

anyways, i was just wondering something. its a not a huge problem or anything. my puppy for the most part is great with people, seems a little shy, but good. she likes to run up to people in my building and bark a little, but if they put out thier hand, she will sniff them and more then likely let them pet her and the barking is over with. some times she just hides ether behinde my legs or in between them and barks at people, never growls or trys to bite anyone.

i was just wondering how would i go about helping her get over being shy to new people and not so affriad?

i dont think her actions show any signs of anything bad, but what do you guys think? i am trying to learn so i can care for our little "baby" the best i can.

thank you all.

any ideas? please?

[fredalina]

She needs socialization and positive training methods. Take her to a clicker training puppy kindergarten, or other very positive reinforcement training class. Also get meeting strangers to be a positive thing. Take her out in public, and have your girlfriend or someone go ahead and ask people if they'll pet your dog, and have her give them treats to give the puppy. They only give the puppy when she shows a positive reaction, although at first you may need to just have them treat her when she's done barking, and work up to them ignoring her if she shows any negative reaction at all. That way she will look forward to meeting new people, and she'll learn that if she barks she gets ignored but if she acts friendly she gets treats and pets.

A pet shop isn't the best place to get a puppy. Usually they came from breeders who aren't the best at breeding and raising puppies, and also they're exposed to a lot of people who may not always treat them really well. (Think about the kids in the mall pet store who would tease the dogs). i'm sure your girl will make a great pet with some extra special training and attention (really all pups need this), but for next time think about getting your next puppy from an ethical breeder or rescuing.

Best of luck with her!

[Curbside Prophet]

Originally Posted by fredalina

Take her out in public, and have your girlfriend or someone go ahead and ask people if they'll pet your dog, and have her give them treats to give the puppy. They only give the puppy when she shows a positive reaction, although at first you may need to just have them treat her when she's done barking, and work up to them ignoring her if she shows any negative reaction at all.

A question fredalina... What are your thoughts on the owner being in control of the praise, versus the strangers? If I'm out in public I want my dog to be attentive to me, in spite of the strangers. That way I can give her direction. I use to recommend what you've suggested, but now I'm leaning more towards the "who's that?" - dog returns attention - owner rewards approach. I've noticed some significant gains in my dog by doing that. Do you have any thoughts, either way on this?

[teri-poo]

Originally Posted by fredalina

She needs socialization and positive training methods. Take her to a clicker training puppy kindergarten, or other very positive reinforcement training class. Also get meeting strangers to be a positive thing. Take her out in public, and have your girlfriend or someone go ahead and ask people if they'll pet your dog, and have her give them treats to give the puppy. They only give the puppy when she shows a positive reaction, although at first you may need to just have them treat her when she's done barking, and work up to them ignoring her if she shows any negative reaction at all. That way she will look forward to meeting new people, and she'll learn that if she barks she gets ignored but if she acts friendly she gets treats and pets.

A pet shop isn't the best place to get a puppy. Usually they came from breeders who aren't the best at breeding and raising puppies, and also they're exposed to a lot of people who may not always treat them really well. (Think about the kids in the mall pet store who would tease the dogs). i'm sure your girl will make a great pet with some extra special training and attention (really all pups need this), but for next time think about getting your next puppy from an ethical breeder or rescuing.

Best of luck with her!

thank you very much for the info. we try to into her to the public as much as we can, we take her everywhere we can with us when we go out and about. i will for sure use this adive you have given me the best i can. i give the little puppy alot of my attention. she follows me everywhere and listens so well. she is for sure really smart for her age, ifs def a active puppy.

i have always heard that pet shops are not the greatest place to get a puppy. (silly thing is that it is that is was a mall pet shop we found her) like many people, we saw her, interacted with her... and fell in love with her. greatest puppy i have ever had.

[fredalina]

i think this becomes the goal. Any time there is positive behavior that is being worked on, the owner becomes the one with the praise/treats. But if the puppy is already shy/barking, i think the stranger himself or herself becomes the positive interaction, and therefore the thing to look forward to for the puppy.

Once the positive behavior is learned and the puppy is no longer barking and/or shying away from strangers but rather approaching happily, the owner can shift the treats and praise to themselves and away from the strangers, leading up to futher training when meeting strangers, like sitting politely and only approaching when the owner says it's okay (and when the stranger has said it's okay).

[teri-poo]

i have already started with letting strangers greet her and give her treats. she is taking good to it so far.