My Pet World: Helping a timid pup gain confidence about his world
Dear Cathy,
My adult granddaughter has an eight-month-old Toy Australian Shepherd. She got the dog when he was three months old. The dog is friendly toward family members but will not allow strangers to go near him.
He will back away if I put my hand out to pet him and then run away. He won't go anywhere near me, and it's as if he is frightened of all strangers. He has been to a vet and has had all his shots. Is this something he will grow out of as he gets older? How can we make him a friendly puppy?
— Sherry, Massapequa, New York
Dear Sherry,
There are several things your granddaughter can do to help her fearful puppy gain confidence. While I will suggest a few things here, my first recommendation is for your granddaughter to enroll her puppy in a dog training class or sign up for private lessons with a trainer or animal behaviorist.
These professionals can identify the puppy's triggers and help her create a plan to build up this puppy's confidence through training.
Until then, here are some things she can do:
Create a home environment where the puppy feels relaxed and safe. This may include putting a pheromone collar on him, giving him some over-the-counter relaxing chews, or putting an Anxiety Wrap or Thundershirt on him.
Next, ask everyone outside his “friendly” circle to not approach or try to pet him. They can talk to and encourage the puppy, but the puppy or dog should always be the one to initiate physical contact with them. (This advice goes for all dogs. I never approach dogs to pet them. I always wait for them to come to me.)
...continued
(c) 2024 DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
