10mth old pup. Scared of cars and other dogs...

[elephantstone]

We got one of our pups (Hattie) when she was about 4 months old and she led a very sheltered life for that first few months, just getting walked 50 yards down the road to the park and that was it. Our other pup (Terry) who we had from 8weeks was socialised with bigger dogs, taken everywhere and is probably bit to0 confident out and about!

Now Hattie has recently been very scared of passing cars trying to hide under bushes or rush over into peoples drives. This makes walking them interesting as you have Terry pulling about trying to see everything and you've got Hattie lagging behind. I have tried talking to her and telling her to "come on" in a gentle voice as i hear one coming (come on is used a lot on off lead walks to get them to catch up with us). Is there anything else i should be doing?

With regards to big dogs I'm not sure what to do! She's okay with calm big dogs but she's now been chased off by a bouncing lurcher and a bouncing lab yesterday. I do try to stick her on the lead before hand but they have both come out of nowhere. Is there anything i can do to get her used to them and to not run away? Im going to a big national trust park tomorrow with my mates cockapoo (quite a big bugger) and do a gentle introduction and see then make it as enjoyable as possible with games and running around.

ETA It would probably help if people trained their fking dogs properly before letting them off lead!

Edited by elephantstone on Friday 26th June 11:44

[elephantstone]

Hattie on left, Terry on right.

[sumo69]

elephantstone said:

We got one of our pups (Hattie) when she was about 4 months old and she led a very sheltered life for that first few months, just getting walked 50 yards down the road to the park and that was it. Our other pup (Terry) who we had from 8weeks was socialised with bigger dogs, taken everywhere and is probably bit to0 confident out and about!

Now Hattie has recently been very scared of passing cars trying to hide under bushes or rush over into peoples drives. This makes walking them interesting as you have Terry pulling about trying to see everything and you've got Hattie lagging behind. I have tried talking to her and telling her to "come on" in a gentle voice as i hear one coming (come on is used a lot on off lead walks to get them to catch up with us). Is there anything else i should be doing?

With regards to big dogs I'm not sure what to do! She's okay with calm big dogs but she's now been chased off by a bouncing lurcher and a bouncing lab yesterday. I do try to stick her on the lead before hand but they have both come out of nowhere. Is there anything i can do to get her used to them and to not run away? Im going to a big national trust park tomorrow with my mates cockapoo (quite a big bugger) and do a gentle introduction and see then make it as enjoyable as possible with games and running around.

ETA It would probably help if people trained their fking dogs properly before letting them off lead!

Edited by elephantstone on Friday 26th June 11:44

Perhaps you should look in the mirror for the person at fault - being frank ( I have had a crap day) all this should have been dealt with when she was younger. Training away "learnt complexes" is not easy or fast - you may need to speak to a specialist.

Re your confident dog, how do you know she wasn't playing when having a run around, or were lips curled, heckles up etc?

Good luck

[elephantstone]

sumo69 said:

Perhaps you should look in the mirror for the person at fault - being frank ( I have had a crap day) all this should have been dealt with when she was younger. Training away "learnt complexes" is not easy or fast - you may need to speak to a specialist.

Re your confident dog, how do you know she wasn't playing when having a run around, or were lips curled, heckles up etc?

Good luck

She definitely was not playing.. she ran away squeeling. The car thing only seems to have happened in the last couple of months, i can't think what could've started it. To be honest i think you have been a little unfair to blame me, as since we have got her we have tried to do all we can to make up for the quiet life she had from a young pup and get her used to day to day life rather than sitting in a house all day and going for a walk down the road. She loves it when we are in a large parkland or the beach, she runs round like an idiot like she does at home! Just cars and big dogs on paths have puzzled me!

[bexVN]

I concur, seek specialist help, unfortunately the longer the behaviour occurs the more ingrained it becomes, it's not too late but it is not going to be easy either. There are quite a few nervous related issues going on here.

I know it is hard when dogs run up to play but that is their natural behaviour to other dogs (though some O' control would be nice!!) However you could argue that theirs is not the only one not well trained/ socialised!

It is hard because she came to you already with issues and it is ashamed you weren't advised sooner by eg your vet but as they say 'no time like the present.' See if your vets know someone who can help and good luck, hopefully you'll have many years with her and it will be nice to think that they can be happy/ relaxed ones

[elephantstone]

bexVN said:

I concur, seek specialist help, unfortunately the longer the behaviour occurs the more ingrained it becomes, it's not too late but it is not going to be easy either. There are quite a few nervous related issues going on here.

I know it is hard when dogs run up to play but that is their natural behaviour to other dogs (though some O' control would be nice!!) However you could argue that theirs is not the only one not well trained/ socialised!

It is hard because she came to you already with issues and it is ashamed you weren't advised sooner by eg your vet but as they say 'no time like the present.' See if your vets know someone who can help and good luck, hopefully you'll have many years with her and it will be nice to think that they can be happy/ relaxed ones

Yes i know same could be said about mine but she is usually right by my side, they must sense she's a scaredy pants as the cocky yorkie usually gets ignored! I will ask the vet next week if they can recommend anyone. Would be great to get her to the stage where she is what she's like when she's at home... a complete lunatic!

[bexVN]

elephantstone said:

bexVN said:

I concur, seek specialist help, unfortunately the longer the behaviour occurs the more ingrained it becomes, it's not too late but it is not going to be easy either. There are quite a few nervous related issues going on here.

I know it is hard when dogs run up to play but that is their natural behaviour to other dogs (though some O' control would be nice!!) However you could argue that theirs is not the only one not well trained/ socialised!

It is hard because she came to you already with issues and it is ashamed you weren't advised sooner by eg your vet but as they say 'no time like the present.' See if your vets know someone who can help and good luck, hopefully you'll have many years with her and it will be nice to think that they can be happy/ relaxed ones

Yes i know same could be said about mine but she is usually right by my side, they must sense she's a scaredy pants as the cocky yorkie usually gets ignored! I will ask the vet next week if they can recommend anyone. Would be great to get her to the stage where she is what she's like when she's at home... a complete lunatic!

Absolutely. problem is dogs can develop phobias etc up til about two years old, so whilst eg at 6 months a loud bang doesn't bother them, so you think 'that's good', they can still become nervous if it happens again a couple months later and then they often continue to increase their phobic response to a bang, hope that makes sense!

[elephantstone]

Have got a number for a behavourist off vets. So should hopefully get a call back off her. Would be great to watch her play with other dogs like she does with our other pup!

[elephantstone]

A little update on Hattie. I got talking to a lady who runs a dog rescue centre and she gave me a few tips with regards to cars and i put them to use last week and she was great! I now have her attention most of the time and she seems to be enjoying the walk round the block bit more, joining in with the sniffing of things like the other pup. I keep giving her little treats as we walk without stopping and if i see her body language change i make a "tut tut" sound to get her looking up at me and she seems to settle again... Before it was like she was walking with tunnel vision.

For the other dog problem - I have renewed my pass for Tatton Park and have been trying to go as much as possible. Generally loads of dogs but well behaved due to livestock.. she seems to be plucking up the courage to say hello, even nearly went and said hello to a border collie the other day but bottled it. So will stick at that. Going to go to a puppy class this evening if i have any energy left!

[bexVN]

That sounds really positive I hope progress continues, will be worth it in the end!

[elephantstone]

Yep still got a long way to go but it was such a good feeling when i got back and she had made it round the full block without panicing! Off to do another circuit now!