Scared puppy

Hi guys wondered if anyone can help. Wee Joplin is 14 weeks now and HATES walking she's scared of everything. I'm really worried that this will affect her forever. I have never had a dog thank wont walk. Treats to coax her doesn't work anymore. Any ideas?

How did you get her used to the collar & lead? Is she interested in squeaky toys?

I put her harness and lead on while indoors and let her get used to it. Yeah she loves Squeaky toys but, if there is something she is scared of ( today it was the workmen taking down a fence in the park) that's all she focuses on and will not go anywhere near- pulls you in the other direction ears back tail between legs.

You need to take her out with another confident, friendly dog

Hi poor little thing as someone who has a very nervous 7yr old girl i know exactly how you feel, i am an extremely experienced staffy owner and my Skye had the same training and socialization as my other staffies, but she has always been really nervous hates noises kids people and other dogs, its been really hard work but PLEASE stick with her training now, try just going outside with her for short bursts regular everyday get her too sit next too you and just take in the world around her, when skye is scared i do not drag her pass things i make her sit until she calms down, try not too get too frustrated as anything we feel goes straight down the lead too our dogs, i got skye too play with a ball from a very young age as treats didn,t work for her either, and if something scared her i got her concentration with the ball taking her mind off what scares her, so try too find something she loves a favourite toy and take it with you, hope that helps abit x

Ill try that. Thanks

Hi Crystel,
Yeah, it's not frustrating as much as it is upsetting me that everytime I take her out its frightening her more. She is dog friendly so far it's mostly street noise/roadworks/pushchairs kids making noise etc etc
It's a wee shame but ill never give up her training as she is a wee cracker in every other way.

If there's something that scares her, don't walk away from it, but don't go nearer, either! Stop, get her to sit and have a little game with her. Ignore whatever scares her & don't sympathise with the fear, just act as though it's nothing special. Then you can walk away. After a while she should start to associate the things she's scared of as positive fun & the fear will lessen.

Rhokel wrote:Hi Crystel,
Yeah, it's not frustrating as much as it is upsetting me that everytime I take her out its frightening her more. She is dog friendly so far it's mostly street noise/roadworks/pushchairs kids making noise etc etc
It's a wee shame but ill never give up her training as she is a wee cracker in every other way.

Ah well she obviously has a great home with you, it is upsetting and can get frustrating for me as put so much work into skye and she still plays me up sometimes lol but i love her shes my baby
You may find with time she works her way out of this as some pups just have too learn all about the big wide world and then become well adjusted,
can you take her anywhere thats abit quieter like a park so she can have a play without these noises?
I do not recommended you avoid the things that scare her as you have too train her too get use too them but skye has a inclosed park i take her too and she loves it there so can enjoy her walks, and doesn,t associate them with fear.

Nosipho wrote:You need to take her out with another confident, friendly dog

this worked for us, tyke was a massive wimp so he went out with my parents black labs and after that he was fine

Caryll wrote:If there's something that scares her, don't walk away from it, but don't go nearer, either! Stop, get her to sit and have a little game with her. Ignore whatever scares her & don't sympathise with the fear, just act as though it's nothing special. Then you can walk away. After a while she should start to associate the things she's scared of as positive fun & the fear will lessen.

That's how we did as well. Suki was terrified of cars and espically trains. Just takes time and patience and remember she will look to you for guidance