15 Week Old Puppy Scared of Outside
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15 Week Old Puppy Scared of Outside
Morning All first post i came across this site after becoming a new owner of a puppy and figured it would be beneficial to become active here as it seems popular.
I have a slight issue with my little guy and walking on a lead (but i think it goes deeper than that!) i tried to take him out for a walk the first day i could however he just froze at the door shaking, i did manage to get him out a little further by calling and when he walked praised him, but overall he seemed frightened so i took him home. Annoyingly he walked just fine back so i think it is a fear thing.
He is good with other dogs so i took him out with my dad who has a beagle, he walked much easier and only required a few prompts by calling his name and getting onto his level to carry on. i thought he may get better from here on his own however he was back to normal in no time and wouldn't walk.
This is when i think i put my finger on the real issue, i believe he has a problem with people stood up and calling him, he will follow me around the house all day no issue but if i go outside and call him while stood up he is hesitant and will only really come when i get low. He has never been mistreated or anything like that but something must have triggered this fear any help would be appreciated in how to tackle this.
he jumps up and has other small issues but i know how to deal with these from past experiences its just i'm struggling with this one.
I have started attaching his lead and harness when in the garden and making sure its lots of fun outside there. i have took him outside on his lead and let him in his own time have a wander, he did wander about down the road but every noise seemed to knock his confidence such as cars, birds and people (though after the person passed he started to follow them until the next noise)
Again you guys will have more experience than i and any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Guys
I have a slight issue with my little guy and walking on a lead (but i think it goes deeper than that!) i tried to take him out for a walk the first day i could however he just froze at the door shaking, i did manage to get him out a little further by calling and when he walked praised him, but overall he seemed frightened so i took him home. Annoyingly he walked just fine back so i think it is a fear thing.
He is good with other dogs so i took him out with my dad who has a beagle, he walked much easier and only required a few prompts by calling his name and getting onto his level to carry on. i thought he may get better from here on his own however he was back to normal in no time and wouldn't walk.
This is when i think i put my finger on the real issue, i believe he has a problem with people stood up and calling him, he will follow me around the house all day no issue but if i go outside and call him while stood up he is hesitant and will only really come when i get low. He has never been mistreated or anything like that but something must have triggered this fear any help would be appreciated in how to tackle this.
he jumps up and has other small issues but i know how to deal with these from past experiences its just i'm struggling with this one.
I have started attaching his lead and harness when in the garden and making sure its lots of fun outside there. i have took him outside on his lead and let him in his own time have a wander, he did wander about down the road but every noise seemed to knock his confidence such as cars, birds and people (though after the person passed he started to follow them until the next noise)
Again you guys will have more experience than i and any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Guys
robbo18- New Staffy-bull-terrier Member
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Re: 15 Week Old Puppy Scared of Outside
Hi ya Robbo, welcome to the forum from Flo and me
From what I've read above it sounds like your doing most of the things I would do i.e. Lead on in the garden etc.
It can be a big scary world for a small puppy so would suggest making the experience outside the home as exciting and positive as possible. Never make a drama out of this issue or pay too much attention as this could become accociated to a negative experience. I would do lots of small tries little and often so it becomes normal and then increase the distance away from home.
Hopefully he'll grow in confidence as time goes by. Yours is certainly not the first timid puppy we've had on the forum. Strange that you've noticed that upright people could be a trigger too.
From what I've read above it sounds like your doing most of the things I would do i.e. Lead on in the garden etc.
It can be a big scary world for a small puppy so would suggest making the experience outside the home as exciting and positive as possible. Never make a drama out of this issue or pay too much attention as this could become accociated to a negative experience. I would do lots of small tries little and often so it becomes normal and then increase the distance away from home.
Hopefully he'll grow in confidence as time goes by. Yours is certainly not the first timid puppy we've had on the forum. Strange that you've noticed that upright people could be a trigger too.
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Re: 15 Week Old Puppy Scared of Outside
Hi and welcome from me and mine
Going outside through the door... another thing Millie had a problem with...
What I found worked was turning the doorway into a play/treat area, not asking her to go through to start off with but just building up associations with the doorway as a place for fun and play. Start throwing treats for him to run after as close to the doorway as you can without him getting worried. If he likes toys and even better, if he'll retrieve, again play within the vicinity of the doorway. Then start throwing the ball/treat closer and closer until you're throwing to the threshold... then out! Hopefully, you'll find he starts hopping outside happily to get his treat or toy, and you can then follow.
If you have situations whereby you need to get him to come to you, don't hesitate to get down low and play bow if that helps. Make it as easy as possible for him to do what you'd like, build up his confidence, then start to ask more and more. Do make sure you keep pushing the boundaries, even just nudging them, so that he does progress and so that his confidence does build. It sounds like he's a naturally cautious dog so creating confidence is the best thing you can do.
You sound pretty experienced and sensible so will probably be fine with things in general but, if it does help now or in the future, there's a FAQ sheet on addressing fear. Fear in animals is something I've got a lot of professional and personal experience with so do ask if there's anything else you get stuck with.
Going outside through the door... another thing Millie had a problem with...
What I found worked was turning the doorway into a play/treat area, not asking her to go through to start off with but just building up associations with the doorway as a place for fun and play. Start throwing treats for him to run after as close to the doorway as you can without him getting worried. If he likes toys and even better, if he'll retrieve, again play within the vicinity of the doorway. Then start throwing the ball/treat closer and closer until you're throwing to the threshold... then out! Hopefully, you'll find he starts hopping outside happily to get his treat or toy, and you can then follow.
If you have situations whereby you need to get him to come to you, don't hesitate to get down low and play bow if that helps. Make it as easy as possible for him to do what you'd like, build up his confidence, then start to ask more and more. Do make sure you keep pushing the boundaries, even just nudging them, so that he does progress and so that his confidence does build. It sounds like he's a naturally cautious dog so creating confidence is the best thing you can do.
You sound pretty experienced and sensible so will probably be fine with things in general but, if it does help now or in the future, there's a FAQ sheet on addressing fear. Fear in animals is something I've got a lot of professional and personal experience with so do ask if there's anything else you get stuck with.
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Re: 15 Week Old Puppy Scared of Outside
Morning guys Thank you for the replies. Have I had my hands full, I can get him to walk now and it's likely I'm wrong about upright people as this seems to be purely attention seeking as I am trying to stop him jumping up, it's the whole going out of the door thing he doesn't like. I will be trying the suggestion to turn the door into a play area. If I leave the house take him in the car to a field he walks fine (with the occasional stop because of noises) but keeps on going.
Thanks for the advice he is already getting better!!
Thanks for the advice he is already getting better!!
robbo18- New Staffy-bull-terrier Member
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Re: 15 Week Old Puppy Scared of Outside
he will get better welcome from me and mia
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Re: 15 Week Old Puppy Scared of Outside
Thanks again!! I just thought i would do a quick update. I have the little guy walking mostly fine with only a few stops (usually when cars drive past) when we get onto the field he walks great off the lead any only walks a few paces in front. He is learning to come back to me and does do it most of the time.
All in all he is coming along just fine... just to stop this nipping at me when he has a mad half hour!!
Thanks
All in all he is coming along just fine... just to stop this nipping at me when he has a mad half hour!!
Thanks
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