Afraid of other dogs
First a bit of my background so you can put the dog in context. I was a owner of a 12 yearyears old golden retriever that died of cancer December 2013. It was the hardest day of my life so far, even today just talking about him and his last days leaves me emotional. After his death I wasn't the same person, I become less tolerant and you can even say bitter. It was a very difficult time of my life losing him just after my wife had to move to a city 700km away because of work. After 6 motnhs I decided to quit my job and join my wife and take same time off from work so that at least one of us had time to raise another dog specially in the first 6 months when they need so much attention. You might be thinking why get an OES and not a golden retriever, well getting another golden would feel for me like trying to replace him and that would lead to make comparisons and I think that wouldn't be healthy for me and unfair on the new dog. At least with a different breed I know straight away it will be a completely different dog. After lots of research we decided to get an OES. We currently live in Germany and due to ridiculous high price of dogs here we had to go over the border to Poland and get one. We found a good reputation breader and went to pick him up last Friday. The problem I'm afraid is that because of importation laws I could only pick up with 15 weeks (12 weeks rabies vaccine + 21 day to be imune) and read that the age of 3 months untill 4 months is a very important age of puppy develop. He is doing big progress, just after 2 days stop being afraid of going up stairs and another 2 day to go down (with a lot of positive reinforcement sweet + praise) Potty train is going ok, there was some accidents in the first day and another yesterday but due to a regular schedule the poop is always 2 times a day (morning and evening) and the pee, last accident I caught him just in front of the main door so I like to belive he is starting to understand he needs to go outside to do his things. My problem is he is very afraid of dogs. New person he is a little afraid but more cautious than afraid and after realising they are no threat he goes to them. Now dogs is a problem, everytime he see a dog he tries to hide in my legs, and if the dogs come close to him he even pees himself sometimes. Even the sound of a barking dog (can be somewhere in the park not at sight) makes him afraid. I never allowed dogs to come charge at him and only allow dogs to come closer and smell him if they come very slow and gently. He was raised with other dogs so I expected to be ok with dogs unless when playing around some were a bit more rough. What should I do? I read bad experiences can cause a lot of problems when he grows up so I'm nervous if what I'm doing is the best. Should a keep taking him to the park and meet gently other dogs like I'm doing and hope he will become more confident? Or I'm doing the situation worse? Since I'm asking, what about leaving him alone? He is very depending on me. And I read its god to train leaving puppies alone for some time (10m-15m) even if they cry a little so that they don't creates fear of being alone or separation anxiety. Is it ok if I pop to the shop downstairs for 10m and leave him alone or is to soon? I also want to get him use to go on transports or go with us to restaurant. Again going to the good/bad experience when should I try it without overwhelming him and get him scared. One last question. Now he is going last time outside at 11pm just before going to bed and normally sleeps untill 5-6am to go pee again. When could I expect him to sleep say midnight till 8am? (Have no problem waking up during night but of course will love when I can sleep 8 hours) Sorry for the huge text but loving my dog I want the best for him and I'm always afraid I'm not doing things right. Any advices, tips, feedback would be most welcome. Thank everyone. |
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| Puppies are like babies, the older they get the amount of hours they sleep at night will lengthen. It sounds like he's doing really well with the potty. Do any of the pet stores have a puppy play group? If you can find a puppy day care or an obedience class for puppies, it will really help with the socialization of your puppy. It's not unusual for a puppy to run and hide behind you for protection..watch the way human babies do when they meet a stranger. Your presents gives them comfort. It would be good for you to leave the puppy alone for short periods of time at first and as he grows longer periods. Make sure you leave things for him to do while you're gone. Most will sleep while you're gone, at least that has been my experience. It is great that he has learned the steps. Good luck with your new puppy and remember they are all individuals and will make their place in your heart all on their own. |
| Do you have any friends with an older dog that can help teach him? Our girls enjoy puppies and people will bring their pups to hang out with ours. The puppy will get more confident the more positive experiences he has. I wish I lived close, I would love to have a puppy play date!! |
| The more experiences he has, the more confident he will become.... |
Not really, unfortunately I'm stucked in a city where we don't have many friends and worse that we have problems speaking the language. I'm trying to find puppy classes in English but so far can't find any  .I try to take him out and interact with othet dogs, always at his own initiative (never force him). Sometimes he look interested and I try to let other dog come sniff him and vise versa but most of the time he just ovoid them by walking faster. Sometimes I fell like he is improving but other times he fell as frightened as ever (although he doesn't pee himself anymore). I never imagined a dog being raised with other dogs would be so much afraif of other dogs. I guess this is the price to pay for not looking more careful into the breeder and not collecting him earlier  . Still don't regret it. No one wants a frightened dog but by biggest concern is that I read in book that this fright for other dogs can turn into agresion when he becomes older.Otherwise 4 weeks with us and he is doing fine, potty training is going very well, only happened 2 accident last 2 weeks one for getting overexcited and the other because smoke alarm went off. He has this crazy 10-15 minutes before going to sleep at night, he is normaly asleep just before going out for the last time to pee, but doesn't matter how gently and slowly I take him by thentime he gots back upstairs he jusy wants to jump, dragg his bed around the bedroom, sometime I think he is possessed demon  .Oh well have to keep "introducing" him to other dogs and hope to make a friend to do play date. (Yes and find a job in a country where I can easily communicate). |
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