Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello. I got a min pin puppy about 4-5 weeks ago and she is VERY feaful of everyone!! I visited her at the breeders house every week since she was 2 days old (and a friend came with) so she has grown up with me and loves me. The people I live with she is very afraid of, not too much anymore but she still doesnt come to them very often or let them pick her up (mainly when Im around she wont let them do anything). She is 15 weeks old now so I know the window of socialization is closing (I read it's around 16 weeks) and I just dont know what to do, When she is freaking out about people being around her I just ignore her and Ive tried having people give her treats which she will quickly take and run away (or let them pet her nose quickly, sometimes she will give a quick kiss if their face is close to hers) again. I take her somewhere social at least every other day. I take her to petsmart about 3-4 times a week, the park 2-3 times a week, and starbucks at least 2 times a week also. She acts like she really wants to play with the people but then they turn around to acknowledge her and she runs away again. She will try to run up to them and try to jump up on them and acts all friendly but they will turn around and she freaks out. What can I do to make her friendly (she's never been aggressive in any way)?? I was planning on showing her in conformation but since she acts like this I cant (and giving her up (or back to the breeder) is not an option as I love her so much). Whenever I went to visit her at the breeder's she would be very outgoing, she would be playing with the adult pins and siblings and just being a normal puppy. She was never the shy puppy hiding in the corner but I know the pups were never out of their home except for going to the vet for vaccines. Her parents have very good temperments (very friendly to everyone including strangers) and other dogs and none of the other puppies (there were 6) are having fear problems with people (one is semi shy around people but not near as bad as my puppy is). She is very friendly towards other dogs tho so I dont have a problem with that. If anyone could help me out that would be GREAT!!!! Thanks
Meghan

This is very common of min pins. Mine does the same thing. It takes a great deal of bonding for some min pins to trust people enough to let them actually touch them, even though it seems like they really want to play.

Theres not a lot more you can do, continuous socialization is a lot of it. An obdience course may help, one dealing with a trainer outside of yourself.

Well, one of the best ways I've heard of for socializing a fearful puppy is to toss a treat at them and have the human being walk away. That sets her up for more success than having her appraoch and run away fast as someone tries to touch her.

Go slow with this puppy. I'm not sure what her breeder was like, she may just come from fearful lines to begin with, but you hopefully can work through this.

So, go slow with straners around this pup. Don't rush the issue. I know your "window" is closing, but rushing things like this only makes it worse. Have a good friend who can follow your directions help you out with this. Set your dog up for success with every interaction. Have someone turn their back to the puppy and hold out a food treat in their hand. She will grab it, but make absolutely sure no one tries to pet her. She's small and that is incredibly intimidating. If she won't approach, see if she'll take one step towards a person. Toss a treat at her for even one step. Reward huge with even small progress. Absolutely let no one reach over this puppies head to pet her and don't have them pick her up. Also, have her meet people, don't have her in your arms and force the issue. Work on this at a play ground where kids are running. When she shows the slightest hint of being brave, treat lavishly. Ignore the fear.

Timing on this is tough. You may have inadvertently treated the fear response and not the courage you are hoping for. Also, once completely over-whelmed, you can no longer teach a puppy anything. You are now in "damage control" mode and just need to salvage what you can from a situation.

You really need to get this puppy into a puppy socialization class. Teaching a low confidence puppy how to communicate in the world is critical to success. When they know the rules and expectations, they relax and let you take charge. Make sure all training is positive. This one may also do well with puppy agility.

Your goal is to teach overall confidence- the confidence with people will grow as well with confidence in other situations. Don't back down on the people socialization, but just take it slower than you have been.

PS- a behaviorist could really help if you feel you need help with your timing. Puppy classes with a clicker will lso work on that so you may not need to go the route of the behaviorist right away unless the basics don't work.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles

>Well, one of the best ways I've heard of for socializing a >fearful puppy is to toss a treat at them and have the human >being walk away. That sets her up for more success than having >her appraoch and run away fast as someone tries to touch her.

Thank you, I will definately have to try that.

>Go slow with this puppy. I'm not sure what her breeder was >like, she may just come from fearful lines to begin with, but >you hopefully can work through this.

The parents of this dog are very happy dogs and will jump on and kiss anyone (including strangers). I have talked to the breeder about her and she cant understand why she is like this. The other pups in the litter (there were 6) are all doing wonderful and very outgoing. I went to see the mom of my pup and she was 5 weeks pregnant but still she was kissing me and wanted nothing more than to lay in my lap and cuddle even tho she was pregnant and I had never met her before. That is how all of her min pins are.

>So, go slow with straners around this pup. Don't rush the >issue. I know your "window" is closing, but rushing things >like this only makes it worse. Have a good friend who can >follow your directions help you out with this. Set your dog up >for success with every interaction. Have someone turn their >back to the puppy and hold out a food treat in their hand. She >will grab it, but make absolutely sure no one tries to pet >her. She's small and that is incredibly intimidating. If she >won't approach, see if she'll take one step towards a person. >Toss a treat at her for even one step. Reward huge with even >small progress. Absolutely let no one reach over this puppies >head to pet her and don't have them pick her up.

She will excitedly go up to someone if they are turned away from her (even jumping on their leg!!) but as soon as they try to either turn around or move in any way that is when she runs away. And since she is afraid no one tries to pick her up. Most of the people either stop trying to get her to come to them or just kind of pet her on the chin (that's all she'll let them do).

>Also, have her meet people, don't have her in your arms and >force the issue. Work on this at a play ground where kids are >running. When she shows the slightest hint of being brave, >treat lavishly. Ignore the fear.

I never hold her when we go anywhere (just because she's small doesnt mean she cant walk by herself!!!!!) I take her to the park often and she's fine just watching people and trying to go play with them (at a distance until we get to the people). And whenever she's acting up and being fearful I dont even look at her and just keep talking or whatever Im doing so that I dont reinforce that behavior.

>You really need to get this puppy into a puppy socialization >class. Teaching a low confidence puppy how to communicate in >the world is critical to success. When they know the rules and >expectations, they relax and let you take charge. Make sure all >training is positive. This one may also do well with puppy >agility.

She is in a puppy class and after the classes (which she is doing wonderful in) I always talk to the trainer and he always plays with her and she is getting a lot better with him since he always gives her treats and plays with her when she sees him. But I know not everyone is going to try to play with her as it takes a while for her to start playing with a stranger. I have thought about doing agility with her because she is crazy fast and doesnt mind loud noises or unstable surfaces at all!! But I have no idea where to start either looking or training for that!!

>PS- a behaviorist could really help if you feel you need help >with your timing. Puppy classes with a clicker will lso work >on that so you may not need to go the route of the behaviorist >right away unless the basics don't work.

I have been working with her with the clicker and she really seems to respond well to that. I started a puppy class with the clicker but there was only one other puppy in the class and the guy had to move to another state and so I had to get into another class (same instructor) and with this puppy class he doesnt use the clicker so it's been hard not to confuse her with when Im going to use it and when Im not. There is a dog behaviorist hotline that I got the number to and I might call that just to see what they have to say and if they have any good pointers. One thing that I hate tho is that when I say I have a fearful puppy they ALWAYS associate that with fear aggression and she has never ever ever been in any way aggressive or even showing signs that she will be. I am going to be taking her to a dog day care place where she can interact with dogs and new people all day without me being there as I think she would do much better when Im there and learn that its ok to be around strangers. Thanks so much for your help!!
Meghan
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>Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to >Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved >and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles