thewss

Thank you Bec for your reassurance! That really makes me feel better. I will keep the K9 Pro contact details handy but for now I'm working on a few techniques both in the home and outside. At home my puppy jumps and bites, which was becoming a huge problem and barrier between us. And Im not talking about teething - he will bite! I didn't mention this here because I didn't think it was related, but now I see it is a big contributer to his anxiety outside the house. So I'm working on a few techniques to stop this behaviour. So far it's been effective. Outside I'm taking it slow to densensitize him from the things that scare him (ie strangers). I've been going to training classes but have decided to use this time to work on his reactive behaviour instead of actually participating in the class. So now I sit/stand with him a distance away from other people and dogs and encourage a calm relaxed behaviour. It will be some months before he can fully relax around people but all I'm hoping to see is the tiniest bit of improvement each time. By the way, his confidence with dogs is really starting to grow! Mainly with smaller, less assertive dogs, but it's great to see this confidence in him.

I have actually tried singing! Moreso to see if I could get him to sing along (aka howl). But I've also tried putting soothing music on to calm him. It worked once, he fell asleep in the lounge (he usually sleeps in his crate or play pen area). To be honest I do feel a bit stressed now when we go out (naturally). I'm aware of this and try to stay calm and in control. The only time I don't feel so bad is at training, because people who attend these classes understand that not all dogs are perfect, and it's the only place where I feel crazy behaviour is accepted - this and the fact that usually there's another dog or 2 acting even worse! Hence why I'm now limiting the socialization with humans/other dogs to these training sessions (I go 3 times a week now) until I start seeing progress. I've done a fair bit of reading on dog behaviour, and while there are a number of different beliefs and techniques, I know that there's something we are doing (or not doing) at home that has caused this issue. I just don't know what I SHOULD be doing!

Re letting strangers lure with treats - I agree with those of you who commented on this! I wasn't too sure on this approach myself as I watched the trainer demonstrate, but I didn't know any better and now I wish I had spoken up! I'm hoping to see a behaviourist in the next couple of weeks (pending availability). While we have some good days and bad days, the behaviour appears to be getting progressively worse. The most confusing thing for me is that there is no consistency in these behaviours. Eg barking at strangers - some days he'll bark at everything that moves, while other days he will accept people being nearby but may bark at the random person sitting alone minding their business. In general, I've noticed off-leash behaviour is better than on-leash. The other day I went with my gut feeling and unhooked the leash as we went off track into the bushes where no one was around. We then headed back to the main path where a few people were walking towards us with their 3 dogs (also off leash). My pup was happy to greet each of the dogs (didn't care for the humans), I continued walking then called him and he came right away. This gave me a bit of faith, but I know there's still some work needed.

I've started the LAT game at home :)

Thanks ness. I did contact them but the earliest available time slot was September! So I'm looking at a couple of other places now.

I'm in Sydney (western) area

Willem yes I have discussed with a few different instructors and they don't really have any specific advice except to keep up the socialization (and to hand out treats to strangers to use when greeting). Over time (and perseverance) I suppose this may work, hence why I'm interested to hear from others on what they've seen work. I will seek professional help though, as I'm conscious that this period is the most important time for a pup.

Persephone - thank you for those links. I have read the first one, hence why I thought perhaps this behaviour was the norm during this so called fear period. Suziwong66 - thanks for sharing your experience. I have been considering a behaviourist but wasn't sure if this behaviour was cause for one, in that he is still young and perhaps just going through a 'phase'. But I might just look for one now to get some early advice! HW - thanks for your advice. I'll cease the dog park trips and just maintain the classes. Hopefully I'll be able to find a good trainer or behaviourist who can give some guidance. And yes I'm fully aware that this breed is not the friendly lab. I don't expect them to be forthcoming towards strangers. I just don't want them nervously barking at people or other dogs. Instead I expect them to be observant, and (with training and time) display confidence in any situation.

Hi all I feel like my puppy's development is going backwards in some areas rather than improving, so I just wanted to hear from people who have had the same or similar issues with their pup. I have a 4 and a half month old white Swiss Shepherd who is quite shy and timid by nature. I'd say a little more so than your average WSS (knowing WSS are not the most forthcoming/friendly breeds out there). Knowing this, I've been putting a lot of effort with socialisiation since he first arrived home at 9 weeks. Short history: He started puppy school at 9 weeks, where it took him about a class or 2 for him to come out from 'hiding'. Eventually, and towards the end, as soon as we walked through the doors he'd get really excited to meet everyone again. Aside from puppy school, he's been taken out and about and was generally the normal excitable puppy when people came to greet him. Shortly after graduating from puppy school, he started barking at other dogs out in public. His anxiety towards other dogs started getting worse so then I ramped up his socialisation with dogs, and in the last 2 weeks (after full vaccination) I've taken him to the dog park almost every day. He also started beginner training and goes twice a week now, so he gets plenty of controlled socialisation with dogs. This seems to have helped quite a bit and I'm now seeing huge improvements, although it's not perfect yet. In the last 2 weeks however, I've also noticed he has started barking at people/strangers. Most of the time he does this when strangers approach him, but on the odd occasion he will bark at people minding their own business. At first I thought it was only towards men but then realised it didn't matter the age, gender, size, type of person. He'll also bark if a stranger approaches to talk to me, even when they are ignoring him. I first noticed this behaviour towards select people that he may not have liked the look of, and with others he was ok to be touched. But now it seems to be just about anyone. People who understand dogs will try and help the situation by stepping back (sometimes turning their back) and offering him a treat. This sort of works in that he will cautiously step forward to reach for the treat, grabs the treat, then steps back again. I'm not sure if this is creating a positive impact on him - I guess time will tell. He hasn't had any bad experiences, so I'm not sure why he's turned all of a sudden. Is there anything else I could be doing to get him over this fear? Is it just part of the development cycle? I'd love to hear about similar cases! Thanks.