Hershey, my mixed dog (1/4 schnauzer and 3/4 poodle) has always been timid... he is a year old now and he still will not come to me when I call him. If I go toward him to get him, he runs. If I go sit on the couch, he will come beside me, but if I try and pick him up for any reason, he will run from me. I usually have to act like I do not see him and then hurry and pick him up to catch him!
He has never been hit a day in his life or even yelled at for that matter.
He was already 4 months old when I got him and I think he was in a kennel for most of his first 4 months, so he was not socialized at all. He didn't even know how to play like a normal puppy. However, I do not believe his previous owner ever hit him or anything.
Because he was in a kennel because of his first 4 months without much contact, I do expect him to be a little timid, but you would think he would come to me!! I thought he would grow out of it but since he is now 1 year old, I am wondering if he ever will.
And yes, this is the timid Hershey that I wrote about a few months back about being aggressive when someone sits to close to him on the couch...lol (he doesn't growl at me, but he does at others.)
Lol Jaw, my finish spitz is timid too! I have had her since she was 7 weeks old and she is now 9 years old. She is a big chicken! If i grab at her too fast, she snaps at me and runs. If she is laying on the floor and my foot barely touches her, she jumps up and away. She is ok to catch but puts her ears down and gets rigid and ready to bolt. She has NEVER been hit. I get her to come to me by sitting on the floor with treats and using to biggest baby talk with the annoying voice and all......lol Or i lay on the floor and try it. She eventually comes up to me and lets me pet her for awhile. Just try to make sure you leave first before she does. That peaks her curosity and teaches her that she doesn't have to run from you. That if she sits and takes the happy petting, you will leave her alone. She should eventually come to you for a nice petting.
Dogs can have a wide range of personalities. I've had Chloe since she left her littermates & altho she will come to me when I call her & she will play with us to this day she will not sit on the couch or bed with me. If she's on the couch or bed and I go and sit at the opposite end she'll immediately get off. If she's sitting on the floor next to me & I pick her up & put her on the couch with me, as long as I physically hold her she'll stay with me but as soon as I relax she'll get off. Occasionally she has started to get on the bed or couch with one of my grandsons but never for a long period of time. Now Farley is at the opposite end of the spectrum - no matter where I am sitting he feels it is quite acceptable for him to join me and if he can get away with it take up most of the room!
JL have you tried treats? Have a treat and when you call him show him the treat. Once he thinks you have a treat he will start comming then take away the treat but when he comes pet and praise him with good boy.
My suggestion to you is get to an obedience class right away and get that pooch socialized. Even though Hershey is small, there are other smaller dogs, usually, in those type classes. Your dog will be an entire new dog after playtime with all new dogs and getting petted by all these new people and learning commands like "come".
The Watcher
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Everyone knows that the double edged sword is always the weapon of choice for slaying dragons.
I think the food angle is good. Little tiny tasty things like bacon bits, I mean one crumb at a time. Keep a long line on him. Some dogs are just that way, rather than coddling and baby talk, slightly rough, I don't care, talking loud and boisterous, is how I deal with timids. I don't buy into their cr**. A good body massage, or face rub, with tiny strokes is helpful, too. Gentle rough housing...
