Need help fearful

[29harvickfan]

Ok I am having problems with Lola who is my 5 month great dane. She is so fearful of everything and anything. We have had her since she was 6 weeks and has never been beat or anything but she shys away from anyone that comes near her. We don't raise our voice to her or anything but if you just look at her wrong she runs for her crate or behind me to hide. I just don't know how to stop this. I don't try to comfort her when she is in this mood but I don't know what to do. None of the other 2 dogs act like this. How can I break of her being fearful of everything.
Thank you

 

[jess2416]

What kind of socialization have you done ??

 

[29harvickfan]

We took puppy socialization 1 and it wasn't the best I didn't get along with the ladies that did it. She also goes to the pet store everytime I do to get food and does good with the people that work there. We take her and Belle on nightly walks and have meet most of the people in our neighborhood. She loves being in the car. Going to the soccer field with the kids she is always next to me and just watching the people around her. I don't really know what else to do.

 

[animalcrackers]

Are there specific things she seems to be afraid of? Is she fearful when you take her out on walks and to the store? Has she had a bad experience with someone or something in the past?

 

[otch1]

Reccommend you solicit the help of a good trainer. It's important this is dealt with as soon as possible, especially since this behavior tends to worsen with age, if not addressed. Imagine her at 90 lbs! You stated "she is fearful of any and everything." Find a qualified trainer that can introduce exercises you'll do at home daily and in also controlled environment, like a classroom. Modifying this behavior will be a gradual proccess and will take patience. It's often assumed when one sees a dog like this, that it's somehow been abused. That is generally not the case. There can be many things that factor into this, that have nothing to do with the owners. (Breeding, physical challenges, ect.) Find a good trainer whose qualified to do behavior modification and get started asap! Good luck!

 

[29harvickfan]

Are there specific things she seems to be afraid of? Is she fearful when you take her out on walks and to the store? Has she had a bad experience with someone or something in the past?

If anyone stands up she runs. Doesn't matter who it is or where she is at. Ex. I was at the computer and she sits next to me (she is always at my side) she wasn't asleep just chewing on her toy I got up and she jumped and ran then noticed it was me getting up and went right back to myside as if everything is ok. Even the cat freaks her out. Only time she is scared on walks is when dogs are behind a fence and are barking she goes into being scared. At the store she doesn't like the older people to come up and touch her, but is ok with kids that are around. It is like her mind just makes her paranoid. I don't think she had any bad experience I can't say what happened when she was a puppy, but since the day after she was born I was over there 2 times a week till she came home. So she knew me from the start. We have her sister Belle who isn't scared of anything.

 

[29harvickfan]

Find a good trainer whose qualified to do behavior modification and get started asap! Good luck!

Where would I go about finding one. When we went to puppy socialization it was with the local kennel club who are certified but those ladies just made me feel like crap. My soon to be husband and I took both the puppies and thought we were doing good but from what they said we started them too late. They were 11 weeks when started and the class before that was before they even came home. Then they went on that we shouldn't be in the same class, well sorry we are not going to drive 50 min one way 2 times a week when we can do it 1. Then Lola had her head(just her head) on my lap and the lady freeked that she is doing behaivor we shouldn't encourage. After being told I am raising my dogs all wrong we stopped going to the class. (wrong food, wrong treats, too many kids, shouldn't kennel them) I gave up.

 

[my2puppies]

aww you poor thing...some people are like that..most try to be helpful and are good with dogs just not so good with people. Although some just think they know everything and since they have done a good job with their dogs think they have the right to put others down. Did you get her from a shelter?if you did her previous owner might have been mean to her. How long have you had her. You seem to be doing a good job, taking her on walks to meet people and being kind to her .Maybe you could try taking them to a dog park..at least its not the other way around where shes aggressive to everyone.

 

[29harvickfan]

aww you poor thing...some people are like that..most try to be helpful and are good with dogs just not so good with people. Although some just think they know everything and since they have done a good job with their dogs think they have the right to put others down. Did you get her from a shelter?if you did her previous owner might have been mean to her. How long have you had her. You seem to be doing a good job, taking her on walks to meet people and being kind to her .Maybe you could try taking them to a dog park..at least its not the other way around where shes aggressive to everyone.

No we didn't get them from a shelter and their mom was a sweet dane who got to know us and loved when the kids and I stopped over. We have had them since they were 6 weeks and a few days. I can say she loves the car if we even go out the front door and I don't have her on the leash she is at the car door waiting for me to open it, if she has the leash then she knows it is a walk. I don't know if we even have a dog park around here, wonder how to find one of those too. Thank you all for helping me out.

 

[otch1]

Hello again... you're in Missouri? I'll email you a contact if I find one in my records. Sounds like you dropped out of your first obedience class with her. Unfortunate that the instructor wasn't able to help you. There's no such thing as "too late" to train. There are ideal times to start and then progress to different levels of training, dependant on your puppy. But as they say, "better late than never". It sounds like you need a much more experienced trainer than the one you just went to though, so will try to find someone that might be more helpful.

 

[29harvickfan]

Hello again... you're in Missouri? I'll email you a contact if I find one in my records. Sounds like you dropped out of your first obedience class with her. .

We went to 4 of the 6 classes but each one they would get snipper at me with comments. Yes in MO. Thanks

 

[animalcrackers]

Sorry about the crummy experience with the obedience instructors. I think that, aside from obedience classes, you and Lola will benefit from a one-on-one home consultation with a behaviorist (different from a trainer).

 

[otch1]

Hello again Harvick... wasn't able to find a trainer/behaviorist in my records, that's close to you. So, my next reccommendation would be to contact www.daneoutreach.org and a well known Dane breeder from my area, that will be able to give you a good referance for your area... www.DaynakinGreatDanes.com. Georgia Hymen is very well respected in Danes. Good luck!

 

[Corgi_Mom23]

I know this might not help and may seem completely out of the blue, but have you had her eyes checked recently? From what it sounds like to me is she gets frightened until she can things. Is it possible that she has poor eyesight?

If she get's scared by your getting up or moving until she 'sees' who it is, it just sounds to me like she's frightened by a strange noise. Also, older people have deeper voices that can often be construded as firmer tones then that of children and if she can't properly see them, gets nervous.

I may be WAY off base here, but I have seen it before in a skittish Pug puppy who turned out to have poor vision in one eye and blindness in another. Once the owners learned of this they were better able to handle his fearfullness and calm him down greatly.

Just a suggestion.