Tucker has proven to be a very shy puppy. I have ever in my life met a puppy that was shy, I've only met over the top happy to see you puppies and the occasional calm puppy whose still more than happy to have a stranger come over and give him a pat.
When a stranger approaches him he runs away, if he's on leash he'll hide behind whoever is holding it. Mom said on his walk when he did this she picked him up and gave him to the people and he was fine and with another person the woman just talked to him and he eventually walked over and sniffed her then was okay with her petting him. He still does the running away thing with my uncle (comes over every day), dad, and both brothers (that live here) when they enter the room but eventually comes over to them if they encourage him over.
Today we went to the park/playground. It has a big field with a baseball diamond and soccer field and a playground part. I was hoping he'd get to meet some people but as soon as he got out of the car his tail was plastered to his belly so we set up in the shade and just sat far away from the playground but near the pathway leading from the parking lot to the playground so he could get used to the place and watch people as they passed. He just laid there and spun his head around at the sounds of voices and kids playing with toys. I gave him treats when he looked at people who passed by. eventually he stopped caring about the noises and just looked up when people passed. I tried to walk him around the field but he would just walk and my heels and sit at my feet when I stopped.
A man, woman, and their two 1 year olds came over to see him, they were awesome, sat down, kids completely ignored Tucker and just sat there. Parents sat talking to us and called to the puppy here and there. Tucker hid under my mom's chair. I used some ham to get him to come out (step by step) but he wouldn't get within a foot of the people. Basically he went as far as to get his butt out from under the chair and that's it. I let the man try and give him ham, he wouldn't get close enough to take it at first, I had to feed him ham closer and closer to the man's hand until he finally took it and went back under the chair. The people probably sat there for 10-15 minutes and he never warmed up.
I'm really, really worried he's gonna turn into a fear biter/anxious mess if we don't do something soon. I think I'm gonna try taking him to the park every day I can until I leave and tell them to bring him at least 3 times a week once I go. Do you think we can do something about this? Anyone have experience with shy puppies? What did you do/how did it turn out?
When a stranger approaches him he runs away, if he's on leash he'll hide behind whoever is holding it. Mom said on his walk when he did this she picked him up and gave him to the people and he was fine and with another person the woman just talked to him and he eventually walked over and sniffed her then was okay with her petting him. He still does the running away thing with my uncle (comes over every day), dad, and both brothers (that live here) when they enter the room but eventually comes over to them if they encourage him over.
Today we went to the park/playground. It has a big field with a baseball diamond and soccer field and a playground part. I was hoping he'd get to meet some people but as soon as he got out of the car his tail was plastered to his belly so we set up in the shade and just sat far away from the playground but near the pathway leading from the parking lot to the playground so he could get used to the place and watch people as they passed. He just laid there and spun his head around at the sounds of voices and kids playing with toys. I gave him treats when he looked at people who passed by. eventually he stopped caring about the noises and just looked up when people passed. I tried to walk him around the field but he would just walk and my heels and sit at my feet when I stopped.
A man, woman, and their two 1 year olds came over to see him, they were awesome, sat down, kids completely ignored Tucker and just sat there. Parents sat talking to us and called to the puppy here and there. Tucker hid under my mom's chair. I used some ham to get him to come out (step by step) but he wouldn't get within a foot of the people. Basically he went as far as to get his butt out from under the chair and that's it. I let the man try and give him ham, he wouldn't get close enough to take it at first, I had to feed him ham closer and closer to the man's hand until he finally took it and went back under the chair. The people probably sat there for 10-15 minutes and he never warmed up.
I'm really, really worried he's gonna turn into a fear biter/anxious mess if we don't do something soon. I think I'm gonna try taking him to the park every day I can until I leave and tell them to bring him at least 3 times a week once I go. Do you think we can do something about this? Anyone have experience with shy puppies? What did you do/how did it turn out?
