Question About My Dog

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armaggedonx

armaggedonx

Fire Eel
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Dec 17, 2006
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I have a female german shepherd and have had her since she was a puppy (she is now 18 months) She is brilliant and all that but she is very very unbelievebly shy towards anyone who she meets. She is fine towards me, my mum and the woman who bred her but she is scared beyond belief of my dad, she will run behind me, under my legs or even wet herself, he has done nothing atall to her, he is the one who takes her out most of the time for walks, but when shes outside the house she is a completely different dog with him, she will run around him, walk beside him ,take commands etc but soon as shes back in the house she will run away to my mum or me, any ideas? Ask if there anymore info I can give.

Cheers,
Keith
 
I would have him just practice comfortable petting sessions with treats involved every once and a while. Usually taking them to a big dog park helps too, but not on an individual level of shyness.
 
kevinfleming21;4273421; said:
is your dad fairly tall btw?
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Thats EXACTLY what I was thinking but im 6'3 myself but im alot more skinny than he is, hes about 6'2, shes scared of my little brother aswell, hes about 6'2 ish now too (yes little brother and hes 15 by the way lol)
 
kevinfleming21;4273468; said:
just work on different activities involving verbal rewarding and petting at a comfortable level. time will work things out usually.
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We've done that since she was 5 months old, when her dads here (my dogs dad) shes brave as brave can be lol
 
maybe just a shy personality towards him, who knows? Until we speak dog, a lot of things will be a mystery. You could call that Ceaser guy, but he will just tell you to be the pack leader.
 
Shy dogs take a lot of work and a lot of patience. You can't push them too far at all. Next time someone approaches her that she is afraid of ask them to lean down and turn to the side and don't make eye contact. They can also try yawning and blinking a bit. All of these signals tell a dog "Hey I mean no harm you" This can help a shy dog understand that this person will not hurt them. See if she'll take treats from them. Try approaching from the side, dogs are more comfortable with that.
Just give her lots of time and lots of praise and she'll come around. I adore shy dogs and have worked with several. These actions can really help. It just takes time and be sure not to move too quickly. Google Patricia McConnel, she's written a few books and has given some seminars. I believe she talks about shy dogs in one of her talks.
 
I have a husky Sheppard mix and I think hes special needs.
 
Blue2Fyre;4274069; said:
Shy dogs take a lot of work and a lot of patience. You can't push them too far at all. Next time someone approaches her that she is afraid of ask them to lean down and turn to the side and don't make eye contact. They can also try yawning and blinking a bit. All of these signals tell a dog "Hey I mean no harm you" This can help a shy dog understand that this person will not hurt them. See if she'll take treats from them. Try approaching from the side, dogs are more comfortable with that.
Just give her lots of time and lots of praise and she'll come around. I adore shy dogs and have worked with several. These actions can really help. It just takes time and be sure not to move too quickly. Google Patricia McConnel, she's written a few books and has given some seminars. I believe she talks about shy dogs in one of her talks.
Click to expand...


^^ this. reducing eye contact a key point. staring is a threatening posture to them, and most animals for that matter.

when your father and brother arrive it might be worth sending the dog out the door to meet them if the dog is more cumfortable outside with them, gradually moving from garden to the porch and eventually inside. try and get them to phone you so you can prepare for their arrival.
treats, the way to a dogs heart.
 
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