Author Topic: i have an antisocial boog  (Read 6937 times)

Offline Duramax

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i have an antisocial boog
« on: July 20, 2007, 02:03:22 am »
i dont seem to remember max being nearly this anxious! Boog is absolutely terrified of new people :( poor guy, well honestly he's quite the chicken no matter what the situation. well i havent done much reading on fearfull agression but when he meets new people and they walk up to him (especialy males) he gets so scared i can tell he's on the verge of biting! he's just horrified. i feel realy bad for him. now if you already know him you would never guess that he would be like this around new ppl. he's very lovie with every one in the house, loves the babies, it's so cute he's realy a great dog. but when it comes to someone he doesnt know he acts like he's been traumatised in the past or something. he was nervous at first when we picked him up from the breeder but he got over that after we'd been there about 5 minutes. so of course ive been socialising him, when we were at the vets last week he growled and showed his teeth at our vet!! i was mortified! he did because he was so scared...so im asking for advice as to what i can do. i like to take the boys with me every where but right now boog is honestly a liability, i dont want people getting the impression that he's got a foul temper either. he's such a sweetheart, i know it's because he's afraid and ive taken note that he does do well with people that dont come on suddenly to him but i was wondering what every one else thought, if you have any experience with scaredy cat puppies, or have any advice i'd sure appreciate, i want him to enjoy going out in the car, not be worried who we have to meet. he's got such a sweet disposition at home, i want to know what i can do to make him feel comfortable every where. if yall need more info or i left something out tell me and ill post it for ya. i want to get ontop of this set back so he doesnt have to be afraid. it's realy sad to see him like that guys.
Christina
mother of:
2 babies
2 great danes -Duramax
              -boog


"Some days you're the dog; some days you're the hydrant." -Unknown

Offline Britz

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Re: i have an antisocial boog
« Reply #1 on: July 20, 2007, 02:09:41 am »
I have no clue. We kinda had this  for  zeus far awile he woudl  crawl up to strangers on his tummy  when he was younger but he has seem to out  grow that. i hope some  one can  help  ya. I know I have an ebook  that  has  information  on  different  Agressions and I know  Fear  is in there if you would liek I could send it to you just  PM  me you email addy
« Last Edit: July 20, 2007, 02:14:42 am by Britz »
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Offline heidismom

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Re: i have an antisocial boog
« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2007, 02:18:27 am »
from what i have read, there are specific things that you can do to help socialize a fearful puppy:
  never force new people on him, it will just freak him out more
  try and whenever possible give him situations where he can approach new people at his own pace and be rewarded when he does so
  if there are things he especially enjoys, try to associate those with the new people  (hey! fun things happen for me when new people come around!)
  i have also read that you should try to avoid being TOO reassuring when your pup is acting scared, because they may interpret this as praise for the fearful behaviour. 
  don't know if any of this helps, hope so..
good luck

Offline Duramax

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Re: i have an antisocial boog
« Reply #3 on: July 20, 2007, 05:00:49 am »
when we are meeting some one new i go over beside the new person and call Boog to me. this works pretty good, but im thinking of including treats as well, for the new person to give to Boog.
Christina
mother of:
2 babies
2 great danes -Duramax
              -boog


"Some days you're the dog; some days you're the hydrant." -Unknown

Lyn

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Re: i have an antisocial boog
« Reply #4 on: July 20, 2007, 06:31:25 am »
Boog sounds just like Lola. If a stranger approaches her, first she backs away, if they continue to approach she will growl. I admit sometimes she realllllly scares me. This behaviour didn't start with her until she was 6 months old I think. I'm pretty sure I posted about it here. I'll have to see if I can find those old posts.

But basically what my trainer started getting me to put her in a sit while strangers walked past and threw treats at her feet. No eye contact and no words. Then we progressed to them stopping in front of her, throwing the treat then continuing to walk. You gradually work up to the stranger being able to stop, give her a pat, give her the treat instead of throwing it and then walk away.

I know finding a stranger willing to do that can be difficult.. My trainer used her family and friends. But it does work. Lola now looks for the treat and doesn't growl or try to hide. At home is another story thought. :(

Too bad you didn't live closer.. I would soo be willing to help you out.

Offline zchic

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Re: i have an antisocial boog
« Reply #5 on: July 20, 2007, 07:54:57 am »
Boog sounds just like Lola. If a stranger approaches her, first she backs away, if they continue to approach she will growl. I admit sometimes she realllllly scares me. This behaviour didn't start with her until she was 6 months old I think. I'm pretty sure I posted about it here. I'll have to see if I can find those old posts.

But basically what my trainer started getting me to put her in a sit while strangers walked past and threw treats at her feet. No eye contact and no words. Then we progressed to them stopping in front of her, throwing the treat then continuing to walk. You gradually work up to the stranger being able to stop, give her a pat, give her the treat instead of throwing it and then walk away.

I know finding a stranger willing to do that can be difficult.. My trainer used her family and friends. But it does work. Lola now looks for the treat and doesn't growl or try to hide. At home is another story thought. :(

Too bad you didn't live closer.. I would soo be willing to help you out.

that is great advise. My Tisha was scared as a pup too. Then to make matters worse 2 different people at different times grabbed her collar and jerked her to them. She was so scared she released her anal glands and freaked. That HUGE setback took me 1 1/2 years to work out. I would walk her around the neighbor hood and when someone was walking by I would step off the sidewalk and have her sit till they went by. Once she was OK with people walking by we started going to places where there were more people. By the time she was 2 she was pretty good with everyone. The treat idea is great just make sure no one tries to force themselves on him. For some reason many people can't get it through their heads that ever though they are big in size they are still babies and need to be approached and treated as such.
-Jodi
Mom to:
Thorn- 8 year old fawn male dane
Morgayne- Wolfhound pup
Gracie- Merelequin (deaf) dane pup


1996-2007
Tisha...my best friend, I miss you girl.

Offline Duramax

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Re: i have an antisocial boog
« Reply #6 on: July 20, 2007, 08:47:37 am »
thanks guys, he's been a timid one from the get-go but after my brother and his 2 friends all bent down over boog to greet and pet him at the same time he's been very nervous. he had a greeting that went very well today. he did a good job. i think that it must be hereditary that both Max and Boog are so timid. chevy isnt that way at all.
Christina
mother of:
2 babies
2 great danes -Duramax
              -boog


"Some days you're the dog; some days you're the hydrant." -Unknown

Offline zchic

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Re: i have an antisocial boog
« Reply #7 on: July 20, 2007, 11:24:30 am »
thanks guys, he's been a timid one from the get-go but after my brother and his 2 friends all bent down over boog to greet and pet him at the same time he's been very nervous. he had a greeting that went very well today. he did a good job. i think that it must be hereditary that both Max and Boog are so timid. chevy isnt that way at all.


It seems like it is common in Danes in general. I know quite a few Dane owners that have had the same issues.
 
« Last Edit: July 20, 2007, 07:21:23 pm by zchic »
-Jodi
Mom to:
Thorn- 8 year old fawn male dane
Morgayne- Wolfhound pup
Gracie- Merelequin (deaf) dane pup


1996-2007
Tisha...my best friend, I miss you girl.

Offline Duramax

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Re: i have an antisocial boog
« Reply #8 on: July 22, 2007, 03:26:36 am »
thanks holly i looked on the website you posted to see if there were trainers in my area.....there isnt even 1!!! ::) go figure. still though a puppy training class would be the best way to go, surely there's one in North Platte....ill have to check it out and see.
Christina
mother of:
2 babies
2 great danes -Duramax
              -boog


"Some days you're the dog; some days you're the hydrant." -Unknown