New Dog Very Timid And Scared Of People

[Ambrosia]

Hello,

Hoping for some advice...

A friend recently acquired a 14 month old female dog from a breeder. The dog is extremely timid, will not come to anyone, darts away if approached and when trying to pick her up she will actually wet herself and defecate while emitting a high pitched screech and biting the person trying to pick her up (pretty serious bites, lucky it is a small dog so not too serious). It is very difficult to pick her up.... but then impossible to call her, makes things extremely difficult. Absolutely freaks out being on a leash.

The positives- she is curious about people, following my friend around (but darting away if the friend makes an advance towards her), is curious about other dogs, sniffing front and back appropriately. She ‘smiles’ a fair bit, but this is a trait of the breed.

Dog is a Japanese Spitz.

This is my friends first dog, so I’m trying to assist her with this. She wants the dog purely for companionship and a walking/jogging buddy.

We speak softly to the dog, encourage to come/walk on lead with food (dog not interested) and get down low to not be intimidating.

I’d love to hear from anyone who has had similar experiences and about their outcome.

[Jigsaw]

I would suggest the dog needs a bit of space and time to readjust first of all to her new home. It's possible she's not had a lot to do with people hence the reaction you're getting, biting, defecating etc and possibly rarely, if ever been on leash. For the moment I wouldn't try to approach her with the intent of putting a leash on her if she's reacting so badly and is biting. Keep the pressure off her and let her approach you. I have worked with quite a few rescues with a similar type of behavior and it takes a lot of patience, kindness and time to bring them round to a more confident dog. I am concerned though that a breeder has sold such a fearful, timid dog to someone with no experience.

[Staff'n'Toller]

I would suggest the dog needs a bit of space and time to readjust first of all to her new home. It's possible she's not had a lot to do with people hence the reaction you're getting, biting, defecating etc and possibly rarely, if ever been on leash. For the moment I wouldn't try to approach her with the intent of putting a leash on her if she's reacting so badly and is biting. Keep the pressure off her and let her approach you. I have worked with quite a few rescues with a similar type of behavior and it takes a lot of patience, kindness and time to bring them round to a more confident dog. I am concerned though that a breeder has sold such a fearful, timid dog to someone with no experience.

Ditto.

If your friend wants a Jap Spitz 'ready to go' jogging, cafes, accepting friends into the home etc. Then she may need to consider whether this dog is right for her.

All the Jap Spitzes I have met are generally very friendly outgoing dogs.

[Ambrosia]

I am concerned though that a breeder has sold such a fearful, timid dog to someone with no experience.

Thanks for your advice Jigsaw. Yes, it is a concern. My friend was originally looking at a rescue dog (only as she wanted an adult and isn't knowledgeable about breeders/pure breeds) but I steered her away from this as she doesn't have the experience to deal with any potential issues, so thought a dog from a breeder would be a better option for her situation.

What the breeder described as 'laid back' I think was code for timid.

[Erny]

How long has your friend had this dog?

Assuming not for long, then my first piece of advice would be to ignore the dog. Care by feeding her and doing only what is absolutely necessary, but essentially without giving the dog direct attention, for obviously for this dog, attention is pressure.

Your friend needs the dog to learn to trust your friend before your friend is going to be able to work with the dog. Avoid picking the dog up at this stage, but of course at some stage, the dog will need to learn to be handled. Your friend would do well with having a professional or someone with experience start out with her to teach her how to begin this. How I would begin would depend on the dog, but basically it would start with touch whilst treating with the other hand. And then adding (as an example) a guide, show, place hand techniques to a "sit" that has already begun and is happening with lure (and using lure simultaneously). And progressing from there. But as I said, not before the dog has come to trust your friend sufficiently for this.

As a first dog, your friend has chosen a difficult subject and will require lots of learning and patience - this won't all come from the internet. Your friend needs to learn what it is to exhibit leadership, as this dog will absolute need that. It will be your friend's responsibility to give the dog a sense of protection by not allowing other people to cause the dog trauma. And by protection, I don't mean molly coddling in human fashion. I mean being calm, assertive in dog fashion.

There are many books on the subject, but one that springs to mind is "The Other End of the Leash" by Patricia McConnell. I'd recommend your friend read that. Another book which might also prove helpful is "How to Speak Dog" by Stanley Coren, and/or "Canine Body Language" which is a photographic guide to dog language (body language) and its meaning, by Brenda Aloff. The latter is an excellent guide, but is considerably more expensive than the first. Your friend needs to learn to recognise her dog's signs that indicate stress, uncertainty, fear. There are many early signs of a dog not being comfortable about a situation before it gets to "wetting itself; emitting high pitched screams; biting".

There is only so much that can be instructed over the internet and only so much less without direct informative responses by a dog's owner to the first steps and so, whilst there is much, much more to be done and investigated it would be prudent for your friend to engage a professional experienced with the dog's behaviour and its breed temperament to observe, discuss and advise.

This does beg the question, though, of what the Breeder has advised and informed your friend and why the Breeder thought this dog would be suitable for a first-time dog owner? And what life experiences has this breeder provided the dog?

ETA: Was typing this post whilst everyone else were posting theirs.

Edited April 23, 2011 by Erny

[Ambrosia]

I would suggest the dog needs a bit of space and time to readjust first of all to her new home. It's possible she's not had a lot to do with people hence the reaction you're getting, biting, defecating etc and possibly rarely, if ever been on leash. For the moment I wouldn't try to approach her with the intent of putting a leash on her if she's reacting so badly and is biting. Keep the pressure off her and let her approach you. I have worked with quite a few rescues with a similar type of behavior and it takes a lot of patience, kindness and time to bring them round to a more confident dog. I am concerned though that a breeder has sold such a fearful, timid dog to someone with no experience.

Ditto.

If your friend wants a Jap Spitz 'ready to go' jogging, cafes, accepting friends into the home etc. Then she may need to consider whether this dog is right for her.

All the Jap Spitzes I have met are generally very friendly outgoing dogs.

Thanks for your reply Staff'n'Toller. I do agree re rethinking whether this is the dog for her... But I'm think she doesn't want to feel like she's giving up on the dog. She's having family over for Easter, with little kids etc. so my husband & I have taken her for the weekend (we've spent time with the dog prior, she knows us) as it would have freaked the dog out too much being around so many people. We're reasonably experienced dog owners, have a Jap Spitz ourselves, so we're trying to do what we can with her to work on this problem while we have her. We feel we have made some baby steps today, but husband has been bitten twice already.

It's tough.

[Staff'n'Toller]

I would suggest the dog needs a bit of space and time to readjust first of all to her new home. It's possible she's not had a lot to do with people hence the reaction you're getting, biting, defecating etc and possibly rarely, if ever been on leash. For the moment I wouldn't try to approach her with the intent of putting a leash on her if she's reacting so badly and is biting. Keep the pressure off her and let her approach you. I have worked with quite a few rescues with a similar type of behavior and it takes a lot of patience, kindness and time to bring them round to a more confident dog. I am concerned though that a breeder has sold such a fearful, timid dog to someone with no experience.

Ditto.

If your friend wants a Jap Spitz 'ready to go' jogging, cafes, accepting friends into the home etc. Then she may need to consider whether this dog is right for her.

All the Jap Spitzes I have met are generally very friendly outgoing dogs.

Thanks for your reply Staff'n'Toller. I do agree re rethinking whether this is the dog for her... But I'm think she doesn't want to feel like she's giving up on the dog. She's having family over for Easter, with little kids etc. so my husband & I have taken her for the weekend (we've spent time with the dog prior, she knows us) as it would have freaked the dog out too much being around so many people. We're reasonably experienced dog owners, have a Jap Spitz ourselves, so we're trying to do what we can with her to work on this problem while we have her. We feel we have made some baby steps today, but husband has been bitten twice already.

It's tough.

A clicker and food will be your best friend.

I'm making a gross assumption but losing control of bladder/bowels and biting seems like an extreme reaction. I can understand a dog would take a while to warm up to it's new owner but it just raises some red flags for me. :D If she decides to persist then more power to her. I think she will need a consult with a very good behaviourist though.

[Erny]

Every time this dog bites it is learning the behaviour more and more. The dog's extreme behaviour needs some serious help.

Edited April 23, 2011 by Erny

[persephone]

Every time this dog bites it is learning the behaviour more and more. The dog's extreme behaviour needs some serious help.

Agreed!

This is a severe behavioural issue, and one which really needs a professional to assist.

[Ambrosia]

How long has your friend had this dog?

Assuming not for long, then my first piece of advice would be to ignore the dog. Care by feeding her and doing only what is absolutely necessary, but essentially without giving the dog direct attention, for obviously for this dog, attention is pressure.

Your friend needs the dog to learn to trust your friend before your friend is going to be able to work with the dog. Avoid picking the dog up at this stage, but of course at some stage, the dog will need to learn to be handled. Your friend would do well with having a professional or someone with experience start out with her to teach her how to begin this. How I would begin would depend on the dog, but basically it would start with touch whilst treating with the other hand. And then adding (as an example) a guide, show, place hand techniques to a "sit" that has already begun and is happening with lure (and using lure simultaneously). And progressing from there. But as I said, not before the dog has come to trust your friend sufficiently for this.

As a first dog, your friend has chosen a difficult subject and will require lots of learning and patience - this won't all come from the internet. Your friend needs to learn what it is to exhibit leadership, as this dog will absolute need that. It will be your friend's responsibility to give the dog a sense of protection by not allowing other people to cause the dog trauma. And by protection, I don't mean molly coddling in human fashion. I mean being calm, assertive in dog fashion.

There are many books on the subject, but one that springs to mind is "The Other End of the Leash" by Patricia McConnell. I'd recommend your friend read that. Another book which might also prove helpful is "How to Speak Dog" by Stanley Coren, and/or "Canine Body Language" which is a photographic guide to dog language (body language) and its meaning, by Brenda Aloff. The latter is an excellent guide, but is considerably more expensive than the first. Your friend needs to learn to recognise her dog's signs that indicate stress, uncertainty, fear. There are many early signs of a dog not being comfortable about a situation before it gets to "wetting itself; emitting high pitched screams; biting".

There is only so much that can be instructed over the internet and only so much less without direct informative responses by a dog's owner to the first steps and so, whilst there is much, much more to be done and investigated it would be prudent for your friend to engage a professional experienced with the dog's behaviour and its breed temperament to observe, discuss and advise.

This does beg the question, though, of what the Breeder has advised and informed your friend and why the Breeder thought this dog would be suitable for a first-time dog owner? And what life experiences has this breeder provided the dog?

ETA: Was typing this post whilst everyone else were posting theirs.

Thanks for your time in replying Erny, some great advice in there, will look at the books.

She hasn't had the dog for long at all, so hoping the steps you've outlined will assist.

I agree re breeder... It really feels like the dog has not met any humans, obviously she has to have met a few. She's fine with other dogs, so perhaps just kept outside with the other dogs? She reminds me of a wild animal that has been captured by a human. I'm increasingly getting cranky towards the breeder for putting my friend in this situation. It is difficult if not impossible for her to project the calm and confident leadership required for such a dog, and not something she can easily learn. Not a good first experience of dog ownership.

[Ambrosia]

Every time this dog bites it is learning the behaviour more and more. The dog's extreme behaviour needs some serious help.

Agreed!

This is a severe behavioural issue, and one which really needs a professional to assist.

Thanks for your thoughts. I guess because it's a small dog (and absolutely gorgeous) the biting behavior hasn't been treated as severely as if it was a large dog. None the less, it is the same behaviour.

I really appreciate everyone's advice and opinions.

[Erny]

I'm increasingly getting cranky towards the breeder for putting my friend in this situation. It is difficult if not impossible for her to project the calm and confident leadership required for such a dog, and not something she can easily learn. Not a good first experience of dog ownership.

If the Breeder has any chance of re-homing to a more experienced home, then this might prove to be the best thing for this dog. If your friend does not have the knowledge or the ability to be the calm, confident leader this dog absolutely needs, then your friend would not be giving up on the dog by returning her, but giving the dog a chance at a home that might be better equipped to helping it become more stabilised, as much as it could be. This dog is not suitable as a "first" and its behaviour is not something that will do well with 'tinkering'.

Edited April 23, 2011 by Erny

[Ambrosia]

I'm increasingly getting cranky towards the breeder for putting my friend in this situation. It is difficult if not impossible for her to project the calm and confident leadership required for such a dog, and not something she can easily learn. Not a good first experience of dog ownership.

If the Breeder has any chance of re-homing to a more experienced home, then this might prove to be the best thing for this dog. If your friend does not have the knowledge or the ability to be the calm, confident leader this dog absolutely needs, then your friend would not be giving up on the dog by returning her, but giving the dog a chance at a home that might be better equipped to helping it become more stabilised, as much as it could be. This dog is not suitable as a "first" and its behaviour is not something that will do well with 'tinkering'.

Thanks for your advice- great to have an objective opinion.

[Ambrosia]

Have spoken in depth with my friend today and she's decided to return the dog to the breeder.

The breeders advertisement stated the dog was socialised and confident in their interactions with adults. Will suggest she changes her advertisement wording when trying to re-home so this doesn't happen again.

Thanks again to everyone for your advice- it assisted us to see that this behaviour was a serious problem which wasn't going to go away quickly and that the dog isn't suitable for friend.

Edited April 24, 2011 by Ambrosia

[minxy]

Have spoken in depth with my friend today and she's decided to return the dog to the breeder.

The breeders advertisement stated the dog was socialised and confident in their interactions with adults. Will suggest she changes her advertisement wording when trying to re-home so this doesn't happy again.

Thanks again to everyone for your advice- it assisted us to see that this behaviour was a serious problem which wasn't going to go away quickly and that the dog isn't suitable for friend.

I'm glad she came to that decision. I think it was a really poor move on the breeder's part in giving this dog to a first time dog owner. Hopefully your friend will find the right companion for their family

[persephone]

I am so glad- perhpas not for the dog, but at least ,for now she will be somewhere she feels nore comfortable.

I am sure, that with help from the spitz/rescue folks on DOL, your friend can find a new dog who will fit her family

[Ambrosia]

I am so glad- perhpas not for the dog, but at least ,for now she will be somewhere she feels nore comfortable.

I am sure, that with help from the spitz/rescue folks on DOL, your friend can find a new dog who will fit her family

Thanks for your posts Minxy & Persephone, they're reassuring. My friend is now considering a puppy as they won't have (hopefully) emotional baggage.

Am pointing her straight towards my JS breeder as my JS has an awesome temperament.

Won't call the breeder today being Easter Sunday, will call tomorrow morning. she did say she would take the dog back if things didn't work out. Fingers crossed all is well on that front.

[Erny]

Your friend will still need to learn how to exhibit calm and assertive leadership, regardless of dog.

[Ambrosia]

Your friend will still need to learn how to exhibit calm and assertive leadership, regardless of dog.

Agreed, but will be easier for her to do so with a dog that doesn't bite her & there should be more positive interactions which will build her confidence as a leader.

[Jigsaw]

Have spoken in depth with my friend today and she's decided to return the dog to the breeder.

The breeders advertisement stated the dog was socialised and confident in their interactions with adults. Will suggest she changes her advertisement wording when trying to re-home so this doesn't happen again.

Thanks again to everyone for your advice- it assisted us to see that this behaviour was a serious problem which wasn't going to go away quickly and that the dog isn't suitable for friend.

I'm sure a difficult decision but ultimately a wise one. I hope you advise the breeder fully of the problems you've had and suggest that maybe she look at further training before selling the pup again. Good luck with your conversation with the breeder.

I hope your friend enjoys her new pup when its time comes and in the mean time I hope she takes up some of Erny's reading suggestions!