the scaredy cat puppy
puppy is afraid of people
our poor little princess pup
not a good day for a walk
Horrible walk today with the terrified puppy
@shaggin (71666)
United States
February 21, 2018 9:18pm CST
I parked in town this afternoon and the puppy and I walked along a road I had always wanted to walk down. A geocache recently being placed down that road finally encouraged me to take the walk.
This was a very booming railroad town at one time and this road had many homes. You can see many remains of foundations and steps.
It would have been a fabulous walk but the puppy is terrified of people. Twice on either end of the road she saw people and she started pulling on her leash trying to get away and screaming.
I picked her up hoping she would feel safer. She started clawing at me and trying so hard to get down and run away and screaming. She didn’t stop until they had walked past us.
A guy asked if his dogs outside his house were scaring her but I guessed correctly that it was a fear of people. When we went back by and no one was out but the dogs she was fine.
When we got home I was covered in mud and scratches. I gave the scaredy cat a bath and then showered myself before baking my daughter some chocolate chip cookies I promised her yesterday.
From now on I will take her for walks in the woods where I won’t encounter many people. When I took her out to go to the bathroom in my yard after dark she saw my shadow on the side of the house and barked and ran away lol
Photo is not good quality but it’s a quick one of her after her bath.
26 people like this
25 responses
@DianneN (246887)
• United States
22 Feb 18
I totally agree with @sallypup. Your poor puppy needs to be gradually exposed to people or you will both suffer throughout her long life. She's still a puppy and can be trained so easily. The photo of her is so beautiful and precious!!!!
7 people like this
@sallypup (57897)
• Centralia, Washington
22 Feb 18
Puppy needs to get out more. Just a little at a time. Find somebody that is willing to take a bit of cheese or other nummy, get down to puppy level, hold out that piece of cheese and when puppy reaches for it, say Good pup! Maybe don't try to pet pup just let her enjoy the treat and see if she will take another. Then you find another willing person to do it again with pup. My Sally was freaked out until she got to be about a year old- she would piddle she was so scared.
4 people like this
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
22 Feb 18
That is wonderful advice. If people come to my house she doesn’t know or has only seen a few times she will hide behind the dryer and will not come out for treats or anything for hours. I read you need to socialize them a lot by 3 months old or they will be terrified. We got her at a little earlier then 2 months but it was October and to chilly to take her out for walks in public. This is the first two nice days we have had and tomorrow it’s turning cold again. There’s a weather advisory for the morning for freezing rain etc. Crazy since it was 65°F today.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
22 Feb 18
ya need to 'ntroduce her to more folks, slowly'n a calm fashion. keepin' her from 'em jest reinforces her fears later. ya don't wish her to be freakin' out e'ery time she sees e'en yer shadow 
2 people like this
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
22 Feb 18
@crazyhorseladycx I got her around 7 weeks from people who said the mother dog was nipping at the puppies and wouldn't nurse them any longer. She didn't seem abused but her fear of people seems so extreme.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
22 Feb 18
@shaggin ya take this sorta trainin' slowly. i dunno where ya got said pup? but she could'a been mistreated prior. her behavior 'tis dangerous 'n unhealthy.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
22 Feb 18
That is what I read was that if dogs aren't socialized much by 3 months old they will always be terrified this way. It was cold so we couldn't get her out in public when we got her. It has only been nice yesterday and today to do that. It likely won't be nice again for a few months.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
22 Feb 18
She is really cute and has grown quite a bit since that last picture I seen of her.
2 people like this
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
23 Feb 18
@Happy2BeMe She's perfect for our little house. Her ears are my favorite. They are so soft and I kiss them all the time.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
22 Feb 18
@shaggin That is a good size. Love the big floppy ears.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
23 Feb 18
poor thing. someone must have been mean to her before you got her. she does look very sad but cute. coco was afraid of large heavy women. loved everyone else. embarrassing
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
23 Feb 18
@bunnybon7 oh boy that would be awful. I'm terrified she will bite someone and they will make me put her to sleep. She hasn't bitten anyone like that yet thankfully.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
23 Feb 18
@shaggin i had one very nice friend tall and heavy set. very sweet woman and coco barked every time she moved. even nipped at her a couple times. and my son had a friend that was big also and she never liked her around. just strange
1 person likes this
she won't let it know unless you tell her
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
22 Feb 18
what a beautiful pup! rich color and shiny coat! can't help giggling at scaredy cat, though! lots of useful advice here. hope she outgrows it.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45651)
• Philippines
22 Feb 18
@shaggin when i got to the part about your shadow, i also assumed the same. i'm glad i read the responses and learned something.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
22 Feb 18
Sweet puppy, she needs to be around other dogs and humans, Hopefully she will get better with humans. My daughter took her Zuzu to doggy school, she is great now, no more fears.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
22 Feb 18
She got used to my boyfriend, his son and dog after two visits. Anytime my father in law has come she won't come out from behind the washer and dryer and same with my daughters one friend. She got used to my nieces, nephews, sister and father. If anyone comes near the yard she pulls on the leash and tries to run back in the house.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
22 Feb 18
@shaggin she's a scardy puppy...poor thing.
1 person likes this
@Gita17112016 (3611)
• Trinidad And Tobago
23 Feb 18
This is so strange behavior. Why is your dog so afraid? Was he abused? You'll have to do a lot of touching and petting to have him overcome his fear. So strange.Hmmm.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
25 Feb 18
@Gita17112016 He adjusts to people after them coming over a few times. Doesn't matter who it is she is always afraid at first of them coming into the house. This was the first two days she has been out walking in public so I think she was terrified of having no where to run and hide. Hopefully it will be warm enough to get her out walking more so she can see she is safe with me out in public.
@Swayamsiddha (4358)
• New Delhi, India
22 Feb 18
I feel sorry for that poor puppy. Hope it doesnt get scared again.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
22 Feb 18
@Swayamsiddha I just wrote this yesterday. She is my puppy!
@Swayamsiddha (4358)
• New Delhi, India
22 Feb 18
@shaggin . Did u see that puppy again in these days? How is it doing?
1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (81538)
• Onaway, Michigan
22 Feb 18
Poor puppy. I hope you are not scratched up to bad.
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
25 Feb 18
She is adorable and I agree with others that she needs to be socialized and quickly. I would enroll her in doggy training class where she will meet lots of other people. If you wait it could be too late.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
25 Feb 18
The only classes like that are an hour away. I do think I got good advice here. I think it's just her personality and not being outside around people much. In my house when strangers come she hides behind the washer. Out on our walk there was no where she could run and hide and in my arms didn't calm her any until the people had walked by. I will get her out for walks anytime it's warm enough unfortunately we still have a few months of cold.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
23 Feb 18
She's gotten used to my nephews, my sister and father, my boyfriend his son and puppy as they are all around fairly often. Anyone she sees and doesn't know she behaves this way.
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
27 Feb 18
Yes, walking her where she won't have to encounter people might be a good idea for now.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
27 Feb 18
Then she won't be exposed to people and will continue to do this so I think I will take the advice from people here and not give up on socializing here.
@Courtlynn (66921)
• United States
22 Feb 18
I want her. Lol. Sorry she was so scared and clawed you.. but lesson learned lol
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40248)
• United States
23 Feb 18
Oh dear, I wonder why she is so scared? I do hope you can "cure"? (not sure the right word) her behavior. Poor little thing.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71666)
• United States
23 Feb 18
When it is warmer in a few months I will try taking her for walks in town more so she sees people won't hurt her. That is the advice I received here not to give up on it. I will read up on training tips to see if there is any suggestions online etc.
