Timid dog

[frannieuk]

We have a Siberian Husky x GSP bitch who is about 10 months old. We got her from the family that bred her when she was just over 4 months.
SHe is a lovely sweet dog, very affectionate to us and to people she knows, but she is scared to death of strangers.
She isn't agressive, just runs away and hides if they try to touch her. If they ignore her, she'll sidle up to them and sniff them, but as soon as they transfer their attention back to her she flees.
She hasn't had any scary experiences as far as we know, and isn't scared of anything else (horses, other dogs, traffic etc). She was the runt of her litter but integrates well with other dogs and seems to be fairly high up the pecking order in the pack.

Anyway, getting to the point. Do you think she will became more confident with people as she gets older, and is it worth finding some training classes to help with this - she is the most obedient dog you could hope for, and loves to play with us, it's just people she doesn't know that freak her out!

 

[suzyseymour]

From spending too much time watching telly!!! I think the usual way they deal with this is to get the visitors to ignor the dogs, definately don't approach the dog. If people are sat down and the dog is a little more settled get them to throw a treat to the dog. Gradually reducing the distance thrown until can give them treat. Then the dog will assocaite visitors with good things. Get them to carry on ignoring the dog to start with giving the treats, then gradually build up the amount look towards the dog. It is up to the dog to go up to visitors, not the other way round.

Hope this helps, I take my two rescue dogs to training classes, it is really good for them and they both love going, I definately reconmend them, but speak to the trainer first and explain the situation and ask that people allow her to approach them to start with.

Good luck!!

 

[frannieuk]

Thanks for the advice - it seems we're on the right track then! I think I'll try and get her into some classes, and try to let her figure out that most people aren't scary!

 

[c7mlm]

we had a really timid border colie who was 20 weeks when we got her. would not walk on a lead at all. we got in touch with a trainer and had one to one lessons. she is 3yo now and much better. a lot of our training was to ignore her and not pull her around. she is lovely now but still scared of men until she does it all in her time.

 

[Vicki1986]

sounds exactly the same as my dog (6 months)

He is really confident around people he knows (my friends, family, work colleagues etc) but strangers he is very wary and will run up and sniff if he thinks there not looking but scurry away if they try to stroke him.
if he lets strangers come near him i praise him. i am going to try to get to puppy classes but its having the time with the horse as well.
he is more confident in familar environments like work or home and is getting much much better with age.
he was the runt of the litter too.

 

[frannieuk]

Vicki1986 - You have described my dogs behaviour to a T! She does exactly the same as yours to strangers, I'm glad to hear that it is getting better with age, although your dog is a little younger than mine

Maybe it's something to do with being the runt?