Afraid of everything

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kingjoanfla

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We have two brothers from the same litter. Snoopy is very outgoing but Bud is afraid of everything. Now he is afraid of the dark and refuses to leave the porch to go potty. Hopefully the lights we are installing will help. He will get on the top step and sit down and refuse to move. He has been afraid of things and people since he was a puppy and he is getting worse. He is 17 months old and has been around other dogs during training to help his barking. I was told that he barks at everything and everyone because he is afraid not aggressive but don't know how to help him.
I found that if someone comes to the door and I do wait with him he is ok if they ignore him. As soon as they look at him or talk to him he starts barking at them. Now I just tell everyone to ignore him and he sides up to them when he is ready.
If we take him for a walk and he sees another dog or person he goes ballistic. I try turning him around or giving him a treat, tell him to look at me and it works for a few minutes but he starts all over. He finally made friends with our neighbor but the next time he saw her it was as if he never met her. Any suggestions to help his anxiety?
 
kingjoanfla said:
We have two brothers from the same litter. Snoopy is very outgoing but Bud is afraid of everything. Now he is afraid of the dark and refuses to leave the porch to go potty. Hopefully the lights we are installing will help. He will get on the top step and sit down and refuse to move. He has been afraid of things and people since he was a puppy and he is getting worse. He is 17 months old and has been around other dogs during training to help his barking. I was told that he barks at everything and everyone because he is afraid not aggressive but don't know how to help him.
I found that if someone comes to the door and I do wait with him he is ok if they ignore him. As soon as they look at him or talk to him he starts barking at them. Now I just tell everyone to ignore him and he sides up to them when he is ready.
If we take him for a walk and he sees another dog or person he goes ballistic. I try turning him around or giving him a treat, tell him to look at me and it works for a few minutes but he starts all over. He finally made friends with our neighbor but the next time he saw her it was as if he never met her. Any suggestions to help his anxiety?
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? Is one of the brothers dominant and one submissive? Have the two been together for everything? Training, socialization, around the house. If so you have a problem with Bud leaning on Snoopy for support and guidance and he feels insecure on his own. They need to be separated for awhile so Bud will begin to learn to be his own dog so to speak. This isn't anything new... it happens quite often when littermates are allowed to be together and never apart.
 
I would take the scared pup out on his own for training. This is a common problem with litter mates that are never separated. They need lots of time apart so that the scared guy builds up confidence.
 
Has he had any training classes? It gives him one on one training, some socialization and builds confidence.
 
Bud has had training classes by himself and I try to take him for rides and to the pet store by himself. I will try to separate them more.
I think he is more submissive. I have noticed he sometimes waits for Snoopy to start eating first before he does and when they run around and play, Snoopy is always tugging on his tail and leading him around.
They both jump at the slightest sound and Snoopy will get Bud barking. I also crate them together at night, and maybe I should also separate them sleeping too. In the evening Bud will always stay by us or follow us around while Snoopy will go to another room and be there by himself.
 
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