scared/hiding six month old male, sheltin

the bath face....

:lol:


he won't jump in the tub, but he doesn't fuss in there either.
he just gives me the 'stink eye' :uhoh: and will lay down and take his bath without issues.
I was surprised he'd lay down in the tub once i had it with water over his paws, but I added more warm water and he seemed to like soaking... well maybe not like based on the face, but he let me scrub his fur in the water (especially his rear after his sticky incident(s) ). I help him out of the tub, towel dry him a bit and let him walk to his favorite corner and he licks himself.
I try to hook him on his leash and bring him outside after a bath on the warm days to air dry. he doesn't seem to mind that either...

as for his height, haven't measured him, but he's definitely a smaller statured sheltie from the others I've seen. I don't think he's a mini, but he's not a standard height either.

because he's a pet anyway I'm not too concerned about what his 'flaws by show standards' are anyway. And based on his age and 'reduced price' I'm guessing there's obvious 'flaws' or issues with him the owner/breeder recognizes that I don't see. But he's our Sheltin and not a show pup anyway. His coat looks okay but isn't a huge full fluffy coat (yet?). His ears are confused... lol, one up and one almost up.
his tail seems short for a sheltie too... not sure.
but he looks good and healthy and is coming out of his shell a lot faster than I thought he was going to.
his appetite is fine... I think he'd eat all day if I had food accessible for him.
comes to me now without using his leash to encourage him.
enjoys car rides and walks just fine.

just isn't super playful with us yet. he'll look when I cal him and look when I pet our cat, but he doesn't want to 'roughhouse' (let me pet/rub his body quickly) or anything right now, but he will let me gently pet his head and body and pat his sides...

btw, I'm pretty sure I'd give some stranger a stink eye look if they picked me up and put me in a tub after six months of being free to grub around too!! hah!

more puppy socialization at petco and maybe the lakewalk tomorrow...

don't want to overstimulate him... he's doing great so far... dont want to push my luck either :)
 
Sounds like you are doing great! Time will be the biggest thing here. Before you know it, he'll be curled up on your foot and following you around to every room.

How often are you bathing Sheltin? Too often can dry out their skin. Here is a good thread on this site:

http://www.sheltieforums.com/showthread.php?t=4660

You might want to do a search on "poop chute" as well to learn a technique that have save many a Sheltie from too many a bath. I'm happy with Duncan and Abbie's - so far, I've only had stuff stuck to Duncan once in 8 months I've had him.
 
Sheltin is gorgeous, and you're doing a good job working so patiently with him. Ah, the downcast face in pictures. Our rescue Newton still does that...won't look at the camera, head down or away in photos and if you get his head up then the eyes are down.

Until yesterday when we were out going to yard sales with Newton along for socialization. A very lovely lady in the next neighborhood was just entranced by him and spent quite a bit of time talking to him, handed me a treat to give to Newton....then she sad down on her garage floor and talked softly to him...and he went to her and took a treat and was happy to be petted. She took several pictures and wouldn't you know the little scamp graced her with his first picture with a confident look into the camera!.

Ok, I'm still jealous about that and not over it but the point of all this is we've had Newton 8 months.....it took 8 months for him to hold his head up for a picture.
 
Pictures - if we could only get them to pose just so. Noah never wanted his picture taken therefore I have very few of him. Hamish on the other hand loved his picture taken - must be because he was a show dog. Emma is getting to like them but with puppy enthusiasm rarely sits still. Pictures with Sheltin will come. He has come a long way with all the love and care you are giving him.
 
You might be surprised on his height 13" is the base of standard. Of course like you said he is your buddy not a show Sheltie so what matters is how happy he is :biggrin2: Of course Sca is huge and has a lot of black and white so he has been called a Border Collie :eek2: see things could be worse Sheltin :yes:
 
not as shy sheltin...

:yes:

he's following me around and patting at my legs when I walk then runs the other way when I stop to look at him...

when I walk by him he doesn't hide and will let me pet him now, though he hangs his head down every time still.

I will get on the floor next to him on all fours and gently head butt his side and he'll wag his tail.

He's still afraid to come to me on command but doesn't run away from me except when I pick up his leash. But when I get to him and hook his leash on him he'll walk just fine with me.

he's also discovered that he likes to chew on paper lol... I will catch him doing this and give him his 'chewy' (pigs ear, rawhide, any chew treat) and remind him that what I'm giving him is 'your chewy, not this' as I take the paper away from him. He's responding quite well to this too! He won't run away and hide and doesn't cringe when I put my hand down by him to take the paper away either so he's warmed up to me quite nicely already.


He comes into our bedroom and lays on the floor and will rest his head on our bed because he wants to hop up and join us, but I'm afraid to let him because he's peed on the bed three times when he's gone up there on his own. I don't want him afraid of our company, but I don't want him thinking our mattress is his potty area either, especially when I'm sure his scent is still on the mattress after our bleach/cleaning...


anyway, more progress, he spends alot more time near me and not in any corners. He doesn't hide in his kennel, I did put it back down for him. He doesn't run off there anymore, so he's getting comfortable with his surroundings.

he's still shy about coming to me on command though. But he doesn't run away as much either.

all this will come in time, he's come a long way very quickly. I'm happy about that!

thanks again for all the comments and support...

steve, barbi, sheltin, and rupert
 
I'm so glad to hear that he's made such good progress!

You and your family should be really proud of yourselves with what you've done with him, gives yourselves a big pat on the back. Not everyone would have been able to be so patient with him and persevere, with his sensitivity and fear. Good job! :smile2:
 
I love reading your updates about Sheltin. He has really come around since you first started posting, and I'm happy to hear it. Keep up the good work, and keep us posted! :)
 
I am catching up with this post and what a sweet heart. I have never had one lay down in the tub before....what a cute picure. I applaud you on your progress and for keeping Shetlin as some people would of sadly turned him back in already. Keep up the good work and stay postive.
 
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