scared/hiding six month old male, sheltin

S

sheltin

Forums Regular
:confused2:
Very concerned about our new boy, sheltin.
Sheltin has been at our home for about nine days.
Of this time he's spent nearly all of it in his safe place, a plastic kennel we got for him.
He'd grabbed a couple of beggin strips treats the second day.
we acquired a plastic small dog crate the third day and he's spent the remainder of the week in the crate.
He hasn't touched food or much water for about five days and hasn't defecated anywhere that we've seen anywhere around our small apartment. He peed in his kennel today and I'm going to grab him out and give him a bath...
He's still really scared when I'm trying to pick him up too.

I'm not sure what steps to take with this scared guy.
I don't want to make him more scared but I'm afraid he's not eating and barely drinking anything...

advice please??

steve, barbi and sheltin
 
If he isn't drinking or eating, sounds like a visit to the vet is needed. That is a pretty long time for a sheltie not to eat.
 
You may have already told us how you got Sheltin but I don't recall. Was he from a breeder, or a rescue? What I'm getting at is whether you know what his experience has been. Even if he did come from a breeder, it sounds as if he wasn't socialized. It will take time, patience and lots of love but he will come around.

Sable is right though, the first thing to do is take him to your vet to be checked. And he does need to eat and drink. Perhaps try tempting him with some diluted chicken broth in his kennel. Then maybe some shredded chicken. You have to gain his confidence...for whatever reason, it sounds as if he's been frightened by something.

The good news is that at six months, he's young enough that he will come out of this. Baby steps are the key, don't push him too hard. I'd skip the bath for now if you can and work on gaining his trust and getting him to eat. Lots of pats and love...maybe you can sit with him on the couch and cuddle him. Please keep us posted and let us know how he's doing. Good luck!
 
He may actually have depression - it must be a huge change to go from being surrounded by other dogs to being taken out of his home into a new environment. Being a little older, and at a time when he is just finding his way in the world, it may have effected him a lot.

Number 1 treatment for depression- lots of exercise! Even if it isn't strenuous, just get him outside in the sun and exploring new environments. I would be walking him at least twice a day around the neighbourhood so he can explore and learn the new smells. Sunshine also helps chemically with depression.

Get into a puppy school asap - being around other dogs and focusing on 'working' will help.

Find him a playmate - he is used to being around other dogs and at that age probably still needs the doggy company. Is there a doggy day care around or a dog park? Perhaps even try your local playground.

Perhaps you could find him jobs to do around the house? When you take out the garbage or get the paper take him with you, get him a little backpack and get him to carry things for you. Deska thinks its his job to take out garbage, make the bed and carry dishes to the dishwasher (in his pockets) and he gets very upset if he doesnt because he thinks they are his job. These are working breeds after all.

When you give him food (when he starts eating) make him work for his food. Put kibble in a treat bottle (water bottle with holes in it) or buy a dispenser, hide the kibble around the house.

Its all about keeping him active to get those endorphins and seratonin kicking in, and that will help overcome the depression. Dont let him just lay around, get him moving.

You may also want to check with your vet about handling depression.
 
I agree, doctor's visit first, just in case.

Our pups have an amazing ability to rebound from trauma. Be patient with him and let him know that he's totally safe with you.
 
*Caro said:
He may actually have depression - it must be a huge change to go from being surrounded by other dogs to being taken out of his home into a new environment. Being a little older, and at a time when he is just finding his way in the world, it may have effected him a lot.

Number 1 treatment for depression- lots of exercise! Even if it isn't strenuous, just get him outside in the sun and exploring new environments. I would be walking him at least twice a day around the neighbourhood so he can explore and learn the new smells. Sunshine also helps chemically with depression.
Click to expand...


This sounds like great advice....Domino was also very withdrawn and shy when we first brought him home (alhtough not to the extent that it seems Sheltin is). He didn't eat or drink or toilet for a few days and I was very worried. I found that walking him definately helped him to feel more relaxed and gave him something to focus on. I also started feeding him with much tastier "treats" than kibble to get him interested in eating again.

I would also reccommend letting him make the first move to come to you before you pet or play with him. I found that sitting in the middle of the floor with my back to Domino and just calling his name or playing with a toy (but not looking at him or making any move to approach him) worked wonders! He seemed to have so much more trust after I let him move at his own pace and approach me when he was ready. It would take maybe 10-15 minutes to start with but after a few days he couldn't wait to come running if I called him because he knew that he would be getting lots of hugs and play time.
 
Dusty was similar when I got her at 5 1/2 months.
(but she did have an appetite!)
I think homesickness rather than depression was behind a lot of her behaviour. (she also spent a lot of time in quiet corners or choosing to be in her crate - she had been used to a crate at the breeders) I think she missed the company of the other dogs and cats.
 
It is quite normal for some shelties to act in that matter. I know of one breeder that said give them 2 weeks to become accustomed to there new situation. Some shelties... it really won't matter how much you socialize they just won't get it and be scared to death when going in a new environment. No they aren't suppose to necessarily be that way. But, as a breeder, you will find out very quickly that there are attitude, emotional problems that pop up in some lines. That is why sometimes you will see a breeder selling an obvious show-quality dog. You will see at time them adding the phrase..."she doesn't like to show" normally you will be getting a more anxious/emotionally hyper girl, or boy... whatever the case. I have two right now... a brother/sister littermates. Very nice show quality pair. The brother is out campaigning for his AKC CH with a professional handler... sister is staying at home because I really just don't know if we can overcome her emotional problems enough for her to ever finish. She gets quite scared very easily in strange environments. The loud, noisy showgrounds... I'm just not sure she is going to be able to handle it. They were both socialized the same exact way. But, honestly I could tell from about four weeks of age that she just wasn't as stable.

I would allow your sheltie another week to come around. Don't just allow him to escape in his crate now that he has been there awhile... he is avoiding facing his fears. Get him out while you watch TV and hold him in your lap and pet and talk with him. Take him on walks on the leash and offer treats. Keep him with you all the time when you doing your basic work in the kitchen. Tie the leash to you and talk to him from time to time... give him a reassuring pat on the head. The more you allow him to escape and hide the longer he will stay unstable.
 
updates...

Sheltin came from a breeder who stopped raising pups due to an in future move out of state and he was one of her last pups she was parting with.

Because she wasn't planning on keeping him he wasn't an inside dog and not socialized with people. He was around other animals.

At any rate, Barbi and I are happy to report that Sheltin has been eating. Right after I posted this I took him to bathe him and found pooh stuck to his fur and he did have some dampness in his crate so he had been drinking and eating.
The day after my initial post, he got up late while we were in bed and ate and drank a good amount of food and water. He even used puppy pads!! He's been eating and drinking just fine and using the puppy pads without issues.

NOW... onto socializing him to not be scared of us or his leash! :eek2:

I guess I figured he'd come around quicker, but after reading more about shelties, I learned that they can be skittish for sure.
He's let me put a harness and leash on him, but he still pulls hard then lays down in a submissive 'on his side' way.
When he did this, I just stood with leash in hand and let him lay down without acknowledging his submissive behavior.
But, I'm figuring out this is going to take a while for this guy to not be so scared. He's coming around, but I still feel bad when I get up in the morning and look over at his crate and he scurries back as far back as he can as if I'm going to hurt him.

Thanks to all for the excellent advice.
It's odd knowing what to do for some dogs but not others.

Steve, Barbi, and Sheltin
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top