Timid Timid Sheltie/Need help

[kathyl]

Hi all. Haven't been on for awhile. We adopted a little female sheltie from a friend. She has 7, some outside their entire lives. This happens to be one of them.
Sadie is one of the sweetest dogs ever. Our friend has an outdoor pen they're raised in.(2 indoors) She simply had to downsize.
Sadie was bought with her brother as a tiny pup. Beautiful sable & white. She had NO social skills when we got her (about 4 months ago).
She's an indoor dog now w/huge fenced yard. Still won't come to us unless we're in the house beside her. Did start letting her sleep in our bed. Bought her a soft bed which she loves to lay in by us.
My question is: how do we train this little gal to be a pet? She's about 2yrs old. I did buy a harness & walk her around inside the house. Started to take her out front door recently on the harness/going to try to start walking her outside. She flipped out.
Sadie did bite my husband one time pretty hard. She's a nervous type. We talk tenderly to her & pet her a lot.

 

[PatC]

I got my shy girl when she was six...the first time I took her out for a walk (she had been a show dog, and never a pet), she was terrified. Someone jogged up behind us; she literally hit the ground in terror. I just kept taking her places--walks, the gas station, PetSmart, anywhere I thought she would be allowed--and introducing her to new people so that she could see that nothing bad happened. I'd talk to her and pet her while keeping her out of her comfort zone. It took a few months, and she will never be outgoing, but she is no longer so timid and even lets strangers pet her, after she thinks about it for a minute.

 

[Lunatic59]

It will take patience. If dogs aren't socialized as pups, it's much harder. It's taken us 5 years to get our rescue schipperke to not go batsh*t crazy when another dog or person comes walking down the street. With the help of some very understanding neighbors with socialized dogs, he's made a lot of progress and some four legged friends as well.

Now whenever there's a new pup in the neighborhood we all get together for playtime.

See if you can get your girl to approach other people off the lead in a familiar environment. The lead will make her feel restricted and defensive at first. When she's on the lead and started getting scared, stop walking and get close and do whatever she finds comforting (petting, treats, soft speaking, etc.) and just keep at it. If you can, ask the person to stop and try to get her to approach them. Don't let them approach her if you can help it.

Eventually she will improve, but ti can take a while. Good luck and I hope your shy little girl becomes a diva.

 

[JLSOhio51]

I got my shy girl when she was six...the first time I took her out for a walk (she had been a show dog, and never a pet), she was terrified....

PatC:
I know that this comment is a little OT (and more than a little biased), but on a very personal note, I just can't conceive of a dog that is a show piece and not also a pet. Don't get me wrong, I do not begrudge those who have dogs only for the purpose of showing. I say to each his (her) own. I can also guess that there are those who have logical reasons why show dogs shouldn't be treated as pets. It's just my own personal bias that the living breathing four legged soul that inhabits my life must also be my friend, my confidant and even my therapist of a sort (whenever possible). I don't condemn those who feel differently. Its just a bit foreign to me.

Lunatic59:
"Now whenever there's a new pup in the neighborhood we all get together for playtime. "

This sounds like a great idea. I will try to remember this when I'm ready with my pup.

 

[PatC]

PatC:
I know that this comment is a little OT (and more than a little biased), but on a very personal note, I just can't conceive of a dog that is a show piece and not also a pet. Don't get me wrong, I do not begrudge those who have dogs only for the purpose of showing. I say to each his (her) own. I can also guess that there are those who have logical reasons why show dogs shouldn't be treated as pets. It's just my own personal bias that the living breathing four legged soul that inhabits my life must also be my friend, my confidant and even my therapist of a sort (whenever possible). I don't condemn those who feel differently. Its just a bit foreign to me.

Lunatic59:
"Now whenever there's a new pup in the neighborhood we all get together for playtime. "

This sounds like a great idea. I will try to remember this when I'm ready with my pup.

Hi, Jeff--I respect your opinion, of course, and I understand it, but I can't agree. I am not in the showdog world, but I know a little (much less than many here) about it. My dogs come from one of the best-respected longtime breeders in the Sheltie world, one who has been referenced here in various threads for his expertise and commitment to his dogs. He has been breeding dogs for close to 50 years, as a profession, and usually has a dozen or so in residence...way too many to be pets. But that doesn't mean that he doesn't know the personality of each dog, or that they are not loved and respected--they are. I have been to his kennel and watched how he interacts with the dogs--the connection is tangible. And I know that he misses the dogs he has placed with me but he also knows that when you have that many, at a certain point, some need to be re-homed, to ensure the best care for all.

So it even though it is not a "pet" relationship, that doesn't mean there is no connection, or that it is not an enriching experience for the dog and the breeder. The fact that it isn't the standard model relationship doesn't make it inferior. And I can attest to the fact that he has raised spectacularly good-natured, deeply lovable dogs who have learned to be traditional pets, only a bit better-mannered. And reallyreally good looking.

 

[Tabitha]

Hi, Jeff--I respect your opinion, of course, and I understand it, but I can't agree. I am not in the showdog world, but I know a little (much less than many here) about it. My dogs come from one of the best-respected longtime breeders in the Sheltie world, one who has been referenced here in various threads for his expertise and commitment to his dogs. He has been breeding dogs for close to 50 years, as a profession, and usually has a dozen or so in residence...way too many to be pets. But that doesn't mean that he doesn't know the personality of each dog, or that they are not loved and respected--they are. I have been to his kennel and watched how he interacts with the dogs--the connection is tangible. And I know that he misses the dogs he has placed with me but he also knows that when you have that many, at a certain point, some need to be re-homed, to ensure the best care for all.

So it even though it is not a "pet" relationship, that doesn't mean there is no connection, or that it is not an enriching experience for the dog and the breeder. The fact that it isn't the standard model relationship doesn't make it inferior. And I can attest to the fact that he has raised spectacularly good-natured, deeply lovable dogs who have learned to be traditional pets, only a bit better-mannered. And reallyreally good looking.

Well said Pat.

 

[JLSOhio51]

Hi, Jeff--I respect your opinion, of course, and I understand it, but I can't agree...

He has been breeding dogs for close to 50 years, as a profession, and usually has a dozen or so in residence...way too many to be pets.

But that doesn't mean that he doesn't know the personality of each dog, or that they are not loved and respected--they are.

So it even though it is not a "pet" relationship, that doesn't mean there is no connection...

PatC:

I get what you are saying - I can agree with what you are saying, but none of your response relates to the comments I made. I made no reference suggesting that those with non pet type relationships "don't know the personalities of their dogs" - that "they had no connection with their dogs" - that "anyone who breeds many dogs could have a pet relationship with all" of the dogs. My comment was simply that I (emphasis on the "I"), could not conceive of having a dog that was for show purposes only and not have a pet relationship with that dog. For the record, I specifically said that I could easily conceive of the likelihood that others may logically hold views different than mine.

As a result, since I only said that I believe a certain way for me only, I'm not sure what part of what I believe for me only, you disagree with.

 

[PatC]

PatC:

I get what you are saying - I can agree with what you are saying, but none of your response relates to the comments I made. I made no reference suggesting that those with non pet type relationships "don't know the personalities of their dogs" - that "they had no connection with their dogs" - that "anyone who breeds many dogs could have a pet relationship with all" of the dogs. My comment was simply that I (emphasis on the "I"), could not conceive of having a dog that was for show purposes only and not have a pet relationship with that dog. For the record, I specifically said that I could easily conceive of the likelihood that others may logically hold views different than mine.

As a result, since I only said that I believe a certain way for me only, I'm not sure what part of what I believe for me only, you disagree with.

Hi Jeff...

Your perspective is whatever is right for you, of course, and I have no interest in changing your mind. I was just responding to your statement that you "couldn't conceive" of a show dog who is not also a pet by showing how conceivable it is to many, and that enduring bonds with animals can take many forms. Just my two cents.

 

[JLSOhio51]

Hi Jeff...

...I was just responding to your statement that you "couldn't conceive" of a show dog who is not also a pet by showing how conceivable it is to many, and that enduring bonds with animals can take many forms. Just my two cents.

PatC:

I think we are on the same page (somewhat). I anticipated varying opinions from my original statement which is why I tried to make it clear that my comments related only to my own point of view and allowed that surly others would look at it differently. I do understand a different point of view - only that I could not hold that point of view. Thanks for your response.

 

[PatC]

PatC:

I think we are on the same page (somewhat). I anticipated varying opinions from my original statement which is why I tried to make it clear that my comments related only to my own point of view and allowed that surly others would look at it differently. I do understand a different point of view - only that I could not hold that point of view. Thanks for your response.

Well, I didn't mean to be a "surly other."