bksheppard Posted October 20, 2010 Report Share Posted October 20, 2010 So I have two husky pups who are 9 weeks old and I need to figure out different ways to help them to not be scared of people. They are very social with other dogs, its just people. I've been trying to get them us to me and my husband as well. I've done everything from rewards to passion and love. I spend all day with them and they are still terrified. When we go to the park, we give people treats to feed them so they will go to them but as soon as they get the treat they dart away. They were raised outside and only with their littermates so they haven't had a lot of interaction with people. We have people come over on occasion to help them with their fear. However nothing seems to work. We have had them for 2 weeks. Can anyone give me some advice, I would greatly appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nrgore@yahoo.co.uk Posted October 20, 2010 Report Share Posted October 20, 2010 give them time to just get used to people let them come to people when there ready when folk come round just act normal eventually they will come for a nose them fuss them eventually they will begin to trust people our shianne was a bit timid at first but shes fine now also let them see lots of different looks as well ie people with/without glasses, hats ect just dont rush it and they will be fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kissu & Aara Posted October 20, 2010 Report Share Posted October 20, 2010 If he does have juvenile cataracts like you say he might in your intro post, he may be fearful of people cause he can't see them so well? If that is the case, I'd stop introducing him to other people until he gets used to the scents of you and your house. Not being able to see well would be scary, even if it seems like 2 weeks is enough time for him to be used to it. Let him come to you, or to other people, too, for attention. For Koda, it seems like it will just take a bit more of time with him. But it may be best to introduce him first to people, without his brother. So he already has an opinion of new people before his brother raises his anxiety. Then if his brother wants to or is curious, then you could introduce him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bksheppard Posted October 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2010 If he does have juvenile cataracts like you say he might in your intro post, he may be fearful of people cause he can't see them so well? If that is the case, I'd stop introducing him to other people until he gets used to the scents of you and your house. Not being able to see well would be scary, even if it seems like 2 weeks is enough time for him to be used to it. Let him come to you, or to other people, too, for attention. That may be true. Thanks for the advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kissu & Aara Posted October 20, 2010 Report Share Posted October 20, 2010 If it turns out he doesn't have it and can see just fine, he just needs more time. Not having much human interaction for the first 7 weeks or so of his life was a huge mistake on the breeder's end. He's been alive 9 weeks and only 2 of those 9 weeks he's been introduced to humans. In that case, still just let him come to you and other people for attention. Work with him one on one. If able, put his brother in another room. Then just put him in the living room and 'ignore' him. If there's a toy he likes or is interested in anything, maybe play with that toy, so he'll be curious and want to investigate. Keep working with his brother, too. He's just learning that humans aren't so bad. But is still cautious. Maybe once he learns that humans are pretty cool, his brother will be more interested. I hope they start getting less shy soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timbaboy Posted October 20, 2010 Report Share Posted October 20, 2010 Yeh I agree with the above posts, don't make a fuss about it, don't pick them up and praise them etc, let them come to you, they will soon realise you the one who provides food and your not going to hurt them. Hope they come around soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kells xx Posted October 20, 2010 Report Share Posted October 20, 2010 bkshepherd i have the same problem my pup daughtry wasnt socalized by the breeders and still at 10 months she is timid...i have tried everything i hope your pups get more confident soon m8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakakittie Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 The advice above sounds good to me. Plus with a 9 week old puppy get them use to u and ur husband first in the house than outside. Slowly introduce a friend to them at ur house, let the puppies come to ur friend inside of the friend going to it. Also have the friend holding treats out to get them to come to him/her. That way the puppy is confidence and doing it at their own will and slowly as they build up the confidence to interact with friends/ family member they'll be less timid with strangers. Introduce the amount of people slowly, don't overwhelm them too much. Hope this helps a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leaddog Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 I have the same problem with my Pup Malikye and posted something similar to your question when I first came to the forum...Kye was kept outside at the breeders and only had human contact for food and shots. He is 8 months old now and still is very timid around strangers and especially men. It may take alot of time to get them to warm up to people...so don't give up. It took Kye awhile to get used to me and my boyfriend...and he still gets scared of me every now and then if I come at or grab at him too quickly...What I have been doing with Malikye is just exposing him to new environments and people and sounds so he can get used to things and see that there is nothing to be scared of. When I have people come over I tell them to ignore him, and pretend to not even see him...that way he can come up to them on his own (and he usually does) and sniff them and check them out on his own liking. I also take him to the pet stores so he can walk around and see other people and dogs...he does alot better with going up to people if they have a dog with them also...so that helps him alot. Hope some of this helps you out and good luck...your reward for taking the time with them will be worth it in the end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sutsibe Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 Somewhere around 9-12 weeks, puppies usually go through a fear period, which might be making things a little more difficult for you. You want to keep exposing them to new things during the fear period, but you have to make sure that the new things are ones that build up their confidence, rather than make them more fearful - a fine line! I would suggest taking them, one at a time, to places where you can sit with them, quietly, and let them watch people coming and going from a distance. Have some small, high value goodies along, maybe some very tiny pieces of hotdog (nuke them until they're like jerky), keep very calm, yourself, don't baby them - just let them watch things at a distance, and give bits of treats for behaviors you want. Your reactions are key - if the puppy feels your anxiety (and they can feel it down a leash - incredibly well!), he'll think there's a REASON to be fearful. Good luck! If you know anyone with a friendly, confident, older dog, that can be a confidence builder for a puppy, as well! The older dog's lack of fear is a wonderful teacher! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cookiemonster Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 as said above we didnt get two pups at the same time as they will bounce off each other and make certain training much more difficult. Try and keep them seperate for these times of training such as introducing new things, but do it slowly and only introduce something new when they have settled in their existing environments. For example get them confident in your house with yourselves first, then introduce them to outside in your garden, then take them for a walk up and down the street and then finally to the park etc. Again going on advice i was given try and get another dog to your house once hes confident there as the socialisation for huskies needs to be done asap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrs_aggie Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 I'd give them time, our oldest dog is a rescue dog wo we got 3 years ago, although she accepted me straight away it took a while with my husband, but even now after having her nearly 4 years she still doesnt like people much outside of the family. If we have workmen/friends in she is extremely skittish but does come around to them in her own time. I'd say it would be alot easier for a puppy to overcome being afraid of people then Bella as she was 3 when we got her and had been living as a stray so no one has any idea what happened to her apart from somehow one of her legs got broken. We got Bella used to my husband by him taking over the feeding/walks etc and he wouldnt approach her, we just waited for her to come to him and over a couple of weeks she totally accepted him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BingBlaze n Skyla Posted October 21, 2010 Report Share Posted October 21, 2010 cnt add anything else to the advice already given, keep it up tho and be consistant im sure they will get better soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bksheppard Posted October 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 Update: I am just so excited........Koda has warmed up to me and my husband!! Anytime we call him, he comes and we can pet him and play with him without him being scared!!! This just makes my day. Also, he is such a fast learner, he already knows 'sit'! Silas of course, since he has eye problems, is taking longer, but he also comes when we call him. He's stil skittish when we walk by him or try to pet him. However, if we do ignore him, he comes to us for attention. I'm just so proud of both of them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrs_aggie Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 really pleased they've started to come round Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted October 28, 2010 Report Share Posted October 28, 2010 oh that's fantastic!!!!!!! :up: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynnmw1208 Posted October 29, 2010 Report Share Posted October 29, 2010 glad to hear your pups are getting better! my mom's toy poodle was the same way when she first got her. I think they had limited human attention and was actually afraid to be picked up. now she constantly wants to be held. It'll take some time but huskies are the type of dog that loves company so they'll come around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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