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I have a german sherpard mix female. She is about 7 months old. Her name is Nani. Nani has a serious issue...

Nani is scared of everyone and everything. Why? I don't know. She has a mysterious scar on her front leg that the woman I bought her from when she was a pup, assured me was a bite from another dog and would heal. I brought Nani home when she was 8wks old, not only is she now 7 months old and its no better, it looks like a slash, not a bite, no way a dog could make this mark.
Anywho, that is my guess to why her behavior might be so awefully strange. I have tried and tried to get her used to things. She is scared of everyone, even my family who lives in the same house! When she's inside, she stays under the bed. When we are outside, at the park, if another person or dog walks by she tries to run the other way, pulling as hard as she can! And she will keep trying long after the strangers are out of site.
I have tried getting strangers to pet her. First of all, if someone were to pet her, I would have to literally FORCE her to let them by holding her down. I know this is wrong and I shouldn't do it. A while back I let some kids that live on our block pet her, she pooed all over me in fear, that is how scared she is. Why? I have never hurt her, and I have never seen anyone at all hurt her since I brought her home!
She barks at my brother and runs everytime he comes near. Even if he ignores her.
She runs from everyone but me. And still, with me she is too submissive to even train. I can not teach her sit, stay, lay or any other commands that would normaly be so basic. Because she backs away and cowers when I stand up straight and make a hand gesture with a command. She is also too worried about what's going on around her to give me her attention.

This is almost ridiculous. I love Nani, she is the most sweet hearted dog. I can not even begin to describe how severe my issue is. She is 7 months old! This behavios should have stopped a long time ago! We go for walks alot! And she still can't simply pass by another dog or human with out freaking out.
I just want to be able to walk with my sweet Nani, maybe let a stranger pet her if they like. Someone, anyone, please please help me.

ANY help will be GREATLY appreciated

A front leg bite wound most often appears as a slash nearly parallel to the floor. I'd like to see a photo of the wound, if possible. I do not think the wound has much to do with her entire problem, but it a negative experience at such a young age could play a part in it.

I have a strong feeling this is mainly a genetic problem. That doesn't mean it's hopeless, it means that there is a definite limit for her socialization and training that cannot be improved upon. Where is that limit? The only way to find out is to work with her.

Is there ANY time, situation or activity when Nani is not stressed out?

What is Nani's diet?

What does Nani REALLY like? hotdogs? cheese? steak? cheerios? balls? ballons? live poultry? anything?

How much exercise does Nani get? How often? What kind of exercise?

It'd be so great if you can capture this behavior on video and get it online for us to see. It really helps for us to see how severe or not her behavior is.

STOP having people pet her!

I feel really bad for your pup. Have you had any professional trainers look at and evaluate your dog? It sounds like a problem that most likely cannot be answered on the internet,
Good luck,
AL

 Quote: Anne Vaini

STOP having people pet her!

Ditto.

Hello Katie
I’m not an expert and only have my dogs to show for, but it doesn’t take a “scientist” to see that you have a real problem. So I’m writing my two cents. I agree you should not let outsiders pet your dog! Also im not sure about training with treats, as it is my belief to train your dog with no treats or toys and only positive reinforcement (praising), its works for my dogs. When you catch her doing stuff you want to see more of, familiarize her with "good"(good sit, down, heel, return etc.). I also agree that you should go and see a professional and do some work that will get her confidence up, maybe some agility and as said before in strides. Good luck and remember fear will sometimes be there, next time you pass someone you need to stay calm, because your dog is reading your reactions, also as said before your Alfa.

I recently adopted a 2 year old lab. I wanted a dog that would be friendly, smart, and a good family pet. To my dismay, this dog has some issues...she has a very soft temperment (which is not necessarily a bad thing) and is extremely shy and aloof with everyone except for me. I have had her now for 2 months and she is slowly warming up to my husband. She is very shy, especially, around men.

I've read this website and forum extensively, and this is what is working to help get her adjusted to her new home and my husband:

Do not make direct eye contact with the dog - this is extremely scarey to a shy dog

Do not move toward a shy dog. Ignore the dog and let the dog work its way to you (or your family members). Treats held in the hand, with no direct eye contact, help encourage the dog to move towards a person. Even so, it took several weeks before my dog would accept a treat from my husband.

Forcing yourself or other people on a shy dog can lead to fear biting and this is something you never want to have to deal with. Like others have already stressed, do not let anyone outside of the family pet the dog and force themselves on the dog. Family members need to allow the dog to warm up to them.

My husband is the person that feeds the dog. In the beginning the dog would not eat food that my husband put down for her - so she didn't eat. It only took a day or so before she started eating the food he put down for her.

I bought the basic obedience training DVD from this website and have begun working with her. Shy dogs need lots of structure, and obedience work creates structure and builds confidence in shy dogs. The dog learns what is expected of it and gets rewarded for proper behavior. Most of the time, voice corrections are all that is needed with my dog and she has learned basic commands very fast.

Marker training is very effective. The Basic Obedience Training DVD provides extensive instruction on marker training, but basically, you are rewarding the dog for responding to you in a positive way.

It is fruitless to try to figure out or analyze what the cause of your dog's shyness is and, in all likelihood, the dog will always be shy. But with solid obedience training, you can work out the unwanted behaviors and cultivate a wonderful, loyal family pet.

julie

Julie, this is all excellent advice, IMHO.

Julie, ditto what Connie said, great advice. Glad you posted.