I picked up my puppy when he was 4 months from a farm. He did not seemed to be socialized with many people. He was terrified of the car, Petsmart, doors, everything basically. Gradually over the course of the first week, he got over most of his phobias and now, isn't even spooked when a bike rides by. However, he seems to cower and run away when it comes to strangers, or even people he has seen multiple times. He seems to pick and choose only certain people to allow them to pet him. To date, he has only allowed a few people into his life other than the wife and I. We have been trying to desensitize him by taking him everywhere. We tried to start slow with only a person at a time. We tried to stay further away from people. We never coddle him when he gets scared.

Do you guys have any advice? I just signed him up for a 3 week bootcamp where he will stay and train at the facility. Thanks!

PLEASE don't send him away to training.

Right now his bond with you is paramount.
Sending him away is only a detriment to his development and overcoming his fear.

Let him grow in confidence take it slow.
My parents have one that at the age of 6 months was terrified of a small dog and now she is a little tiny biting machine on speed

Greetings

Johan

What Alyssa said: don't send him off to training!

Don't force social behavior either, you will make it so much worse. Let the pup decide who he likes and wants to approach, have people ignore the pup not stand over him calling him and trying to be nice. No eye contact, just totally have people act oblivious to the pup and let him go up to people on his own. Likely he will never be truly social, but letting him grow up bonded to you and confidently will be the difference between a dog that is lifelong fearful of people and a dog that is confidently asociaal. Standing ground/moving forward vs. backing off/running away.

I too have a Malinois that was terrified of strangers especially men. Mike hit it right on the nose when he said "have people ignore the pup not stand over him calling him and trying to be nice. No eye contact, just totally have people act oblivious to the pup and let him go up to people on his own."

I would add one more thing, when he approaches strangers have them ignore the pup, then as he gets more confidence you can ask people you trust to give the pup a treat, with no eye contact, then they turn and walk away.

Another thing I did that helped, I would hand the leash to a friend who would hold the pup and I would walk away for just a bit (not long). The person does not look at or talk to the dog, they just hold the leash. When I return, I ignore my dog and once he settles down the other person hands the leash to me and I walk off, without saying a word. The worst thing to do would be to make a fuss over the dog when you return.

This worked quite well with my Malinois and now he will approach complete strangers for a visit. And anyone can hold his leash and he will wait patiently for my return (no anxieties) .

Good luck to you.

When I got my pup Reesee she went through that stage at about that age. She was cautious of new and strange things. No one could go near her without her spinning around on the leash and getting behind me and dodging around them basically. We didn't force the issue. We didn't have people feed her treats at this point because she only did this when they invaded her personal space. She was completely fine until they did this.

Now at 9 months she has settled down nicely. She will never be the dog that will allow just anyone to pet her but she is no longer scared of them. She'll sniff a hand and wag her tail in greeting but if they try to advance and pet her-nope..she'll just move casually and tactfully out of reach as if to say "Nope..not gonna happen, buddy." It drives some of the family members that she doesn't like as well crazy how smart she is about it and to watch her love all over someone else.

I agree not to send him away as well. I agree with Mike, just have people act casually around him and ignore him. It might be tough though considered all the fanatics out there that almost demand to pet your puppy but stick with it! He'll relax around people once he realizes every one of them walking over isn't going to confront him and try to force an issue of petting him.

The people who the dog is not freaked out by are probably people who ignore the dog for the most part. An edgy puppy is going to feel more comfortable when people ignore him because it takes all of the pressure (to be friends :-P ) off of him. Beat this into people's heads! There are so many folks who will stand there nodding their heads that yes, they hear the words that are coming out of your mouth, and yet still stare at the dog and reach out for him!

So take it a step further when you need to, and really impress your dog ...

For the time being keep him out of reach of people and really work on a good strong sit-stay with marker training. (also, make sure you are educated in being a strong leader for him) Once he can hold a sit even when he's a little stressed out about people around him, start moving him nonchalantly around people. Ask for nothing from him except that he focuses on you when he starts to get nervous.

When you run into the inevitable guy that "all dog's love" and who continues to approach after being told no, put your dog into a sit and physically step in front of him and between him and the approaching stranger. Repeat that your dog is not friendly in a no nonsense kind of way ... and ignore your dog unless he breaks the sit.

The fact that you will physically block a person from crowding your dog will NOT be lost on your puppy. This tactic gave my dog, Porter, the chance to breathe and to just be there with me (downtown, at a coffe shop, bar or pet store) and observe without being pressured to interact with people who he did not like. I had to teach him to trust me and my ability to protect him and to handle his surroundings for him ... not just teach, but prove it to him. It took time and focus from both of us, but he's 2 years old now and i can take him anywhere; i can let him interact without worries with most people, and he lets me handle the people he's not ok with.

As an additional note... just because I felt I may not have elaborated enough in my first post:

Sending this dog away to training may reinforce and confirm all his fears about the big bad world out there.

Just the process of going away to a strange new place might be enough to do it... and then factor in the possibility that something negative could occur... and well, I think it'd be counterintuitive for this little guy.

DO NOT SEND HIM TO BOOT CAMP.

It will be a mistake you will ALWAYS regret.

Thanks for all the responses. Fortunately, they were nice enough to switch me over to private lessons.

He will be going sheep herding on Thursday. I've heard this can be good to build confidence as well.

Keep the recommendations coming. We will be trying all of them.