[anna&jacksmom]

Here is another Cody question--He is the 5 month old pup I found running on the street I think he is a rottie mix. I am working with him ~4 hours a day just training socializing and teaching him about playing and the house rules so he will be a good dog for someone. I can't keep him but I feel responsible since I was the one who took him in and he depends on me for now.

Here is the question... He is kind of shy to begin with . He will approach other people to sniff them but if they lean over him he will hide behind my legs. He does this much less with women than men. With men as soon as they bend down to pet him scoots back to his comfort zone. With women he just kind of backs up and lowers his head and kisses their hands. I give lots of praise for the approach and kisses and use a happy silly voice when he is scared. I never smooth down hackels if they pop up (happening less and less). I also don't let people persue him if he backs up and he almost always comes back and eventually gets pets. He has never growled or bared teeth to a person.

Also he is very wary about being tempted with a treat. He will back up or run the other direction if I bend down and try to offer a treat while facing him. He will happily take it if I drop it or if I am sitting down or even not looking directly at him. He just doesn't want to take it from my hand if I am in a position to reach out to him. I am going to start handfeeding all his food when he goes to an all Kibble diet. He is eating a homemade one right now with Kibble mixed in and I am handfeeding the kibble--I avoid touching raw meat more than absolutely necessary.

The last thing is that if I reach and touch him from behind he just crouches with his belly to the floor and trembles. He isn't scared of noisy things like cars or thunder and he is quick to investigate something that he is cautious of so he IS learning. He seems to know how to avoid cars and wasn't even phased by the garbage truck.

I think if it was strictly a genetic nerve problem he would be scared of everything and not go right back to investigate right?

I know he was running for long enough for his collar to be so tight I couldn't get but a pinky finger under it and when he ate he coughed the food back. This never happened after I took his collar off. I know it should have been the first thing I checked but I did get it off w/in about 30 minutes of taking him home.

Does anyone think he could have been abused or tricked into a bad situation. Like someone called him or treated him to them and then hit or screamed at him? He is especialy cautions of men so I try to start conversations with every guy I see so he sees I am not scared of them. They probably think I'm trying to pick them up LOL.

Does anyone have any other suggestions to better socialize him? I really want him to be a good dog and get a good home and I am willing to put the effort into it so if you see anything wrong with what I am doing or have any suggestions or just opinions of what type of home would be best for him please offer them. Thanks very much---from me and Cody.