Timid around other dogs...

[mydogGUS]

Today Gus and I were walking down in the park. Out of no where a black lab came running up to Gus and started checking him out (sniffing). The Lab's demeaner was very nice/normal for a 10 month (according to the owner) puppy.

Gus cowarded underneath me and whined and cried whenever the lab would try to smell him. The other owner put his dog on the down command to let Gus check him out--he was fine then, but as soon as that dog tried to play with him, he would whine and try to seek cover by my feet.

The other owner suggested we bring *Gus down to the dog park more often (we bring him down there each night) to get him more accustomed to other dogs. He then went on to tell me, "this is how fights break out between dogs--one dog doesn't like to be smelled and play with other dogs."

*Gus has been going to the dog park since he was 9 weeks. (Now, 4 months.)

He does fine at puppy social hour at petsmart and is very friendly with the other puppies in his "puppy training" class. He just seems to react this way to dogs that are more...'hyper'.

Is this 'normal'?

Thanks,
Todd & Natalie

[Carina43]

Well, at 4 months old he's still a little pup, and it's not surprising that he'd be a bit overwhelmed by large rambunctious dogs running up to him.

If Gus was mine, I would avoid taking him anywhere like a dog park where he's likely to get stressed around strange dogs. At his age this could set him up for a lifetime of being defensive and unfriendly with dogs. Better restrict his interactions to more structured, positive & less overwhelming experiences, IMHO.

Keep up with the classes and let him interact there while he gains confidence! Also - I can't remember the ages but there's a couple of "fear periods" pups go through...in any case, "forcing" a dog to confront or deal with something stressful (like taking him to a dog park) is only going to have a negative effect in the long run.

[Brooke&Ryan]

This was posted in another thread about fear periods:

Originally posted by Ilovemypuppy
Puppyhood and Beyond Puppies are growing animals. When they are young,
they learn much and what is learned has a lasting impact. Even sexual
patterns, which emerge as puppies mature, can be affected by early
experience. All dogs, regardless of breed, pass through various stages as
they grow and develop, physically, mentally, and psychologically.
Psychologists use the term critical period to describe a specific time in a
dog's life when certain experiences have a lasting effect upon their
psychological development. Understanding these critical periods and a dog's
stages of development will better help you to understand your dog's behavior
and how to handle him during these special times. Additionally, puppies
benefit greatly when their owners understand their development.
>
> Puppy Toddlers (3 - 6 Weeks)
>
>
> During the Toddler period, puppies emerge on their own from the litter.
They venture into the surrounding environment. This emergence from the
litter is a gradual and continual learning experience. During this stage of
development puppies learn basic behavioral patterns specific to dogs. While
playing, they practice different body postures, learning what the postures
mean and how they affect their mother and littermates. They learn what it is
like to bite and be bitten, what barking and other vocalizations mean and
how to make and use them to establish social relationships with other dogs.
Such learning and activity tempers their own biting and vocalizing. From the
age of five weeks, the mother teaches her puppies basic manners. They learn
to be submissive to her leadership and what behaviors are acceptable. If
necessary, she growls, snarls, or snaps at them as a form of discipline.
When weaning the litter, for instance, the mother will discipline her
puppies so that they will leave her alone. Because the mother disciplines them in a way that
they clearly understand, after a few repetitions, the puppies will respond
to a mere glare from her. If a pup has not learned to accept leadership (and
discipline) in its early interactions with dogs, its training will be more
difficult. Puppies that are removed from the nest too early tend to be
nervous, more prone to barking and biting, and less responsive to
discipline. Often they are aggressive with other dogs.Generally speaking, a
puppy taken away from it's mother and littermates before seven weeks of age,
may not realize its full potential as a dog and companion. To maximize the
mental and psychological development of puppies, they must remain in the
nest with their mother and littermates until seven weeks of age.
>
> Socialization Period (7 - 12 Weeks)

> Seniority Classification Period (12-16 Weeks)

It is during this critical
period that your dog will begin to test you to see who the pack leader is
going to be. He'll begin to bite you, in play or as a real challenge to your
authority. Such behavior is natural in the pack and not necessarily
undesirable. What is undesirable is an inappropriate response on your part.
It is important, at this stage, that you establish your position as pack
leader, and not just another sibling. Other behaviors, such as grabbing at
the leash, will be observed, and all are attempts to dominate you. Biting ,
in particular though, should always be discouraged. Therefore, you should
not wrestle or play tug of war. Such play is aggressive inducing. What you
see as a fun game may be perceived by your dog as a situation in which he
has been allowed to dominate. Wrestling, of course, communicates to your
puppy that he is allowed to bite you. Tug of war sets you up in a dominance
confrontation over an object. He learns that he can keep objects away from you.
During tug of war games, puppies will often growl. Growling is a dominance vocalization,
designed to warn another pack member that they better not confront the
growler or he will bite. Puppies see these games as situations in which they
have been allowed to dominate. They do not understand that these are games
designed by humans to entertain them. You can continue to play with your dog
during this period, but, the relationship between you during the play must
change. No mouthing of your body should be allowed and when your dog does
mouth, you should respond with a quick and sharp "NO!" or "No Bite!" Play
that does not get rough is best. If you cannot keep the dog from getting
overly excited during a game and he persists in biting at you, don't play
that way. This will only stimulate additional dominant behavior in the
future. For these reasons, this is the stage when serious training should
begin. Training establishes your pack leadership in a manner that your puppy will understand. By
training your puppy, you will learn how to get him to respond to commands
designed to show that you are in charge.
>
> Flight Instinct Period (4 - 8 Months)

> This is the age when puppies become more independent of their owners and
are likely to venture off on their own. Puppies that have always come when
called or stayed close to their owners will now ignore them, often running
in the opposite direction. This period can last from several weeks to
months. How you handle your puppy's refusal to come or stay with you will
determine whether or not he will be trustworthy off leash. It is important
to emphasize here that no puppy this young should ever be off leash except
in a confinement area. Therefore, keep your puppy on leash when this period
arises and keep him on leash until he readily returns to you or shows no
inclination to leave you. The privilege of being off leash outside of a
confined area, is reserved for dogs whose owners have trained them to the
point where there is no potential for them to run and fail to obey to stop
or come on command. Releasing an unleashed dog in an unconfined area that is
not well trained off leash is irresponsible ownership and dangerous to your dog.
Even well trained dogs can make mistakes or become distracted by something in the environment
so that they do not respond to their owners' commands. So, how do you
respond when your puppy suddenly develops the urge to bolt? First, you must,
for his safety, put a leash or a long line on your dog whenever you are not
in a confined area. Second, work hard on training your puppy to come on
command. Use the recall game and the spontaneous recall. When walking your
dog, suddenly run backwards and encourage your puppy to come. If your dog
still continues to bolt or run away, then your dog probably does not view
you as the dominant figure in this relationship and you require special help
to resolve this problem. Even if the your puppy appears less inclined to
bolt, this does not mean that he is reliable off lead without more maturity
and a lot more training.
>
> Adolescence Period (5 - 18 months)

> Adolescence can appear in smaller dogs as early as five months. In larger
breeds, it can start as late as nine or ten months. In giant breeds,
adolescence doesn't take place until twelve to eighteen months. In general,
the larger the dog, the longer it will take to physically mature. Some
breeds can remain adolescents until they are two and a half, or three years
old. Adolescence is expressed in male dogs by scent marking behavior. Scent
marking behavior is stimulated by the release of testosterone into the dog's
system. At this time, males may become macho. Male dogs may become less
friendly and even somewhat aggressive to other male dogs. He may begin
lifting his leg in the house. He may become very interested in girls, tend
to roam, and certainly not interested in listening to you! Some males at
this age become totally unruly. In females, adolescence is marked by the
onset of the heat cycle estrus. During this three week period, your bitch
could become pregnant. So, keep her away from all male dogs. Bitches exhibit erratic behavior during
estrus. Some get real moody and insecure. Others become quite bold or even
aggressive. Adolescence is a very difficult time for pet owners. They are
surprised when their cute little puppy becomes a free and independent
thinker. Adolescence is certainly a good time to start (or re-institute)
rigorous training. You must work hard NOW to mold the dog of your dreams.
Be realistic about your expectations. You cannot expect young dogs to grow up overnight. Learn to
appreciate your dog's adolescence for it is a truly wonderful time. At this time of their lives, dogs are very
energetic and exuberant in their responses. They can be full of beans, but
still, delightful playmates. You as the owner must learn to channel that
energy and exuberance into learning, working, exercising, and playing games.
It is not too late to to train (or retrain) your dog to help him to become a
long-lasting companion.

> Second Fear Imprint Period (6 - 14 Months)

> The Second Fear Imprint Period is similar to the one that occurred during
the socialization period, but, it is much less defined.
It is often referred to as
adolescent shyness. Your dog may suddenly become reluctant to approach
something new or suddenly become afraid of something familiar. This behavior
can be very frustrating to the owner and difficult to understand because its
onset is so sudden and, seemingly, unprovoked. If you notice this behavior,
it is important to avoid the two extremes in response: Don't force him to do
or approach something frightening to him and don't coddle or baby him. To
get through situations that make your dog fearful, be patient, kind, and
understanding. Desensitize him to the object or situation by gradually
introducing him to it and using food rewards and praise to entice him to
confront the fearful object or situation. Do not coddle or reassure him in
any way that will encourage his fearful behavior. Do not correct him either. Simply make light
of it and encourage him, give him food rewards as he begins to deal with his
fear better. Make sure you lavishly praise his attempts! This phase will
pass.
>
> Mature Adulthood (1 - 4 Years)

> During this period your dog may again become aggressive and assertive. For
instance, he may become more turf protective, by barking when someone comes
to the door. Temper his protective behaviors by teaching him how to accept
strangers into your home. His friendly play with other dogs may escalate to
fighting with other dogs. Teach you dog to ignore other dogs that he sees if
he can't be friendly towards them. Take him to places where there will be a
few dogs at first and train him there. Then, train him in areas with more
and more dogs. Next, allow him to interact with non threatening dogs.
Puppies and bitches are good choices, if he is a male. Always praise his
positive efforts to interact or if he displays no reaction. Gradually move
onto male dogs. At bit of caution here, adult members of the same sex, no
matter what animals species, tend to compete with one another. Putting
together two strange adults of the same sex could result in a fight. Watch
for behavioral signs of
playfulness before allowing two dogs to play together. Also, be alert to
the posturing of aggressive behaviors. Watch for circling behaviors, walking
on toes, stiff tail wags, and tense facial expressions. Adulthood is also a
time that your dog may again test your position as pack leader. If he does,
handle him firmly, suspend any rough play that may be giving him the idea
that he can dominate you, and continue with training. Additional classes or
private help with training may be a wise investment. It can provide you with
the structure and commitment to train him that you need at this time.
Proceed with training in a matter of fact, no nonsense manner and your dog
will become a reasonably obedient dog. Give him lots of positive attention
for his efforts!

You should do a search for fear periods & I'm sure that you'll find a bunch of info.

:)
Brooke