HELP!! timid dog!! what can I do???

[Angelina219]

Hiya
Just over a week ago we adopted Vinnie a beautiful 6 month old rottie...we already have a 18 month old golden retriever called Scarlett and the two get on fine especially on walks.
BUT Vinnie is really timid at certain times. he has bonded with my 17 year old daughter and hangs around her,.........if she is out he sits with me.he seems really nervous of my two sons although he is quite happy to go on walks with them.THis nervousness is in no way agressive he tends to hide though he did bark when my son appeared downstairs one morning.........also on returning from a walk he wont go in the front door.............we either pull him in which i dont like doing or lift him in which is going to get more difficult....
I really dont know what to do.........i have never had this problem with a dog before and neither have my sons
Vinnie lived with his mother and brother and a male owner before we had him and was well treated so i cant explain it from his background.
I am really worried that he will remain nervous and I know as dogs get older this can translate into nervous agression..............any advice greatfully recieved.

[Storm]

Don't make an issue of it, ignore it and don't let him get responses for showing "weak" tendencies! If he reacts fearfully turn and don't even think about it, the more of an issue you make of it the more you will reinforce the behaviour. Work with food for positive reactions and in order to cement positive associations, dogs live by association. for example if you get back and he stays at the door, walk in leave the door open throw down a dish chuck it some kibble or whatever and go make a cup of tea. Where food becomes a main ingridient for motivation one has to develop "food drive" basically it is making it available to the dog in areas most beneficial to both of you, we use it in sport so I can't see why one can't use it for basic prompting.

[codglvr]

First of all if the dog acts afraid of something, DO NOT reach down and pat the dog and say it's ok. You are rewarding the fear. When it comes to the front door, prop it open, and have a party on the inside of the house. Laugh, have a good time and have a great reward for him once he decides that he is missing out on a good time and comes through the door. (Someone needs to have hime onlead outside the door so he doesn't go for a wander.)
Please find an experienced trainer and have the dog evaluated. If the dog is just timid, your confidence will help lead the dog. If it is a fearful dog, depending on what degree of fearfulness it has, extra training will be needed. If the dog is fear aggressive, it may need to be PTS depending on the severity of the agression.
Training will help with the dog no matter whether it is timid or fearful. It will help with things like going through the front door, or things that he may show timidness around.

[Angelina219]

Thanks so much for the advice!!Will try anything to help him settle!
I am in the process of looking for a trainer as I write this