I have a 4yr old GSP that lives to hunt and has no fears and has some scars to show for it. He is a big boy at about 90 lbs. so if it?s in his way when in the field he just runs through it going around it takes too much time for him. I told you that story to show the sharp contrast of my son?s new pup of 11 months and 40 lbs. dripping wet. My son does not hunt not the fault of mine, mom thought it was too dangerous (he is our 1st born). My son and his wife to be got a Springer Spaniel to fill the void left when our Springer of 14yrs passed away. The new pup comes from a good blood line of hunting dogs and shows some promise in the field when running around with my GPS but he is scared of everything and I mean everything. Napkins, a broom, a pencil, a jug of milk, you get the picture. One other bit of info on the plus side he is not gun shy at all and loud noises him could care less about. They have never abused the pup and if anything they baby him to much which maybe the root of the problem? My question is they would like to see me take him out hunting, but I am having a hard time doing any training to take him hunting since he is scared of his own shadow. I need some advice on steps to get him so he doesn?t feel a napkin is going to kill him. Is it just building up his trust in me and just more association with these deadly things?
Scared of his own shadow
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It sounds to me like this dog hasn't been out anywhere or done anything. I would try taking him to parks, ball games, etc. where there are people, kids, dogs etc. and if nothing else find a park bench and just sit there and with him on a lead. I tie garbage bags, grocery bags, wind chimes or whatever blows, rattles, bangs onto tree branches, fence posts etc. outside of the kennel when pups are young to get them used to unusual things.
The bags flapping, pots and pans banging, chimes ringing in the wind, etc outside of the kennel and letting the dog figure things out on there own without any one around is the same principal as putting pup on a 18" stakeout (Delmar Smith) and letting him fight it out with the chain. He could probably use some of this too. They don't blame it on you because you aren't there. They have no one to run to (baby) which actually enforces their fears. These things bold pup up and give him confidence.
jeffstally
Member
I would try this as well as making the pup sleep with the things that scare him in his crate.
Did they socialize the pup much when it was younger?
Gatzby
Well-known member
How old is the pup? Remember to train the dog you have and not the dogs you have had. My guess is he needs you to be the boss, work on leash obedience so he understand you are in charge of his life. Be careful though as dogs have only 2 escape tools, fight or flight and the leash takes away flight. Also a community Ed puppy class will help the social skills immensely
Read "the other end of the leash". I believe the author is Patricia Halverson, this is a great dog psychology book. I learned a lot about animal hierarchy and how dogs learn. Operant conditioning is also explained clearly
Steve
quail hound
Moderator
Remember the Pink Floyd song that says "mothers gonna put all of her fears into you"? The pup needs to not be babied when something scary happens, he needs you to be calm and almost ignore him in these situations. My 5yr springer is fearless but used to be bothered by thunder storms, the problem is thunder storms are my favorite type of weather and I love to sit in the backyard and enjoy them. Jp is my velcro and will now sit calmly at my side because he sees no reaction from me and he trusts me and wants to be with me. Time and exposure will bolden the pup as long as he doesn't get a reaction (coddling) every time he gets scared.
You may think this is crazy, but, dogs who are timid, sometimes have worms. Tapeworms, whipworms, can make a dog shy and unsure. I have seen a seen a program of worming change a dogs demeanor. Now we all use the super wormers, which we rely on, but sometimes it requires a different medication. I would also use birds to overcome his issues, Birds can solve all things to a bird dog, I didn't say that originally, but it sure is true. Introduce him to birds, let him chase, praise him, let him mouth a few, if they get run down, and caught, encourage retrieve, but let him keep it for a while. nothing he does with a bird is out of bounds, you can refine the technique later! In between training, let him hang around with you doing household chores, in the kitchen, watching TV.
Kismet
UPH Guru
IF you took the dog into your home, you could identify the issues and settle him down and work on his reaction behavior over time.
I don't think you can do it while he's resident of your son and his wife's home.
It is most like a learned response, and has to be over-written or "un-learned."
I don't believe you can do that as an occasional trainer.
I could be wrong in this, but don't think so in this case.
Best luck to the pup. Right now it's missing a HUGE part of his heritage.
I don't think you can do it while he's resident of your son and his wife's home.
It is most like a learned response, and has to be over-written or "un-learned."
I don't believe you can do that as an occasional trainer.
I could be wrong in this, but don't think so in this case.
Best luck to the pup. Right now it's missing a HUGE part of his heritage.
Guys thanks for all of the info. The pup has been staying a lot more at my house this week and every day he seems to be getting better. Everyday I bring out one of the deadly items and have it around my dog as he watches or just laying on the grarage floor and they seem to be getting less scary. Kismet I would agree with you if I could just take him at my house for the next few weeks I think we would have a completely different dog. Again thanks for all the info I will keep you guys up todate and hopefully we can turn this scared little pup into a 1st rate hunting dog.
HolyMoses
New member
he will grow out of it. My dog too seems to be a big wussy, but it seems that it is wearing off pretty quickly as he approaches his first birthday.
funny you say scared by his own shadow though! my dogs shadow scared the bejeezus out of him last week. i had the flashlight out because it is dark in the mornings now and when I put it on him when he was doing his duty, it cast a shadow on the garage that downright made him jump. i got a good laugh about it.
funny you say scared by his own shadow though! my dogs shadow scared the bejeezus out of him last week. i had the flashlight out because it is dark in the mornings now and when I put it on him when he was doing his duty, it cast a shadow on the garage that downright made him jump. i got a good laugh about it.
Lula's boss
New member
Great advice from Gatzby. The book he is referring to is by Patricia McConnel. She also has another book out called For Love of the Dog. Both great resourses. Personally I think that a dog like that would do very well with some basic obedience in a training class setting. I also think a super sensitive dog like that would flourish with an operant conditioning approach, otherwise known as the often scoffed at "clicker training." If you are at all curious about clicker training and don't think it's absolute hogwash, check out Don't Shoot the Dog by Karen Pryor.