timid pup - Page 2

ok, let's try a different approach..... how long have you had this puppy and what is your housebreaking schedule?? I mean how often was he taken out when you first got him and how often is he taken out now?? I assume you take him to the same spot ON LEASH every time you take him out, is that true? When he goes, what do you do??? does he then come back in to go in his crate??? If he doesn't go , do you then take him out again in 5 or 10 mins to make another attempt?? What is your attitude or demeanor during all this?? what are the arrangements for him in the house?? Is he allowed to roam about freely??(where, by the way, you can be sure he will pee, especially if he hasn't gone outside). We always tell new puppy buyers and training clients the first 2 months (at least, sometimes longer.. depends on the pup) going outside is only to potty.. play time can be inside.. and after a playtime, we will have to go again and after a meal or a nap or the wind blowing... Do you understand what I'm asking? Although I agree that some lines are harder and can handle noise or what have you, better.. this is so far removed from that.. I would also ask, is there someone else who can help with this..possibly someone with a softer voice, more gentle subdued body language??? I could go on, but lets see what we can cover so far....

i take him out every hour when he goes where he is suppose to go lots of prise gets a treat and he is very happy i dont want you guys to think iam a drill sargent because iam not ...for example the other night he had a few accidents i never scolded him at all i was out side with after playing for a while i called him never came i never raised my voice he finnal ycame to me sat down i was telling him go boy for coming he sat in front of me and peed while sitting there i did not notice intil i got up because i was kneeling down petting him that he peed...iam just frustrated because i dont really know why this is happening i have had six german shepherds before and trust iam not a drill sargent or if my dog makes a mistake i dont loose my mind

Possible suggestion. Have you checked for urinary infection? I also had a female that peed all the time when she was a puppy, very unsure of herself, now she is a happy self-confident adult and completely grew out of this. No scolding! Just ignore it and it may go away with growing up.

I'm gonna keep this short and sweet and I am sure people will disagree.... LIFE IS TOO SHORT FOR A TIMID DOG. That being said, I have purchased showdogs and I have whelped puppies. I have purchased confident GSD pups and timid ones. I have recorded pup personalities from birth on, and IT IS MY PERSONAL OPINION that, just like babies are born with a personality, so are pups. Now, you can raise them and do EVERYTHING right (neurological stimulation, tons of socialization and love and feed them the best food $ can buy) and make a decent difference, but a timid puppy at that age is going to have a tendency to be timid. Blame it on genetics, etc.. Of course you can build them up, but I can tell you my absolute first impressions of pups at this age have come out right EVERY TIME. If they have drive now, they will be drivey - if they are timid now, they will be timid - if they growl and bite you in the face now - they will try to do it when they are 12 weeks, 4 months, etc. You can improve some behaviors, but YOU CANNOT CHANGE WHO THE DOG IS. If you can, get rid of this pup and GET A CONFIDENT ONE. ....Unless you have a couple years to waste trying to build the dog up or you are one of those kind-hearted souls that feels sorry for it and wants to give it therapy and a loving home. JMCCO (Just My Cold-Hearted Cruel Opinion)LOL, there are too many confident pups in the world to choose from to waste time, effort, training, food, etc. on a timid one.

Oh, 69RS, I REALLY feel for you, too...because I have also been the one that RAISED and KEPT the soft showdog...and - I hate to tell you...correct him and he PEED at 12/18/24 months....and from what I hear from his new owners, he STILL pees when they raise their voice in the slightest. GET A HARDER DOG. :)

Is the dog only peeing in the house? Or is he also peeing outside?

Is the dog only peeing in the house? Or is he also peeing outside?

69Ers I think you have raised this question a couple times before. Advice for his approach to the crate has been (mine anyway, and some others) try to make his crate a good place with treats. It sounds like you have a handler sensitive puppy. Also sounds like he is a confident pup in other situations. I agree with GSDLVR in that if this is bothering you, get a harder dog/pup because he most likely can "feel" your not happy with him. I also think you can work thru this and try to get a better bond with him, do some tracking, food motivated obedience... the worse thing you can do is "startle" him over this submissive urination. He is doing it because he is being submissive, scaring him is just making him worse. I know it is a pain, but for his sake, try a new approach or find him a easier going person. Has GSDLVR said, there are those harder pups out there. I currently have a female pup that I cannot intimidate when she kicks into drive. Sooo I get chewed on vs hurting her spirit, she will grow out of some of this or before she is to big we will bump heads. But they are not all alike! Calm down and start thinking about his good points, like quote "if i walk him he is fine no fear of anything not afraid to approach strangers that kind of thing and he poo's in the exact same spot "!

Geezzz Is GSDLVR the only one with a brain here? This is plain and simple a timid pup. You cannot fix the pup period. The best thing for this pup is to be in a good relaxed pet home where someone will take good care of it. Born timid always timid!

69RS, I'm sorry.. I didn't mean for you to think that... I'm not being critical of you, just trying to get all the info.. Some good points have been brought up here and they are worth listening to..although I don't agree with all of them, but still they are something to think about nevertheless I have seen puppies who piddled because they were excited or nervous grow out of it, it can happen.. I have had many board training dogs whose owners have said their dogs had housebreaking issues when in fact, it was submissive urination.. I worked around it and most of them grew out of it.... I think you have to ask yourself if you are willing to work on this knowing it may or may not correct.. I personally can deal with a little of this.. You know what you want to do with your dog and what is required to do that (I hope) I don't know where this pup came from but I would consider telling the breeder about it and seeing what they had to say.. Now mind you, I had a situation where someone complained of a pup excitedly wetting in the house when the kids were running around and sceaming and playing with it.(DUH, I suggested we do that outside) I was shocked because this was the most stable pup, never ever wet and we used to joke.... that we could put neuticles on her and she'd pass for a male!! Environment can contribute to this type of behavior, I'm not saying yours is..just that it can... Good luck..only you can decide