Opinions and or thoughts - Page 1

Ok here is the situration

Sold a six month old puppy to a young -childless couple. They live in the country and wanted a pet puppy. The puppy was crate trained, and doing very basic obedience with me and my three teens (have videos). I took the puppy out to the training group and socialized it with other animals and people. When the buyer asked what the temperamnet was like this is what I said

Quote " he loves to be around his people. He is around three teenagers (that know not to poke him in the eyes, or be mean to him and ect....) They groom him, take him for walks and my 11 year old started obedience with him. He can be a little "aloof" with strangers (meaning he is not running up to them and start licking their hands and jumping in their laps - he is more cautious and Leary) Once in the house he will go over and smell them and let them pet him. He would be very hard to steal from the yard. When out on walks I tend to let all the children pet him but adults sometime I do and sometimes I don't. Teaching him the Nice command for down the road protection training."

Well, I finally flew the dog (weather was bad for a couple weeks) and they had a service pick him up from the airport. When they got him home he was nervous and wanting to stay in his crate. Well, it has been 3 weeks now and the poor dog is now just starting to eat a cup of food and still timid and jumpy around the couple.

I don't understand when he was here he would eat everything in sight and was being socialized and worked with no problems. Again I have videos of him walking with the kids, doing simple obedience and starting tracking. He would play ball or toy all day with us but now they say he will not play at all. They say he wants nothing to do with them and stays away frome them.

At one point they sent a picture of him playing in the snow and said quote " he  is doing better everyday."

Any thought on this or advise?

Thanks
EK

Some dogs just need longer to adjust. He needs to get used to his new people and enviroment.
I think its perfectly normal, he is missing you guys and has been taken away from his home, they just need to give him the time to adjust and come when he is ready.

Hope this helps. but really, talking from experience this is normal and like i said some adjust sooner than others.

Could something have happened while shipping? It sounds a bit weird to be having this problem after 3 weeks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This sounds like a pup who was not a kennel dog.If there is a female in the house then she could do alot to bring out the pup when no one else is around.The mom thing works for all things, that is why we adopt everything in sight. Im not a big fan of crates, see the need but like to correct on the spot young, but I'm home all the time. Someone needs to step up and bond with the pup as it is going on to long. Food ,Hugs kisses, toys just find what triggers the pup,no gsd wants to be alone. Maybe try a neighbors dog (small) and let them play. close the crate as an escape. Its not the dog its the peoples effort. Some times people who do to much research think they come ready to work.The pup will grow in to what  it will be but it does need help.best to them and remember you had a happy pup, just tell them your routine.

Sounds as though he was happy with you EK - and he isn't happy where he is now. Perhaps this couple just isn't a good match for this particular pup - it happens. With you he had all the stimulation and fun a young fella would want, now he's on his own - so to speak. We adopted a 6 month old rescue boy in 2007 - within a few days he had settled right in: of course we had another dog for him to play with, I got him into an OB puppy class pretty quickly, and we had a lot of walks and general good times. Perhaps these folks need to get a bit more motivated with a pocketful of treats and toys? I think they need to make themselves a focus of Good Things Happening, perhaps then he'll start to come around.....good luck!

Ok, this is just my personal experience. I had to fly a dog from Fl to Maine, it was a done deal. The police dept wanted the dog, dog was absolutely fabulous. Aiko was just over a yea  old. I actually flew up to Maine with him. The dog that I got off the plane was not the dog I put on the plane. Same thing with a dog we bought and had shipped from Washington. It took us a year to bond with that dog. Please don't mistake me, this is not a nerve issue. You could run a bulldozer right up to them and it would not phase them. They go for runs with the 4wheeler.

Anyways, I discussed this with a friend who trains and flys a lot of K9s. He told me that he sees it pretty often and usually sends a handler with the dogs to ensure a smooth transition, also to explain this to whoever is receiving the dog. He said some dogs flip their lids. His words, not mine.

I don't know if this is what happened with your pup, but this is my experience.

Melissa

When they got him home he (6 month old pup) only wanted to be in the crate, and he still has not warmed up to them but now he is playing in the snow.  Are these experienced GSD people?  I think we need more information regarding how they are interacting with him, how often, all the pertinent stuff, otherwise there are so many variables we are just grasping at straws. 

When I get a new pup, I don't like to push them too hard before they get to know me.  I watch  body language to make sure he is comfortable with me and what I am doing, before I start bouncing around with them.  I would rather move slowly, quietly as I think it helps the animal to trust me, and allows the pup to get his bearings, particularly in those early days.

Plus getting on the ground on the same level as the dog helps as well :) as funny as it sounds it is a good idea :)