We need some help please!! - Page 1

We have a wonderful one year old. So far he has been a great dog. But last Saturday we bought a new desk for the office. Ever sense then he has been very jumpy. He will sit at the back door. Everything seems to be scaring him at the house. What can I do to help build his confidence? It is just a phase that young dogs go threw? My wife has been working him with an agility trainer and that seems to be OK. It has been a long time since we have had a puppy. This is his mommy: http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/pedigree/403465.html His dad is not in the data base yet, but is Dagger Mir Wachter vom Kanas. If that helps. Thanks for your time.

Quzyle, from just what you have described it sounds as though he thinks that desk is a ghost. It sounds like if he's in agility, he should be fairly good about "new" things, and sounds like you've socialized him some. I would venture to say coupled with that awkward preteen/teenage stage he's going through, (hormones all kinds a messed up right now) and possibly some sort of smell on that desk that he just can't get processed has him messed up, Hopefully this stage will simply pass. Good Luck, Enjoy your family member !!

Maybe you should return that desk? Is it brand new?

most puppies go threw 2 fear stages, one about 6 months and another about 10 months, it can vary. Don't make a big deal out of it, just tell him he is being silly, and praise him if he goes up to the desk on his own. This stage will pass.

Furniture changes also bugged my late Otto no end. He was a tough and confident dog, and would react by growling at the offending object for a day or so hoping that he could drive it off.

Was he around when the desk moved in? I always look for a reason in an otherwise stable temperament dog, and perhaps the desk being carried in looked very imposing and not what he was expecting or something. Perhaps there was a lot of other furniture being moved to accomodate it, or loud noise moving furniture around that he didnt expect or understand in his own home. Personally I would ignore it, sit at the desk often and encourage him to come take a treat from you without any fuss, and with no speaking to him - that way you are not conveying your anxiety about his worry to him too. Hope it sorts out Mo Mascani

It sounds to me like he is going through a fear stage. Purdue U. Vet School has done intense study on fear stages and they have come to think that there are many, between 8 wks and 2 yrs. This study was done on many different breeds. Even if it isn't a fear stage and it is that he does not like the desk. DO NOT COMFORT HIM IN ANY WAY!!!! Comforting will only make is worse as dog's take comfort as a sign that his fears are correct. RATHER, feed him at the desk. If you crate him at night, crate him by the desk. Play ball by the desk and under the desk. Center his activity time around and near the desk. IGNOR any fear he exhibits and either walk away or sit at the desk and read. He will eventually get he idea that it is not something that is going to eat a GSD puppy. Hope this helps! Debby

Another thought might be that another male dog has pee'd on the desk or otherwise scented it in some way. It may help to use strong smelling furniture oil on it or maybe just wash it with Murphy's Oil soap. Just a thought. Debby

I AGREE WITH DJC SOME DOGS GO THRU A STAGE OF THIS, USUALLY IF THEY ARE NOT SOCIALIZED ENOUGH ! GET YOUR DOG OUT AND ABOUT MORE, LET PEOPLE TOUCH HIM, BE AROUND LOUD NOISES, DISHWASHER RUNNING, ETC. AND THE WORSE THING YOU CAN DO TO YOUR DOG IS ALWAYS TOUCHING HIM. THIS MIGHT SOUND STRANGE, BUT REFER THIS TO A BABY OR YOUNG CHILD. THE MORE YOU CUDDLE THE MORE SPOILED THEY GET ! HE HAS TO GET ALOT MORE CONFIDENCE IN HIM. DO NOT SCOLD OR TOUCH HIM WHEN HES SCARED, IGNORE HIM. DO AS MUCH AROUND THE DESK AS POSSIBLE. WAIT TILL HES REALLY HUNGRY AND FEED HIM RIGHT NEXT TO THE DESK.

Quzyle, Without being there, watching your dog, watching him around the desk (if in fact the desk is the problem) and being able to read his eyes,body and reactions it is impossible to give a definate solution to your problem. One thing for sure though, he does need to work threw fear, not around it.Some good sugestions were given on positive re-enforcements, however it sounds like you are having trouble reading your dog and if this is true and you don't know how to work these things out then they will only resurface again and again. You need to learn more about your dog and what motivates him, frightens him, turns him on etc. You need to have the whole package other wise you will be like a dog chasing his tail. Read, study, talk to people in person that can educate you,spend lots of time with him, but in the end you will need to make this a priority in your life to know him more then you know yourself. No easy answers in this life, just hard work, dedication and prayer.