[jasmine2008]

Well to start off i got jasmine at 12 weeks from the flea market. Now i know that wasn't the smartest idea but my husband insisted on having her. Well the thing is she is so scared around people she drops her tail and ears and acts like she's scared to death. I think maybe the owner before us mistreated her in some way weather it be phyisically or mentally. I was just wondering if someone could give me some tips on how to soothe her scardness.

[Michele]

Whatever you do, don't coddle the behavior.

Since you don't know how she was bred, I hope this isn't a genetic thing. Do you know who the previous owner is?

[maximusflys]

Originally Posted by jasmine2008 Well to start off i got jasmine at 12 weeks from the flea market. Now i know that wasn't the smartest idea but my husband insisted on having her. Well the thing is she is so scared around people she drops her tail and ears and acts like she's scared to death. I think maybe the owner before us mistreated her in some way weather it be phyisically or mentally. I was just wondering if someone could give me some tips on how to soothe her scardness.

A dog doesn't have to be mistreated to be fearful. It could be poor genetics or the dog could have not been socialized properly.

[The Diesel]

My old room mate had a beautiful red pitbull. Although he wasnt the best dog owner in the world, she was never mistreated. She was scared of loud nopises and scared to come to me, and i lived with the dog for a year. She never bit anyone either. Just a sad kind of thing. I hope your pup opens up a little bit. When shes acting fearful, dont pet her and talk sweet to her.

[jasmine2008]

Well see it's only every once in a while that she does it. Where we live there's not many sounds. I hope she opens up.

[maryellen]

while getting her from the flea market might have "saved" her, the fact that she was being sold there is a huge red flag.... never never think with your heart,only think with your head..

you probably have a genetically messed up , undersocialized shy puppy that is 12 weeks old and who needed a ton of socialization her entire short life..

what you now have to do is :

do NOT coddle her if she shows fear. IGNORE it.
do NOT talk baby talk to her when she shows these fearful behaviors.
do NOT pet her while she shows these behaviors.
do NOT tell her its "ok" when she does these things.

you have to build up her confidence.. pretend she is 8 weeks old, and start from scratch... no more coddling when she shows negative behavior.. ONLY reward for positive behavior.,,. the more you reward for positive behavior the more confident she will get hopefully.

you cant fix genetics, but you can sometimes manage it.

start NILIF (www.k9deb.com) immediately, put her on a structured schedule, and ignore the bad behaviors..

if you coddle her or show her any affection when she is fearful you will reinforce her bad behavior..

and please understand, she could turn around and be fine, or she could have issues her whole life, so its up to YOU to stand by her side, and know that she might never be perfect, might never be able to be around people, or she might turn out fine...

but YOU are responsible for her for her entire life, no matter how long or short that might be.

[jasmine2008]

I totally agree with you. I am willing to do whatever it takes i have enrolled her in puppy classes and work with her 2 hrs a day so hopefully this will help her. I do plan to stick by her side giving her away is not a option lol.

[maryellen]

that is great to hear.. she will need constant training, not 2 hours a day though...

[Drgnrdr]

Look at "afraid of Thunderstorms..Please help" Thread.
If you don't have alot of traffic or noises around the house, you need to make some, start with small noises, then progress to other louder noises. Any time the dog steps toward the noise, even just an inch forward, reward and praise, if she hides and goes back wards you can ignore it, you can relax yourself (muscles, body) and yawn at her also. Yawning is a calming signal used by dogs, relaxing shows her your not stressed about it, what's the big deal?
And I agree get her into a pos. reinf. class as soon as possible.

[jasmine2008]

I don't mean drilling training i go outside work with her on her leash training and then we play fetch. She's fine then but when you come out of a doorway or into the room where you wasn't before that's when she gets scared.

[Drgnrdr]

okay, I'm a bit dense today, I don't understand your comment.

[jasmine2008]

When you walk in a room she gets nervous then you start playing with her and she's fine. You walk out and then walk in again she gets nervous all over again but once she starts playing she's fine.

[fearlessknight]

Originally Posted by maximusflys A dog doesn't have to be mistreated to be fearful. It could be poor genetics or the dog could have not been socialized properly.

At 12 weeks old, this would be my guess as well, rather than mistreated! Not that it is not possible, but being from the flea market my money is in them bad genes from dogs the were bred, instead of being culled!

Originally Posted by Michele Whatever you do, don't coddle the behavior.

Yes, this would be a VERY VERY bad thing, you will be reassuring her that it is ok to act this way, and you do NOT want that!

Originally Posted by maryellen while getting her from the flea market might have "saved" her, the fact that she was being sold there is a huge red flag.... never never think with your heart,only think with your head.. you probably have a genetically messed up , undersocialized shy puppy that is 12 weeks old and who needed a ton of socialization her entire short life.. what you now have to do is : do NOT coddle her if she shows fear. IGNORE it. do NOT talk baby talk to her when she shows these fearful behaviors. do NOT pet her while she shows these behaviors. do NOT tell her its "ok" when she does these things. you have to build up her confidence.. pretend she is 8 weeks old, and start from scratch... no more coddling when she shows negative behavior.. ONLY reward for positive behavior.,,. the more you reward for positive behavior the more confident she will get hopefully. you cant fix genetics, but you can sometimes manage it. start NILIF (www.k9deb.com) immediately, put her on a structured schedule, and ignore the bad behaviors.. if you coddle her or show her any affection when she is fearful you will reinforce her bad behavior.. and please understand, she could turn around and be fine, or she could have issues her whole life, so its up to YOU to stand by her side, and know that she might never be perfect, might never be able to be around people, or she might turn out fine... but YOU are responsible for her for her entire life, no matter how long or short that might be.

Very good advice!

[Michele]

Originally Posted by jasmine2008 When you walk in a room she gets nervous then you start playing with her and she's fine. You walk out and then walk in again she gets nervous all over again but once she starts playing she's fine.

Just ignore the bad behavior. Walk into the room, sit down, grab the toy and start playing with her. I am just hoping it's not a genetic thing. Since you don't know how this dog was bred, genetics might be the problem.

[jasmine2008]

Thanks guys i needed the advice lol.