[arcstriker]

Hi everyone, I hope someone can tell me if this is a serious problem or just a phase. I have a 7 month old female who is very shy when people approach her while we are out walking. When people walk by us shes ok, or if she sees kids in the park she wags her tail. It's when they try to touch her she backs away, she tries to smell them but when they reach out to pet her she backs up and moves her head away from them. when people come to our house, she greets everyone with kisses, she's not shy at all and everyone loves her. It's just when were out walking, she's been jumped on by other dogs (scared her), but never hurt by a person. I have read on this forum how fear can possibly lead to aggression. Any suggestions? thanks for all the info on this site, especially the NILIF.

[Michele]

It might be a fear issue. I dont know. When people greet her, do they stand above her? Carry some treats when out walking. When someone wants to pet her, have them kneel down at her level, with a treat. Have them extend their hand under the dog, not on top of the head.

[maryellen]

all puppies go thru a "fear stage" around 6-8 months.,... this is normal.. if your pup is fine with people in the house, and at certain times outside, it sounds like she is going thru her fear stage... (its like the brain gets a big fart and forgets what it learned LOL)

make sure her outside time is always positive, as if she has anything negative happen while in a fear stage it will stay with her for her life..

ask people to not pet her, say she is in training. if she is fine approaching people, give them treats and ask if they wouldnt mind helping you train her, and let her approach them..

also dont let anyone stand over her and bend over her to pet her, that is a dominant stance, and could also scare her.. have them get on their knees to give her treats..

and NO Coddling during this stage.. do not say its ok, do not pet her when she is in this funky state, as that will reinforce her fear.. ignore the bad /fear behavior, only reward for positive behavior.

[arcstriker]

Some people DO stand over her and i have noticed the bigger the person the more scared she is. i'm taking her for a walk right now (with some treats) hopefully we'll meet up with someone that actually WANTS to touch her 9 out of 10 people walk way out around her. i guess that's common for pit owners? thanks for the advice, i'll pay closer attention to what the people are doing next time.

[maryellen]

people standing over her is threatening, so try to hav them go on their knees to be at her level and give her a treat..

[Michele]

Originally Posted by arcstriker Some people DO stand over her and i have noticed the bigger the person the more scared she is. i'm taking her for a walk right now (with some treats) hopefully we'll meet up with someone that actually WANTS to touch her 9 out of 10 people walk way out around her. i guess that's common for pit owners? thanks for the advice, i'll pay closer attention to what the people are doing next time.

people need to get down to her level, and extend their hand under the dog's face, not over it. Let the dog sniff the hand first.

[chipinoh]

I always told people that my dog was "still learning to mind her manners" when she was in that phase. She got through it pretty quickly, but I didn't want to take a chance that she might snap at someone out of fear.

The only people she reacts that way to now are people on chemotherapy - apparently they just don't smell right. She's getting better about it though.

[megschristina]

Chipinoh, I bet it is the smell, when I was younger, by best friend and neighbors mom, had breast cancer, and I swear to you, to this day, I can smell cancer. I seem to be the only person I know that can smell it...weird huh?