My Puppy Is Scared Of Everything
Question: For Valentine Day this year my grownup children bought me a puppy. She is half Jack Russell and Rat Terrier. Her name is Sadie Mae. She is 8 weeks old. I have had her for 2 weeks. She is probably only 2 lbs. She is not afraid of the house and feels comfortable in the house now, but she is so scared of everything new. She is afraid of the outside to practice potting training. She shivers uncontrollably. She shivers when I go down in the basement to do laundry. She shivers when I am at work. She shivers when meeting new people, new puppies, etc. Are some dogs just shy and bashful? Do I need to be concerned? What do I do? - from Tammy
We encourage you to share your "dog wisdom" - Please Feel FREE to Help Answer this Dog Question!!Answer: No, you do not need to be concerned. This is totally normal behaviour for any new puppy. A couple of things to keep in mind. Many breeders recommend keeping the puppy with the mother until they are 8 weeks old. So when you got your puppy at just 6 weeks, it was just barely weaned, and still very attached to its “den”.
Just imagine if you were picked up by aliens right now and whisked away to another planet. You would probably be scared and shivering also!
Here are some ideas to help your new puppy get used to your home and socialize with its new surroundings:
- Encourage her to explore. When you go to the basement, take her with you and let her explore. When she starts to sniff and move around, praise her.
- Never coddle her and tell her “its okay” - she will associate this tone with an approved behaviour. Just be matter of fact, and encourage her to explore her new home.
Give her time, at just 8 weeks old yoru puppy is still just a “baby”. Be patient and give her encouragement to explore, and in no time you will be back asking how to calm her down.
Do You Have a Dog Question? Submit it here - Dog Questions!
