Why is our super lovey puppy suddenly afraid of strangers? She used to be so sociable, now she retreats.?

Answer 1

Puppies commonly go through stages like that. You don't say how old she is, but it would be a good idea to get her into a puppy kindergarten class. IMO the most important training class of all. There she should be able to socialize with strangers and other puppies as well. You do not want to ignore the behavior, it is so sad to see an adult dog afraid of people.

Make sure you are not reinforcing the behavior with alot of babying! That is a very common mistake.

Answer 2

if she has been left alone it would seem she has been scared by someone or had a traumatic experience. She may have perceived something as a threat that you just blew of because it was so inconsequential and now she isn't sure how to react to certain people or situations,it could have been something silly like a friend holding her against her will or just scaring her with a loud voice....who knows,but! I am sure she has had a bad thing happen and now is just a bit leary. Don't force her to be any more sociable then she feels good doing and when she does be nice to strangers and makes new friends praise her or give her a treat..make making friends a GOOD thing..good luck..

Answer 3

My dog used to LOVE people - strangers, etc. She even loved the vet before she got her shots. After her first visit to the vet, she became scared of EVERYONE except for family members/close friends.

Instead of having strangers approach her and try to pet her, have them ignore her. She'll realize that they're not there to hurt her. Tell unfamiliar people to make slow movements and let the dog sniff their hands. In time, she should start recognizing their scents.

Someone commented and said that you should let strangers give her food; that's a BAD IDEA. Pretty soon, she'll think, "oh, I'm getting food from someone I don't trust, but that's okay, because it's food!" I've never let my dog get into that habit, and even though she LOVES to eat, she won't accept treats from people she doesn't know.

Answer 4

Dogs go through many stages in her life and it sounds like she may be going through her fear period. They usually have 2. One at 8-10 weeks and one a 4 months. Just be patient with her, and show her that the people are not scary. Give the strangers treats to give your puppy. She should grow out of it.

Answer 5

Hey,
Does your puppy go to puppy school? If not then this is the best answer to solving your pupps problem. At puppy school puppies learn to interact with other puppies as well as other people. I am learning how to run a puppy class at the Hallam vet clinic, the woman who runs the classes has preiviously worked at the RSPCA for 15 years and actually started puppy schools in Australia. She has also been labled a guru. I would encourage you to either come along to our puppy classes with your puppy and check it out. You can meet the other puppy lovers and their super pooches and your puppy will really enjoy it and learn alot from the experience.

I hope it all goes well,
Wolverine_Clawess_26

Answer 6

A puppy is like a child they are full of curiosity and love as they get older they realize they're a part of a "Pack" kind of like a wolf, they become more cautious and territorial as they get older. So if a strange (let's say) dog tries to enter the pack, the dogs in the pack won't let it happen and that is decided by the biggest dog (you) and even though you let the strange dog or person in your dog will still not trust the new face. So don't worry just be glad your dog is wanting to protect his or her pack!

Answer 7

I have not have been given any concern of strangers via fact I settle for that the final public are solid people who're frequently chuffed and mentally wholesome. I additionally settle for that some are risky and others are basically too introverted or cynical to waste the time on. Being arranged for the two a sort of varieties assuages concern. nonetheless i'm friendly and better than wanting to maintain on a significant communication, i'm of the character sort that doesn't go through insipid or meaningless communication. i detect tranquility and peace basically being with human beings, so i do no longer detect a sprint silence to be socially awkward. Even between acquaintances and family participants, i don't sense the would desire to chat continuously. via fact of this while in a public concern I maximum possibly does not initiate up any style of communication; yet while started, i'm a waiting participant. it is not out of outrage that I save silent, yet rather, I frequently do various deep introspective questioning on an identical time as commuting. i think I challenge my very very own suggestions-set on others, assuming that they are likewise taking section in a meditative smash from the grind of on a daily basis life. i think you ought to declare that our lifestyle – the two because it pertains to the society wherein we've been born and raised besides as in the abode – coupled with our very own psychological attitudes and predilections make certain how outgoing we are able to be in public. i does not say that one that is silent is inevitably susceptible, or one that is outgoing is powerful: it is in straightforward terms an outward manifestation of his inner psyche.

Answer 8

Puppies--like babies--have a fearful stage as part of their normal development. Be calm with her when she shows fear and in time, she will move to the next stage of development.

In order not to nurture an unbalanced state of mind, visit a puppy kindergarten or pick up a copy of Cesar Millan's book. There are other good ones as well.

Good luck!

Answer 9

Sounds like she is just getting old enough to realize strangers from family. This happened to my dog, he was never harmed by anyone. Just like a child, as they grow and mature they begin to realize things that the pup in them could not understand. It is very important at this point that you keep introducing strangers, and lots of them, that like dogs and will make friends with her. Or, she will turn out like mine is now, he loves us, but anyone else he wants nothing to do with, even to the point of being aggressive to get them away.

Answer 10

Something has scared her and you need to immediately rectify the situation.Start by having strangers throw treats at her then eventually have them give them to her out of their hands.Another trick is to play the open bar,closed bar training.Only give her treats when she is around strangers and stop when she is around people she knows.Works well and positively.