Timid Border Terrier pup??

borderman

Well-Known Member
I have an 8 month old Border Terrier pup which seems to be very timid or afraid of other dogs, even my mates 6 month old Cocker pup which i find most unusual. She is fine with her litter brother and sisters who she meets from time to time.
Any Terrier boys out there willing to offer some advice how to go about training this
out of her??
Any tips would be gratefully received.
 
morning borderman,

firstly you may get a slap on the wrists mate as normal protocol is to post a wee intro so the boys know who you are and a bit of background.
it bothers me not but the issue with the dog doe's have some interest.
I have experienced a timid dog before and all to no avail could its timid spirit be broken.
she just was and will always be. i let her go to a family home and she still remains there happy.
most will say bring her into contact with other dogs, get her out more feed her different but will it work ? i dont know.
Imho if the dog is for work give her to a family as a pet or keep her as a pet yourself.
some animals are just timid as to as some humans.

atb frank.
 
morning borderman,

firstly you may get a slap on the wrists mate as normal protocol is to post a wee intro so the boys know who you are and a bit of background.
it bothers me not but the issue with the dog doe's have some interest.
I have experienced a timid dog before and all to no avail could its timid spirit be broken.
she just was and will always be. i let her go to a family home and she still remains there happy.
most will say bring her into contact with other dogs, get her out more feed her different but will it work ? i dont know.
Imho if the dog is for work give her to a family as a pet or keep her as a pet yourself.
some animals are just timid as to as some humans.

atb frank.

Here, here - this man is correct
 
How much contact has this pup had with other dogs, except litter mates? Whilst dogs do vary from the bold and confident to the timid, a lot of timidity is due to lack of exposure to the world in general and to poor socialisation. The cocker is probably a bouncy little... chap, making yours even more timid. As others have said, she may remain timid - you don't say if this is just dogs all her life. My default option with any behavoural issue, especailly pups, is to get the DAP collar from your vet. It looks like a flea collar and needs to be relatively snug on the neck to be warm. It releases the same pheromne that the bithch does when suckling. It is very reassuring to the pup (any adults too) and can help break the cycle of "I'm scared of this other dog and because I was scared last time, I'm going to be more scared". It doesn't always work, but it is harmelss and worth a go. Whilst at the vets, chat to a nurse who like behaviour and maybe find a decent local behaviourist. Good luck
 
Expose it to more calm dogs and let it grow up, it's still a pup! The best terrier I have ever seen was very timid and when at home the owners daughter used to dress it up in dolls clothing and push it round in a pram! Absolute mustard on fox and Brock! You could dig then!

Not usual attire for a patterdale!
 
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Hello Could be she needs to do some growing up and I had never heard of DAP collers so thats a possibility. However if she is going to be a house dog and pet a bit of timidness is not going to matter too much, if it stays that way , but timidness can in some cases turn to aggression . that said I would think if you want to work her especially underground its a no no. For that job they need to have drive from the start. Thats my honest opinion.

Mark
 
Your pup is only 8 months old, still very much a pup and still has a lot of growing and developing to do. When your pup shows this "timidness" what do you do? Assuming that you have had this dog since 8 weeks he should have bonded with you and will very much look to you for guidance. If you show apprehension in any situation this will be conducted to the pup and he will also think there is something to be wary of. You may unwittingly be feeding the fear that this pup has. Assuming this cocker pup is only being boisterous and not going to actually do your pup any real harm I would be inclined to let the two of them out in my enclosed garden. Stay out there with them but pay no attention to his timidness. If you do you are only enforcing his fear. Potter about in the garden allowing him to see there is nothing to fear. First time he may just hide away but keep doing it regularly even with different friends dog that you know are pup friendly. I believe he will eventually see that there is nothing to fear and will overcome the timidness. Possibly incorporate one of his more outgoing brothers/sisters. He will see them and possibly give him encouragement to join in.
 
Time will tell. I've lifted a litter of scrapping pups out of a pool like a tangle of sausages. I tried dunking them in to cool them off but they emerged still scrapping. Some turned into good working dogs and others were indifferent.

By the same token I had a quiet pup which we just allowed to get older and we never interfered or forced it. By the time it reached two years it turned into a super worker.
Some are just late developers. A lot depends on if you have the patience and room and grub to wait it out and see.

It might just make a good house-pet but just be certain that it's quietness is not going - as bunwell said - to develop into agression. A bit of research into the two previous family histories might tell you.

It's well known that a good way to break your pocket and your heart is to breed horses and cattle for specialist purposes, but dogs can be a bit like that too.
 
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Ive always been led to believe that borders were fairly slow developers,but when they do start they are excellent workers.
 
Expose it to more calm dogs andre it grow up, it's still a pup! The best terrier I have ever seen was very timid and when at home the owners daughter used to dress it up in dolls clothing and push it round in a pram! Absolute mustard on fox and Brock! You could dig then!

Not usual attire for a patterdale!

you must be very old sir
 
My JRT is so submissive she will lie down when a pup comes up to her as she does with any dog,and she is 4 now,but,she works fine.I don't think the two are linked at all,the last terrier I had was exactly the opposite,she would rip feck out of anything that came near her,but,while she was working she totally disregarded any other dogs that might be around.Your pup is as has been said still a baby mate,let it grow up and see how it gets on,Borders are renowned for being slow starters anyway.

Martin
 
Thats right , let it trail about with you everywhere you go , let it see everything and experience everything . Depends what you what the pup to do , but if your happy with it keep it , one day the switch will turn on and your off , but ive never seen one any good for seriouse earth work some are willing but take alot of punishment and their eyes are at risk due to the modern breeds having short muzzles . Dont try to rush it
 
borderman a lot of good advise given to your first post but you did not tell us what you were going to use the dog for fox /deer /pet like a lot of others suggested give it as much confidence boosting experience as possible only time will tell on final outcome.
 
Borders by nature are often slow to come on , my Grandfather used to say "never shoot them till there 4"!!!!!!

One of the best Borders I had , never showed interest untill it was 3 and then turned out to be a great wee dog.

After having many terriers good and bad , my advice is , don't panic about them being aggressive[thats natural] what you need to concern yourself with is obedience and manners [as they are not natural in terriers]
 
thinking about it the problem is that what one person would describe as soft another would call timid or in the case of hard some may call a little b****** or full of spirit. The more of these replies I read the more I wonder. To be fair it is a very hard one to call without knowing the dog. But that said I have heard that borders are very slow to start with. I have always had Jacks but I do like to see what i would describe as spirit from an early age. Problem is I had a litter out of my best working bitch (rat and Fox) I kept 2 The bitch is the best ratter I have ever had but dont want to know about fox and the dog , well he went to a bloke down the road as a pet the useless sod as he was a discrace to the breed. All he wanted to do was shag. Time will be the deciding factor without a doubt.

Mark
 
Sounds like a great idea for certain conditions/behaviours, have you used it? I would imagine you would have to supplement it with plenty of reassurance and guidance.

Yes, used it on my pup and have regularly prescribed it since it came out. I'd recommend it to anyone especially as soon as you get a new pup, or even rehome an older one
 
I have an 8 month old Border Terrier pup which seems to be very timid or afraid of other dogs, even my mates 6 month old Cocker pup which i find most unusual. She is fine with her litter brother and sisters who she meets from time to time.
Any Terrier boys out there willing to offer some advice how to go about training this
out of her??
Any tips would be gratefully received.

I'd relax yet awhile. I have a wee border bitch who was always a bit 'shy' around other dogs until she was about a year. She's now 3 and last summer I had to pull her off the lips of my mother-in-law's Rottweiler who had gripped my Large Munsterlander. The LM was doing all her usual submissive stuff but the Border was right in her corner. They're a great breed. I never even give a moment's thought to my toddler grabbing her but I know if anyone threatened my toddler they'd have a serious Border Terrier problem!
 
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