Help with socialization!!!

LexiVale

Hello fellow EBT lovers! I have a question and I am hoping someone has a helpful answer, but first...a little background story. I've recently added to my BT family. I now have a 10 week old girl named Phoebe. She is the cutest little thing and she ADORES her brother Titus. Titus is 5 months and he and Phoebe share the same father, just a different mother. Phoebe so far seems to be getting along fine with other dogs, no problems there...but when it comes to people, she ain't having it! She will growl and bark at anyone, even parked cars! In fact, nobody has to be looking at her for her to act this way. She will single someone out and start to growl and bark. I tried taking her out the other day and we went downtown where there were plenty of new smells, sights and people. Whenever someone would approach asking if they could pet Phoebe, she would turn away from them and bury her face in my arm. (I was holding her for most of the outing.) She doesn't wag her tail at people, she won't even look at them. I know it is very crucial to socialize puppies at a very young age, but I am having a really hard time with Phoebe and her acceptance of other people. I also understand that this particular breed can be very protective, but Phoebe seems to be downright scared at times. 

  I really don't force her to interact with anybody, because I'm sure that would make things worse. Instead, I sit with her and let her just take in the surroundings, if someone comes up and asks to pet her, I let them know that she is out to be socialized, but is very timid and shy. Her brother absolutely loves people and other dogs. He was already this way at 8 weeks of age. I understand that all dogs are different, no two are alike, but it just worries me that Phoebe is acting this way at such a young age. Does anyone have some tips on socialization I could use? I planned on taking my babies with me when I went downtown to hang out, but I'm really afraid Phoebe might not get over her dislike for other people and that her timidness will turn into aggression. What can I do? Please, HELP!  

I should also mention that Phoebe was the runt of the litter and I was told she would get shoved around a lot during feeding and would really have to get in there to get any milk or food. She is NOT food aggressive with her brother Titus. They will eat together out of the same bowl at the same time (their choice) they do rough house pretty hard, but I haven't seen any real aggression towards Titus. I don't know if her being the runt has anything to do with the problem I'm facing, but I thought I'd just throw that info in here. Thank you everyone in advance!!!

Phoebe is the smaller angel with the Batman mask.

Djammy

You seem to have an extra shy specimen here. Not very usual to hear that about an EBT, but also at this point in my opinion, not a very big reason to worry.
It sure is an uncomfortable situation. But at least, as the problem exists, NOW at 10 weeks of age is the BEST time for the behavior to show. Because at that age it should not be too hard to work on the issue and you are still able to "fill that little almost empty bucket" young Phoebe is right now with lots of positive experience and thus shape her behavior. The main thing about it is that you will probably have to give her more time to adjust than other puppies take. But I think also along that process you will grow together even more deeply.

Here's how I would approach the issue:

For now, I would use caution around kids, if not to say AVOID contact just to make sure to avoid accidents caused by misunderstandings.

I would also try to not push Phoebe into too many - UNCONTROLLED - people contact already. Reason being, you are nervous now about the situation, you explain and apologize to people, you are tense.

In addition to her own uncomfortable feeling around strangers, Phoebe is sensing your uneasiness, to say the least. So negative feelings keep adding up and she may feel like she is completely on her own, being new in your household and environment. And she may feel urged to make her own decisions, which in this situation could be attacking before (as she expects) being attacked.

Keep socializing her. But do it with people YOU know, people who know the problem and who are confident around dogs, even if the dogs aren't (confident themselves). If you notice that she has problems with a particular group of people (men, women, bearded, tall ... whatever), try to give her more encounters of that nature under controlled circumstances.

Make sure she has lots of room and can approach people at her own conditions. Let her be off leash in an enclosed environment, so she does not feel caught or cornered in any way. If she acts shy first, let people try luring her with toys or treats into interaction ... give her space and at the same time as much positive experience with people under controlled circumstances as possible. Raise the bar gradually, as you notice progress in her behavior. First add more people, last step walk her into crowds and reward every friendly behavior on the way.

Always watch her along the way. If you notice her feeling increasingly uneasy, take her out of the situation for now to avoid any negative experience that could interfere with your progress.

Try to be a good leader and make the decisions for her before she makes mistakes out of fear.

Only allow insecure people and kids near her once you are sure that the situation has stabilised and she has gained more confidence.

philsergeant

Adding to Djammy's comments... what you really need are some strong, confident, loving friends that will volunteer to be guinea pigs with the little (shy) monster... so that she can get used to being in their arms and on their laps without either her or them having any fear. The WORST thing you can do is keep her apart from all exposure at all. Tell all your whoosie friends to stay at home (no offense meant, but you get the drift) and tell all your Bourbon drinking pals to come over.

Djammy

@philsergeant

That's my message put in a nutshell. Men are really more straightforward most of the time. Excellent! 

>-

LexiVale

@Djammy @philsergeant Thank you both SO much for y'alls input!! My apologies for not thanking y'all sooner!! Phoebe has shown slight improvement, but there are definitely some issues that need to be worked out. 

philsergeant

Glad there are some signs of forward movement, please keep posting details of events, it will help us give whatever we've got.