Extremely timid Husky

SneakyDoyle

Hi folks,

I've an 18 month old siberian husky who has always been extremely shy. i got him at 6 months old. He is terrified of humans but is extremely sociable with other dogs ( Hates being petted [especially his paws - extremely protective], approached etc and )

Originally i thought this was due to the change in environment and my approach was to give him a few weeks to settle in. After a month or so passed i considered he might have had a bad past with abusive owners etc... But surely after a year of being looked after / fed & walked properly the dog should start to feel comfortable around at least his main carer (me) ??

Could this be a medical condition of some sort? Can anyone recommended a dog behavioral class that might help him.... Im concerned for his general quality of life!!

Thanks in advance

Nody

Where are you located (i.e. helps in what's close)? And secondly I highly doubt medical condition and be much more inclined on poor socializing when it was a pup.

kylith

If you haven't had him since he was tiny then it could well be down to past trauma.

BillyMitchel

OP I'd say the extremely protective is actually extremely fearful. Just be careful if its around people it doesn't know especially if it doesn't like being touched.

ISDW

If you let us know where you, I'm sure someone could recommend a behaviourist. A lot of sibes have come from puppy farms, with absolutely no socialisation around people, so they are comfortable around other dogs, but scared of human contact.

We took a dog back in a year ago and he is still scared of my teenage son sometimes. He has only just started to trust me completely, it can take a lot of time, and sometimes the dog can never get over their fear. But, with the help of a qualified behaviourist, hopefully it will be manageable.

SneakyDoyle

Thanks!

I'm in the clondalkin area but i'd be prepared to travel if someone could recommend someone good!

Cheers

fathead82

If you get in contact with Dog Training Ireland,they should be able to help. they have a website & a facebook page. They will access your dog & take it from there.

SneakyDoyle

Thanks Everyone.

DBB

SneakyDoyle wrote: »

Thanks!

I'm in the clondalkin area but i'd be prepared to travel if someone could recommend someone good!

Cheers

There's no point in bringing your dog to a behaviour clinic for this problem. You'd be better off, I feel, getting a behaviourist to come to you. I'd suggest the rather wonderful Emmaline of www.citizencanineireland.com, who'll come to your home, and address your problems in your environment! Emmaline is a real rescue-dog specialist.
Behaviour clinics have a place for some problems, but this is not one of them.
You might also want to look into anxiety-relieving gear, such as Adaptil diffusers, a Thundershirt, and setting up the living environment to help an anxious dog feel safer. The one ingredient that dogs like yours needs is time! I know it seems like you've given it plenty of time thus far, but I'd hope that if you get some professional help, the measures you put in place, plus time, will start to get you some results.
Other than that, I think everything ISDW said in her post is spot on. She just said it in a far shorter post than I would

Gitb1

SneakyDoyle wrote: »

Thanks!

I'm in the clondalkin area but i'd be prepared to travel if someone could recommend someone good!

Cheers

My brother in law lives in Clondalkin too and his Husky is around the same age and behaves the same.

Maybe they both came from the same breeder?