info needed

[basko]

i have a half trigg and half walker dog that is about 11 monts old now. i got him as a pup and worked with him all the time and he was great. well summer came and he pretty much stayed kenneled up all the time which i know is bad on my part. but my problem is he is so timid now it seems. ive been working with him since its gotten cooler and if i even grab him by the collar he freaks out. if you open the door on his kennel he wont even come out. and the leash is the same way. you put him on the leash and he acts like your killing him. simply put is something wrong with him or does he just need lots of attention.

[Benny G]

He needs an extra amount of positive attention. As for the collar/leash deal, I would suggest getting him out of the kennel and chaining him up for about two or three weeks. He will throw a fit and fight the chain. Let him try to figure it out on his own at first, then walk up to him and pet him and talk to him, keeping slack in the chain. With time, he will be ok.

[powderhorn]

He didn't show any signs of timidity when he was younger? I wonder if a specific event triggered something.. A negative experience just before being kenneled for a long time or maybe even just punishment for kennel barking?? Some dogs are easier to tramatize I think.. Even an angry neighbor mad about barking or something can freak some dogs out..

Either way, I think a developed timidity can be cured in most cases. A few years back I was given a walker dog that was "worthless because he wouldn't load or come".. he was real timid with people but I thought I'd try and see what some socialization would do.. He'd run in his house or out the end of the chain as far away as he could and act real timid around everyone. I hand-fed him twice a day every day just with a hotdog or treat so he'd get a positive conneciton with me.. I even brought him in the house for a while and let my wife and I love on him. He did a 180 real quick and became a real happy dog around any people who would come around. He would even load for strangers. He was a pretty good coon dog.. I never could turn him on to cats, I ended up giving him away to a 16 year old kid who still hunts him today. I agree with Benny G about the chain if he's fighting it.. But if the chain or leash is a source for his paranoia right now, you may try getting him to like seeing you first and take it in small steps. Good luck with him and let us know how he does.

[Ryan]

I think that is pretty common with triggs. I have a trigg pup and the breeder warned me if i didnt do alot of socializing shyness could be a problem.

[basko]

thanks everyone for the info. i really hope he snaps out of it but i am thinking its just the lack of attention i hope cuz he is fearless when there is a critter or something around.

[pegleg]

there's a period around a year of age where all dogs become shy most don't get a chance to develop a real problem with it as they are worked and handled a lot at this age because everyone is busy training this young prospect for the upcoming season. it isn't a genetic problem just natural. also why I don't jump on the shoot em band wagon when someone says their dog is shy or timid. be calm light with the discipline spend time with the dog and make sure you don't get into a situation where you have to chase him as this could really set you back. I have ran into a few dogs that had not been handled but because of breeding I took a chance on them and all have turned out to be easy to handle some are still wary of strangers but in my book that is a plus. good luck.

[DerekE]

Also be aware that a lot of the running dogs don't seem to recover as easily from as harsh discipline as some of the trailing dogs. For instance, they often times can't take as much shocking. JMO.
Derek

[mefishme1234]

my plott is a timid girl, but she did a 180 degree change since i got here. positive training and exposure to everything is needed. i have had a week of busy busy work and no time for her.. she shyed up to me. so i found out that 5 mins a day with her is needed. i also have her kenels up when not home. But she has a 150 ft run that i have her on when i am home..