Daz Harrison Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 Hi all, I have a 5 month old English springer that is very timid, he cowers down at people walking towards him when were out and stops walking when he see's something he doesnt know, anyone had this problem before and turned the dog out to be good around people and dogs ? cheers Daz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royboy Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 Springers are a strange breed ! Mine was timid as a pup and would wee and cower if a man tried to stroke her, she's a lot better now and has only just started coming too with the shotgun at nearly 4 ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nmb Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 My springer was very timid for about 18 months. I just gave her plenty of time and she is now the best dog I've ever had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James1983 Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 Yeah mine was exactly same he was scared of everything. He still is sometimes then others he as brave as anything! He seems to be a bit reserved at first when he meets a new person or dog but after a minute of checking them out he happy to play with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fal Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 Mine is excatly the same! I hate it, he looks like a beaten dog which is far from the reality. He sticks to me like glue when somebody new is about, even if I walk over to the person to talk to them and they go to have a play about with him, he's cowering to the floor. On the other hand, he is insane hunting, totally uncontrolable at the moment when he picks up any scent. Which is a bit of a redeeming feature for me. He's 7 months now, I am trying to get him around as many new people and tidy dogs as possible, but it's very slow going. I am really hoping he will grow out of it, but I'm not sure he will, if he keeps showing promise on the hunting side of things though, it is something we will have to love with. Strange, strange dog! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted January 8, 2016 Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 We take our dogs when pups regularly to a local Sunday market so they get to meet loads of people and other dogs. Dog training classes are good for socialising too. Usually works out fine as they get older and more confident. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Harrison Posted January 8, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2016 He will be coming along this weekend where ever we go, Hes just came back from a walk and seems to be picking up each time i take him. Thankyou all Daz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz Harrison Posted January 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 just thought id show him off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loriusgarrulus Posted January 9, 2016 Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 Nice looking pup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 9, 2016 Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 A sensitive dog is often a bright dog. there is a million things you could say but the one I will say is they will pick up on your feelings, thoughts and apprehensions it transmits through the lead so to speak in reality we give it away with our body language. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted January 9, 2016 Report Share Posted January 9, 2016 There's a lot of soft springers out there, too soft for me and verging on untrainable without very careful handling... that's down to breeding in many instances. Equally the "socialisation" concept is often misinterpreted and ends up scaring pups ****less. Be confident with your pup or dog, never ever exhibit fear and never acknowledge a fearful dog - let the dog take confidence from you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 There's a lot of soft springers out there, too soft for me and verging on untrainable without very careful handling... that's down to breeding in many instances. Equally the "socialisation" concept is often misinterpreted and ends up scaring pups ****less. Be confident with your pup or dog, never ever exhibit fear and never acknowledge a fearful dog - let the dog take confidence from you. That's interesting what you like in a dog as your into trials right? A bolder dog is quicker to train and hence quicker to start right? An advantage in the trial world perhaps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 That's interesting what you like in a dog as your into trials right? A bolder dog is quicker to train and hence quicker to start right? An advantage in the trial world perhaps It's less to do with what I want in a trial dog and more to do with my personality, I'm likely to give a displeased shout if dogs are messing around too much - you know the sort of thing, jumping into truck too eagerly, tripping you up when your cleaning the kennel and the like - with some soft dogs that's enough to shut them down. Some of the best dogs, brought on in the right way, are soft natured but that type of dog is just not for me. Bold can also take longer to understand they do not know best, and all dogs mature and take the training at different rates anyway as you know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 (edited) Yeah I get it took me a while to understand myself I tend to equate sensitive with a thinker but whatever I handle those sensitive ones best but can get a stubborn bone head along quicker that's why I thought trial guys might prefer those easily to start giving you more opertunity to go further? What do I know about that game though- not much Jumping in the truck to eager I know that one! Edited January 10, 2016 by kent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 (edited) see, there's 'soft' and then there's 'SOFT' I have one on which I could write an essay and I would get people making suggestions on how to solve it/ fix this dog. Turns out the mum was a late starter and the Sire is throwing soft stuff however when faced with the dog they admit they've never seen anything like it. I class myself as a gentle and kind handler. Sometimes there is no fix and you have to learn to live with one another's foibles. However at five months old I wouldn't worry unduly Edited January 10, 2016 by bigbird Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mochastorm Posted January 10, 2016 Report Share Posted January 10, 2016 Never reward the fear. It is human nature to comfort the dog and stroke it when it is cowering. This rewards the negative and can perpetuate the problem. As WGD outlined, show confidence and allow the dog to take the positive energy. A good dog trainer may also be able to observe and steer you in the right direction. Remember though it is still only a baby and don't worry too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hedge Posted January 11, 2016 Report Share Posted January 11, 2016 Lots of good advice given. Young (nervous) dog - be supportive, patient and go at a pace that works for the dog. It's just like having kids - too many people feel the pressure to be at a certain point in their development. Kids/dogs are all different, mature differently and ultimately will develop their own personalities. Looks like a cracking dog so just take your time and you will be rewarded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted January 11, 2016 Report Share Posted January 11, 2016 see, there's 'soft' and then there's 'SOFT' I have one on which I could write an essay and I would get people making suggestions on how to solve it/ fix this dog. Turns out the mum was a late starter and the Sire is throwing soft stuff however when faced with the dog they admit they've never seen anything like it. I class myself as a gentle and kind handler. Sometimes there is no fix and you have to learn to live with one another's foibles. However at five months old I wouldn't worry unduly People use soft interchangeably with sensitive its wrong really but you need to look deeper. My lab is sensitive there is no way he is soft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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