[QUOTE=wendy;6587025]
puppies need to be exposed to the world before age 16 weeks or their minds never develop properly. Kennel-raised puppies in particular are notorious for developing “kennel syndrome” due to the lack of early exposure to the world. This man had over 200 dogs, and there is no way he was able to properly socialize each puppy to people or the many things puppies need to experience early in life in order to grow up well-adjusted. At age 3.5 months, your pup is so close to the critical cut-off age that you probably will be unable to overcome the lack of early socialization. The fact that you describe the pup as shy and timid suggests the pup is already exhibiting symptoms of lack of socialization.
AFTER you get the pup cleared by the vet, I suggest you immediately seek professional help in getting this pup socialized and to help overcome the lack of early socialization. Find a behaviorist and ask about kennel syndrome.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, that’s what we were told by a dog trainer I engaged after we adopted a three month old BC mix last summer. She came out of a hoarder’s yard, she’d been running loose with 30-40 other dogs, including her mother, had had but little human contact and was very timid. She’d had no shots at that point. The trainer said that, given her age and background, socializing her to people and human environments was an emergency. We had to keep her away from strange dogs until she’d had some shots, but he told us to get her out around as many different people (and their cars, bicycles, etc…) as we could, right away.
Fortunately, I was on vacation at the time, so I took her everywhere I went every day and into every store and building that allowed dogs (hardware stores, banks, etc…). We live in an exurban area, so we don’t see that many humans in our neighborhood, so taking her out to populated places was key. Once she’d had some shots, the trainer kept her all day, three days a week and took over where I’d left off when I was at work, he took her to a mall, to a schoolyard…he sought out “different” people…older/younger, tall/short, using a cane, wearing funny clothes, etc… My mother kept her the other two days and took her all over with her. So, she was out and about, around lots of people, every day for several months.
A bit of a hectic time, but it worked…she used to be afraid of everyone, then just people who looked different than ones she’d already met…now, at 17 months, she loves EVERYONE and I can safely take her anywhere without her crouching, growling, etc… We already have a fear aggressive dog, who we adopted as an adult, and I didn’t want to have to go through that again.
Can’t friend you, it just gives an unavailable page. It’s cruel to deny us puppy pictures!