I don't know what his deal is. The breeder said her puppies never meet a stranger and that she socializes them. When we first got Gunner (10 wks old) I gave him time to adjust at home. About a week, I guess. Then I started trying to get him out and about when I could. Parks, etc. It was hard to get him out alot at first because it was when the weather was soooo hot (100 degrees and up most days). So I couldn't just take him anywhere randomly where I also had to leave him in the vehicle. Of course people also come to my house as well.
His issue seems to be FEAR. He's not aggressive. Just extremely bashful. He barks and growls if they get close. And if someone picks him up he SCREAMS like he's being hurt. It's so embarrassing. I don't know how to correct that. The only thing I know to do is put up a sign on the front door "No Touch, No Talk, No Eye contact" since he only acts like this when people address him. I can control the barking and such at the front door. He does fine as people enter. But if they address him then he loses it. God forbid they try to pet him.
So is he just gonna forever be one of those awful chi's everyone hates? I really didn't want that and I've tried so hard to prevent it. He's such a sweet guy here with the family. He's not a scaredy-cat per se. For example: I took him to Petsmart on his leash (he took to the leash the first time I put him on it!) and he walked by the buggy like he's done it a million times before. He loved it. But he hates people
His issue seems to be FEAR. He's not aggressive. Just extremely bashful. He barks and growls if they get close. And if someone picks him up he SCREAMS like he's being hurt. It's so embarrassing. I don't know how to correct that. The only thing I know to do is put up a sign on the front door "No Touch, No Talk, No Eye contact" since he only acts like this when people address him. I can control the barking and such at the front door. He does fine as people enter. But if they address him then he loses it. God forbid they try to pet him.
So is he just gonna forever be one of those awful chi's everyone hates? I really didn't want that and I've tried so hard to prevent it. He's such a sweet guy here with the family. He's not a scaredy-cat per se. For example: I took him to Petsmart on his leash (he took to the leash the first time I put him on it!) and he walked by the buggy like he's done it a million times before. He loved it. But he hates people