Any ideas... I am new (or back) to Beagle hunting. We just got a pup this summer. The problem I am having is the pup is so scared of me. It just shakes and hides. It has come around a little more to the wife and kids, but it still doesn't play or anything with them.
Is there anything I can do for this dog?
I think he may never be able to hunt because he will never get over whatever trauma he has had to get use to me.
I thought about giving it to an older person for a pet.
Does this sound like the logical choice? I am ready to get back into beagle hunting and would just assume get another dog (or dog's) if need be.
Thanks for any suggestions!
Scared Dog
Moderators: Pike Ridge Beagles, Aaron Bartlett
It depends on how old the pup is and how much time you're willing to invest. The dog in my avatar was the most manshy hound I'd ever seen, but he was bold and confident in the field. We got him around age 2. It took over a year of nothing but love and positive attention to break down the wall, but now he's an absolute pest to anyone he thinks might take him running. 
At 5 months, you have a much better chance of turning this pup around than I did the older hound. Don't leave this pup in the kennel any more than you have to. Pack him with you (front cab of the truck) to the corner store, other errands, etc. Act like this hound is just your best friend in the world and include him whenever the opportunity arises. Keep him busy with it.
Several times a week, go out to his pen and set a chair down and just be around him for a while. We will often take the 5-6 month-old pups along to a field trial and get them used to traveling and crowds. We don't enter them, naturally, but we tie them out with the the big dogs just the same. Puppies are irresistable and the attendees and their kids will often come up and pet them.
There are many creative things to do and I'm sure you will get other ideas from folks on this. One story I heard that I like to repeat is the fellow that took his shy pup to a Walmart, set a lawn chair outside the main entrance and just read a book for a couple of hours. He had his pup on a lead next to him. The foot traffic of children stopping to pet the pup on the way in and out did more for the pup in that 2 hours than a week's worth of anything else.
Shyness can be hereditary (genetic), but more often than not, it's a result of the pup not being properly socialized to humans during their prime window at age 6-12 weeks.
I'm assuming this hound is not a fear-biter. Never a good idea to put a fear-biter in the public arena like that. Fear biting would a whole 'nuther topic, of course.
Several times a week, go out to his pen and set a chair down and just be around him for a while. We will often take the 5-6 month-old pups along to a field trial and get them used to traveling and crowds. We don't enter them, naturally, but we tie them out with the the big dogs just the same. Puppies are irresistable and the attendees and their kids will often come up and pet them.
There are many creative things to do and I'm sure you will get other ideas from folks on this. One story I heard that I like to repeat is the fellow that took his shy pup to a Walmart, set a lawn chair outside the main entrance and just read a book for a couple of hours. He had his pup on a lead next to him. The foot traffic of children stopping to pet the pup on the way in and out did more for the pup in that 2 hours than a week's worth of anything else.
Shyness can be hereditary (genetic), but more often than not, it's a result of the pup not being properly socialized to humans during their prime window at age 6-12 weeks.
I'm assuming this hound is not a fear-biter. Never a good idea to put a fear-biter in the public arena like that. Fear biting would a whole 'nuther topic, of course.
Well, my wife wants me (us) to hang on to this pup, so I will give it a try. We are so busy with all our activities, but we are going to have to take him along. The only thing is, he wont even lead with a chain. You have to carry him. You have to pull him out of the doghouse to get him out of his pen. He has and still does seem like he is improving (especially the kids). He will wine and come to his fence edge, but as soon as you go toward his pen he runs in his doghouse and squat in the corner.
I think what you said about the 6-12 week window of human conatct is true. I know he didn't get any of it. There is nothing wrong physically with the pup, it is all mental.
I am suppose to go with a friend and get a blue tick beagle in October down in Western KY. Maybe this would straighten him out? He was with a lot of dogs before he came to us.
I think what you said about the 6-12 week window of human conatct is true. I know he didn't get any of it. There is nothing wrong physically with the pup, it is all mental.
I am suppose to go with a friend and get a blue tick beagle in October down in Western KY. Maybe this would straighten him out? He was with a lot of dogs before he came to us.
Therein lies the rub. He may have bonded with other dogs in place of humans. If that's the case, being around more dogs than humans will defeat your purpose. Here's the normal socialization schedule:
Birth to 3 weeks: All they know is Mama
At three weeks: They are aware of littermates and begin fighting/playing amongst themselves.
6 weeks: They become receptive to 'beings' outside of Mama and littermates. This is the time to have your hat in the ring so the other dogs in the kennel don't become the only ones with which to bond.
12 weeks: They learn suspicion.
I think you can bring the pup around. There's a good chance he will be a one-person/family type dog, which isn't necessarily bad depending on your circumstances. Good luck with your pup!
Birth to 3 weeks: All they know is Mama
At three weeks: They are aware of littermates and begin fighting/playing amongst themselves.
6 weeks: They become receptive to 'beings' outside of Mama and littermates. This is the time to have your hat in the ring so the other dogs in the kennel don't become the only ones with which to bond.
12 weeks: They learn suspicion.
I think you can bring the pup around. There's a good chance he will be a one-person/family type dog, which isn't necessarily bad depending on your circumstances. Good luck with your pup!
Well, you wouldn't believe the change in the dog. I was wanting to get rid of it (my mother was going to take it), but my wife wouldn't let me.
I got a new pup this week (female), excellent blood line (wanting to breed later)(I think the daddy is Syrus McGee--branko bloodline), super playful and cute.
The other pup I had that just wouldn't come out of his shell, snappped right out of it. He was so jealous he couldn't stand it. Within the hour he was running and playing with the kids and even me. Someone that came to visit thought it was another dog. I can't believe it.
So I told my wife that if she takes him to the vet and gets a clean bill of health, she can keep it. But I do have to seperate them some of the time.
??, the first pup that my wife wants to keep (Max), would getting him fixed by a good or bad idea. I don't want this dog breeding the girl (Rose) or any other one I may get, but I wanted to make sure it wouldn't hurt Max personality any, he is still young (about 6 months).
What do ya think?
I got a new pup this week (female), excellent blood line (wanting to breed later)(I think the daddy is Syrus McGee--branko bloodline), super playful and cute.
The other pup I had that just wouldn't come out of his shell, snappped right out of it. He was so jealous he couldn't stand it. Within the hour he was running and playing with the kids and even me. Someone that came to visit thought it was another dog. I can't believe it.
So I told my wife that if she takes him to the vet and gets a clean bill of health, she can keep it. But I do have to seperate them some of the time.
??, the first pup that my wife wants to keep (Max), would getting him fixed by a good or bad idea. I don't want this dog breeding the girl (Rose) or any other one I may get, but I wanted to make sure it wouldn't hurt Max personality any, he is still young (about 6 months).
What do ya think?