PUPPY KENNEL SHY?

jon cornett · Post by **jon cornett** » Sat Jan 17, 2004 3:56 pm

I HAVE A 4 MONTH OLD MALE BEAGLE PUP. HE IS WHAT I THINK IS CALLED KENNEL SHY. HE WILL COME AND PLAY WITH YOU IN THE HOUSE, OUTSIDE AND EVEN IN THE WILD WITH OTHER DOGS. BUT HE WILL NOT COME TO ME IN THE ABOVE GROUND KENNEL. ILL OPEN THE DOOR AND HE WILL BACK UP AND BARK< OR GO IN THE BOX AND BARK AND LOOK AT ME. ITS REALLY AGRAVATING ME. ANY SUGGESTIONS? THANKS JWC.

Steve C. · Post by **Steve C.** » Sat Jan 17, 2004 4:09 pm

Jon, that's not uncommon, but aggravating just the same. I know some will say it's due to your handling (or lack of it) of the dog as a pup but often it goes way beyond that. Occasionally I've had a shy pup in a litter despite all littermates being normal and all handled the same. I have a young male right now who is just as you describe- fine in the woods or in the house but does not want you to put your hands on him in the kennel. I'm very close to giving up on him. No one wants to admit it, but shyness is somewhat common in beagles and in all bloodlines. Many have never seen it but the more dogs you have experience with, the more you'll see it. I suppose there are bloodlines that don't carry the trait, but I'll bet they're few. I'm guessing one out of 50 pups will exhibit this in some measure. In extreme form, shyness may be linked to insanity and I've known of several hounds that either were shy or produced shy dogs that actually killed a kennelmate. I doubt the situation you describe is anything close to that, but I know of no way to fix this if it's genetic rather than just not enough handling. I wish you luck as I've had very little in my experiences with it.

Steve C. · Post by **Steve C.** » Sat Jan 17, 2004 4:11 pm

After re-reading your post I'll say that at 4 months you still have a good opportunity to bring him out of it unless it's in fact genetic.

Emery · Post by **Emery** » Sat Jan 17, 2004 5:19 pm

Does he like it in the above ground kennel? Is it a general fear thing? Did this just start out of the blue? Is he the only one in the kennel or does he have a kennel mate?

The other idea I have is that it is his home and he is protecting it and himself. The K-9 that we had up Iceland would bark viciously at you as you walked by when you weren't one of the normal people attached to the kennel. He did this to me for about a week until he got used to me being around all the time. At the suggestion of his handler, I took the hose off the wall like I was going to clean the kennel and he went right outside because he didn't like getting wet. Once there, he was fine but inside it was an entirely differnt story. However, once he got the idea that I was supposed to be there he was fine.

Be patient with him, try coaxing him out with a treat. Build a general trust. Try leaving the door open and walk out into the yard so he can go out when he is ready. Give plenty of praise when he does what you want.

Good luck,
Emery

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Jan 17, 2004 5:21 pm

Jon, I've got a male that is coming 3 years old that I've had since he was 7 months. He is just plain shy around the kennel and elsewhere. I've done everything for him that I know of but can NOT get it out of him. I have automatic feeders but since I got him I've been hand feeding so he has contact with me daily. I've even taken him out of the kennel and leashed him to a tree and fed the other dogs making him watch. After a while I'd go over to him with his fed pan and call him to come to me pulling on the leash easily until he got to me and then feed and pet him. He will NOT even eat until I quit petting him and he never has taken a bite from my hand no mater what I've tried to give him, including steak! As this progressed I could finally get him to hunker down and crawl to me to get fed but no touching him or he won't eat until your done. Now when I go out to feed him I open his kennel door and let him out and call him into me when I put the feed in his pan. He will come into the kennel but I can NOT catch him while he is outside of it , he has to come back in on his own. He is a real nice rabbit dog and comes into you when you call him on a jump in the field and he can be caught but he is still not real sure of it. I attribute this to genetics because I know he was handled as a pup and never mistreated but he was kept in an above ground kennel in an enclosed pole barn. I will never breed him even though he has a nice cold nose. Yes, he cold trails and gives mouth but most generally he gets the rabbit up and going long before the others know its about. I get aggravated with his shyness but I will keep him as long as I can catch him.

beaglebill · Post by **beaglebill** » Sat Jan 17, 2004 5:28 pm

I would try not feeding except out of my hand. This might seem cruel to some but i would give it a try. If he wants to eat he would have to come to me.

jon cornett · Post by **jon cornett** » Sat Jan 17, 2004 6:06 pm

THANKS FOR ALL THE INPUT, IM GOING TO PUT HIM DOWN IN MY BARN IN A GROUND KENNEL. ITS PRETTY BIG SO HE CANT GET AWAY FROM ME AND HE WILL GET ATTENTION EVERY TIME IM DOWN THERE AND HE CANT GET AWAY FROM ME. ITS CONCRETE SO MAYBE HE WILL LIKE IT BETTER. KEEP THE INPUT COMING AND THANKS. JWC

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Jan 17, 2004 8:27 pm

Have you handled this pup from the start? Does either parent have any shyness in them. Most shyness is genetic and you as a responsile breeder must not breed dogs with this trait. Now some dogs throw shy dogs even though their not shy so know the bloodlines you breed or buy from.

daustin · Post by **daustin** » Sat Jan 17, 2004 10:06 pm

One possibility is that dogs are generally uncomfortable above ground level. That is why they tell you to do your inspections on a table because the dog is easier to handle when out of his element. You are right in trying him on a ground kenel and also take some treats out with you and coax him while he is in the kennel.

Dane

Stone Cold Beagles · Post by **Stone Cold Beagles** » Sat Jan 17, 2004 10:15 pm

Jon

I have had pups due the exact same thing. What I do when they acting this way is make sure that I pet them the entire time they are eating. It requires a little extra time, but it has never failed me. The next thing you know, they will be meeting you at the door. Good Luck

Roy Pasmore · Post by **Roy Pasmore** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 5:07 am

To get A shy pup to come to you when he is kenneled . My way of handling this has been to kennel him with another dog that is not at all shy . Then each time you go to kennel make over the other dog A lot if the shy pup don`t come to you so you can handle him at this time just egnore him. Out of jelousy he will start coming for his share of attenion. In most all case`s this will work in catching the pup . Now the shyness is there and will not go away. You will have to except it or get rid of the pup. In some case`s it will carry over in to it`s field work this is something you just have to deal with at that time.

S.R.Patch · Post by **S.R.Patch** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 9:58 am

Jon,
I agree with you, put the pup on the ground. Now here's where we differ, you must be the only contact the pup can have. He will want to bond and if he can be with or around other dog, he would rather it be with them. You must be his only outlet for the contact and affection he longs for. Take him away from the other hounds until you form the bond, then put him back only after he thinks your about the best.
Good luck with your pup...Patch

jon cornett · Post by **jon cornett** » Sun Jan 18, 2004 2:33 pm

I HAVE PUT HIM DOWN IN MY BARN ON A CONCRETE FLOORED KENNEL. HE IS WITH MY OLD RETIRED MALE. ITS PRETTY BIG BUT YET SMALL ENOUGH HE CANT GET AWAY FROM ME. THE LAST TWO TIMES IVE WENT DOWN THERE AND WENT IN HE HAS COME UP TO ME. PATCH, HE WILL MOST LIKELY BE SEEN BY ME 3/4 OF THE TIME. THE ONLY TIME HE WONT IS WHEN MY KIDS FEED WHILE IM AT WORK. THANKS FOR THE INPUT GUYS, HE IS A VERY WELL BRED MALE PUP THATS WHY I POSTED TO TRY SOMETHING TO KEEP HIM. THANKS JWC.