New Lhasa puppy not adjusting well

lucysmum

A week ago today we bought home a 9 week old Lhasa Apso puppy called Lucy. The people who bred her said she was well socialed with people and kids and would be an ideal pet. The 2nd day we had her we had to take her to the vet as she had terrible terrible conjucntivitus and the sniffles. None of which the ppl said she had when we collected her.

She is very wary of ppl, and will not come up to us, she spends alot of time being scared in her wee basket and shakes. I am assuming that she has not actually been socialised with ppl/kids etc at all Our vet said she will just need time and love but im hoping some ppl will have some pointers for me to show her we can be trusted/love her and that we can be fun!

We have a 3year old collie mix and they are currently playing in the lounge, lucy (puppy) is pouncing, barking and running around with kaiah and seems quite happy with her but as soon as theres a person there she hides in her basket.

She sleeps on me in the evening in the chair and seems quite happy but just does not know how/want to socialise in any other way

Some help please as ive never come across this in any of our dogs before

Thanks in advance

Tess

Looks like you are doing a good job so far. Its a good sign she is playing with your other dog, and also that she will cuddle with you in the evenings. Sounds like she is naturally shy and will need very gentle handling. Don't let people smother her or scare her in any way. Let her come up to people on her own time. Use lots of tiny treats (little bits of cooked chicken or little bits of hot dogs, etc) to reward her for any time she is the least bit "brave."
Don't make a fuss over her fears, as your anxiety will strengthen her's. Its only been a week and she is young and very malleable. Get some good books on puppies that are totally positive based. Overall, I just encourage you to have faith, take it slowly with pup and give her time. Forget what you were expecting her to be like and take her where she is, one step at a time. Keep learning about how to handle a shy dog, and she will most likely grow into a lovely dog.
I think you will get lots of very good advice from people here, so I hope you keep checking in. There are a lot of very nice resources on this forum.
Keep us posted! Best wishes...

pawzaddict

^ ditto this. One thing I always did with nervous dogs in the kennel I worked at was sit with my side to them, no eye contact, just breathing slowly with my head a bit low and treats in my hand. When they sniffed the air near me I gently tossed a couple treats to them. When they came a bit closer I did the same, very gently as not to scare the you know what out of them, and as they got closer I held my hand out flat to them with treats in it. It just showed them I was calm and not a threat and actually a positive thing to have around

She will come around as long as you are calm and quiet. If you have kids make sure they are outside playing and when inside are quite so not to scare her.

Also, you can get a ton of toys and place them on the floor around you, if she sniffs one toss her a treat, eventually hopefully she will let you pick it up and play tug or fetch

BTW we LOVE photos of all dogs

fawkese1

ditto both of these ^^^


great answers... nothing to add...