Hi,
I really need some help with my six month old puppy, Sherlock. He is a small dog (Coton de Tulear, about 11lbs or so) and has a shy disposition.
Whenever we put on our jackets, or when the tags on his harness jingle, or when we put on our shoes, he goes and hides under a dresser or somewhere. Once we've caught him (or tricked him into letting us near him), he doesn't fight us and we can put the harness. However, we have to hold on to him because if we let go he will run and hide.
Point is, he really does not want to be taken for walks. I don't think he wants to use the housebreaking pads anymore either (we still have one out just in case, but he hasn't been using it for quite a while now).
I think that the real stress for him is going through our lobby, because the doormen start calling his name (really loudly), or trying to pet him. We don't really let them pet him anymore, we just go by very quickly. Sherlock is just terrified of the whole thing. I'm not too eager to tell the doormen to put a lid on it; I feel like Sherlock should get used to all sorts of people that he will meet in his lifetime.
Funny thing is, he will even "hold it" to avoid being taken outside. And he won't use his housebreaking pads either, although they are there. He can go out once in the morning around 8:00, and then wait until 5:00 in the afternoon, until we have drag him out to go to the bathroom.
What should I do? This has been going on for months now, and he just seems very stressed. He is fairly obedient at home, always listening to commands sit, down, play dead, up, turn around. When he's outside and through the lobby, walking, he seems okay and goes along just fine, but is very overwhelmed by everything (he will NOT listen to commands when outside). He does not listen/focus on me when outside. I know that is a lot to expect of a six month old puppy, but how can I work towards it?
Any help would be really appreciated. Thank you!
I really need some help with my six month old puppy, Sherlock. He is a small dog (Coton de Tulear, about 11lbs or so) and has a shy disposition.
Whenever we put on our jackets, or when the tags on his harness jingle, or when we put on our shoes, he goes and hides under a dresser or somewhere. Once we've caught him (or tricked him into letting us near him), he doesn't fight us and we can put the harness. However, we have to hold on to him because if we let go he will run and hide.
Point is, he really does not want to be taken for walks. I don't think he wants to use the housebreaking pads anymore either (we still have one out just in case, but he hasn't been using it for quite a while now).
I think that the real stress for him is going through our lobby, because the doormen start calling his name (really loudly), or trying to pet him. We don't really let them pet him anymore, we just go by very quickly. Sherlock is just terrified of the whole thing. I'm not too eager to tell the doormen to put a lid on it; I feel like Sherlock should get used to all sorts of people that he will meet in his lifetime.
Funny thing is, he will even "hold it" to avoid being taken outside. And he won't use his housebreaking pads either, although they are there. He can go out once in the morning around 8:00, and then wait until 5:00 in the afternoon, until we have drag him out to go to the bathroom.
What should I do? This has been going on for months now, and he just seems very stressed. He is fairly obedient at home, always listening to commands sit, down, play dead, up, turn around. When he's outside and through the lobby, walking, he seems okay and goes along just fine, but is very overwhelmed by everything (he will NOT listen to commands when outside). He does not listen/focus on me when outside. I know that is a lot to expect of a six month old puppy, but how can I work towards it?
Any help would be really appreciated. Thank you!
