My new puppy is timid and avoids us. How to help her bond with family?

I recommend giving Ella some time. It can take up to 2 weeks for dogs to get comfortable with their new surroundings. Give her attention, love and play time. You should see her slowly warm up to you and your family. Congratulations on your new puppy! Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Remember that, while you thought about this dog and bringing her into your home, all she knows is that one day she was Here, and the next day she was THERE, with no warning or explanation. She is confused and frightened. Try letting her come to you when she's ready, instead of approaching her. Don't pet her for the time being. Just be a calm and stable presence i her life. Understand, too, that dogs have no idea what a "name" is, other than a familiar word that usually has something to do with her. Yes, there are things you can do to help her adjust to her new surroundings, but this is not a "one or two sentence" answer. If you would like me to work with you on it, just click on the prompt ot initiate a consult.

I recommend he take over the walking and give her treats so she looks forward to being with him. Don’t have him be too pushy, have him sit with a treat and let her come to him. You may also want to try an anti anxiety supplement like Solliquin. It helped my rescue dog relax in the new household. This may take several months to improve, give them time and as they both grow and mature this behavior should improve. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Kona.

That is quite young for a puppy to be very scared of everything. If you just got her a few days ago, it may take time for her to adjust (usually 2-3 weeks) before she fully feels herself. However if she is acting so scared that she won't interact at all, isn't eating, or wanting to do normal puppy things (playing, exploring, etc), it is best to seek out a veterinary behaviorist in your area. They can help ensure that Bella starts receiving positive socialization in her environment and with her new family to try and help with her issues. You can learn more about veterinary behaviorists here: http://www.dacvb.org/about/member-directory/

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would recommend that your boyfriend pets her frequently always approaching her very slowly and with a calm voice and demeanor. Also, it would help if he approaches her with treats. I find peanut butter in this type of scenario very helpful as it takes time to lick it off which will give him more time to pet her at the same time. Usually this works well. This will take time and patience but I think that eventually she will warm up to him. Good luck and have a good day!

Hello! If often takes some time for a pet to adjust to their brand new home and family. Most dogs need a few weeks to become confident and comfortable in their new environment. It would be helpful to know exactly what she is doing that is causing you to be concerned though. If you'd like to resubmit a question describing the possibly depressed or adjusting behavior (ie. hiding, pacing, licking, chewing, growling), I may be able to better advise. I hope this is helpful! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

Congratulations on adopting Lady! Earning trust will take a lot of patience and time. Remember that she has had a lot of sudden changes with her new home and a new person in her life. Start by giving her space in her new home and try putting a bed in her favorite space in the house to make this her "safe spot". Try to avoid approaching her if she is in this safe spot. If Lady is food motivated, you can start by offering a few high value treats when she lets you gently pet her. Some dogs are threatened when you reach over the top of the head and respond more favorably to scratches on the chest or under the chin. Once you figure out what she enjoys (food, walks, chasing a ball, etc.), you will be able to build upon that activity and spend most of your interaction doing her favorite things. One other thing to try is a calming pheromone collar or diffuser (Adaptil is one example) to see if this helps to calm her a bit. I hope this helps!