Why is my 6-month-old puppy suddenly scared of people and other dogs?

Thanks for visiting Petcoach. We don't mind follow-up questions, in fact they are encouraged! In my experience it isn't normal for a puppy to be really shy, because this is not a behavior we would want or expect; however, we do see this in pets with anxiety issues. I would bet that Sie has some degree of anxiety. Your trainer may be able to work through these issues with you; however, in most situations you need a certified behaviorist or experienced trainer iwho can work with Sie one-on-one. It can be done, so stay the course and consistency is key to helping Sie through her fears. Here is a website link for finding certified animal behaviorists in your area, if needed. http://www.avsabonline.org/resources/find-consult I have seen many puppies who were successfullly converted into outgoing social dogs, as they gani their confidence over time. So there is hope. Best of luck with Sie and I hope that things continue to improve. Take care.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. It sounds as though Lacey has become anxious / stressed by something. If your husband was wearing a hat or clothes that scared Lacey, this could prompt her to develop a fear of him. If she is adopted, maybe she had a previous experience that was recently triggered by something your husband did (loud noise, etc.). I would recommend having your husband walk her regularly, give her lots of treats and make her do tricks for them, etc. Have him spend more time with her and if the behavior does not correct itself, I would maybe have her examined by a veterinarian so that the most appropriate diagnostic and treatment recommendations can be made. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions / concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. He may just be scared and needs time to get used to people petting him on the head. I would associate treats with being pet on the head so that he enjoys it rather than fears it. I hope this helps!

Hello. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I recently raised a litter of puppies from a dog I adopted, & at about the same age, 1 of the puppies became very shy & scared. If you picked her up, she would sometimes scream like she was being murdered. With extra attention, over the next 4 weeks, she became much calmer & less anxious. She was never as assured as her litter mates, and all I can hope is she continues to mature & do well. All animals have different personalities, & at this young age, you cannot say how one will turn out. Give him as much of your attention as possible, & when it comes time to place him ( if you decide to ), it might be best to find someone with some experience raising dogs ( not a first-time dog owner ), & is possibly willing to put a little extra time in to train & socialize this pup. Take care.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! These types of behavior can improve though this does require in person training with the help of a qualified dog trainer. I would encourage you to contact a dog trainer that can work with you and her in person to really take care of this behavior. The sooner these behaviors are dealt with, the more likely it is that you can improve and resolve them. Good luck and have a good night!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sometimes dogs can get scared even when there does not appear to be anything scary in sight. Remember that they can hear and sense much better than us so he may be perceiving something that is near which you may not. This can improve but it can certainly become a bit difficult at times. I recommend that you start taking him out for longer periods but very slowly over the next several weeks. Encourage him to stay out with treats and positive words. Also, in the beginning just take him out without walking initially just to get him used to his surroundings. Eventually little by little he will learn that going outside equals getting treats and attention and will improve with time but it does require time and patience. You can consider using the Thunder shirt for him which you may find online and can help a lot in these cases. Good luck and have a great day!

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/