Hi
We have a 12 and a half week old female jack russel. she is good with family members inc my 2 year old toddler. She was the 'runt' of her litter.

We have found since taking her out and about (from 11 weeks) that she is fearful when out the house - she has made some improvement but initially we have to drag her on 'walks', after a period she gets into her stride and walks alongside or just behind. she shys away if someone passes by - and once growled when a young boy went to pet her while she was on her leash. This has really worried me and now im becoming really aware of the importance of socialising her. Trouble is im not sure how best to do it with her being so timid - im worried the wrong approach overwhelm her and back fire - triggering her 'fight' response. I am concerned incase she gets fearful and bites.

I have about 4 precious weeks until she is 16 weeks old. She is going to puppy class once a week (she is the most timid in the group but they are doing the socialising bit in a controlled way so she is only let off with another shy pup at the moment). Last week I invited a friend with a dog over and plan to do this again this week. It's difficult when we are out and about because she'll not sniff another dog/ person and shys away.

Also my trainer said if she's dragging on the leash to carry her not sure about this, don't want her to turn into a spoilt pup!!

I looked into dog creche but i simply cant afford £15 per hour which is what they want!!!

Any other advise about how i can socialise my shy pup+++ inexpensively in 4 weeks (and beyond!)

p.s. the lady i got her from since told me her mum had probs with nervousness (which she has since overcome) so think its an inbuilt trait??

Did you not carry her about to socialise her before her jabs were finished? That way, pups get used to all the scary stuff from the safety of being tucked into your jacket. Then when they get to walk around, it's all old hat and not frightening.

If you didn't do that, you've got a lot of catching up to do.

Take a load of treats out with you, sit on a bench somewhere people/dogs/things/traffic are a distance away where she's not scared, give her a treat whenever the scary thing comes nearer and she doesn't react. Having your friend's dog to visit will help too. If she's better being carried, then carry her.

It may well be at least in part down to her breeding if her mother was the same. I wouldn't buy a pup whose parents were nervous, and believe that constituionally nervous dogs should not be bred from.

I found that sitting on a bench outside a supermarket was great socialisation - watching the world go by - kids, adults, wheelchairs, crutches, trollies, bikes, other dogs etc. I was doing it last year in the freezing cold, but do think that it's well worth it. Lots of people also come to talk to you sat there with a pup, so they get used to people approaching.

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You could also try sitting outside a school.
If you have a toddler, try to invite some other parents and their kids and just see how she goes with that. If it gets too much, she can escape to a different room or her crate that way?
Just try to get out to as many different places as possible now.

sitting outside the supermarket/school etc is a great idea, the puppy classes will help a lot too it will take time and patience but I'm sure if you follow the advice given from others here and continue with the puppy classes she will get more comfortable around people and other dogs

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Raw fed since 2010

carrying would be better than dragging.. you want walking on a lead to be enjoyable not terrifying and unpleasant :-( time for lead walking when she's more confident.. but try chicken to encourage and also get her out and about even from the safety of your arms until she gets used to things... meet lots of nice people and lovely dogs to build her confidence.....socialisation doesn't stop at 16 weeks, as long as you've started it'll continue, but you need to do as much as possible without terrifying her before then.

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Penny
Funfastquick Agility Dogs