Hi,

We got Tamino at 10 weeks and have been taking him out with us since then.  Before he got his second vaccinations we always carried him, we never let hm walk.  But the thing is even though he has been out with us since then (he will be 15 weeks in 2 days) he is very wary of other people.  The strange thing is he will walk through a crowd without flinching, he is marvelous he isn't worried, and he listens to me.  But the moment anyone tries to pet him he backs off and hides behinde my legs.  I did make sure that the people who petted him gave him a treat and stroked behind his ears, and he has met some 60 odd people already and he hasen't any bad experiences to my knowledge.  He's fine with other dogs, he even met next doors Great Dane , Shere Kahn, and he wasn't scared.

Is it possable that I have caused this as we got him on a Saturday and he went to his first puppy class on the next Wedensday.  Should I have waited?  Is there anything I can do to help him, or is he just going through an avoidance peroid.

Thanks

Kate

Is he like this with ALL other people or just some ?
I am wondering whether its because some people may make quick movements towards him when they go to pet him and scare him off a little ?
I wouldnt reassure him at these times just act as normal and chatter to the people etc and in time he should be fine :)

yes, talk normally and friendly to all the people and just act like it's no big deal.  there are some dogs that are more aloof than others.  what kind of dog it it?  if it is an especially tiny dog, it might be really submissive.  or a dobermann, who should be sort of aloof.  the breed matters here when trying to figure out why.  maybe it just doesn't want to be pet by everyone.  make sure to tell people that want to pet him to not go over his head or behind his ears.  this is a dominant move on a dog.  make sure they hold their hands out for him to sniff and then go under his chin for that first pat.  this is less threatening to the dog. 
otherwise, continue to socialize him and take him out with you.  he will be okay.  15 weeks is still pretty young. 

He is a Swedish Vallhund.  I know what you mean by the breed matters.  Swedish Vallhunds shouldn't be jumping all over people when they meet them but they shouldn't be hiding behind legs either.  They are supposed to be friendly.  I do ask people to pet his chin first and they do, but most people just move too fast. He is fine if the people and I just talk, he sits or stands by me.  He generally shies away from 85% of all people.  But if we just stand there he will go up and sniff around their ankles.

I am quite worried as all the puppies in our class are very friendly and go up to everyone and Tamino is very "Me" orientated.  He never will do anything for the trainer.  We have an exercise that we always start the class with, the trainer stands in the middle of of a loose circle of puppies and owners, at her signal we all walk into a tight circle around the trainer.  She then kneels down and pets the puppies, usually all the puppies jump up on her but Tamino never does, he either sniffs her or plays with another puppy.  The first time we did this she told me not to force him only to let him come as close as he wants, that time he stayed about 2 meters away, but now he walks right in the circle.  In training though he is the best in his class. :D

At home he is quite a cocky puppy, never hesitating to tell us what he wants.

Thanks I feel more reassured now.

Kate

Hi Kate :-) perhaps he just feels intimidated when people tower over him some dogs do,  do you get him to approach people with a tipbit rather than they going to him? This sometimes helps also to get them to crouch down so they look less threatening untill he gets more confident?

good idea, redoor, about crouching down low and handing it a treat first.  i know my aunt gives small children a treat to show her doberman as they aproach him.  it is like a peace offereing of sorts!

It's a good idea too to try to get peope to approach him sideways on rather than front on to start with and then approach front on when he knows them; this is part of calming body language and helps to signal to a dog that the person is no threat. It does help a lot; a friend who was a dog warden used some of these calming signals when approaching strange or aggressive dogs and it worked very well for her.

There is a book about calming signals by Turid Rugaas.

It may be better to let the youngster approach in the way the trainer recommeds, at his own speed, rather than make him accept people. He may learn quicker this way; my pup wasn't used to men when i got her and shied away from them for the first week, but i let her off lead (this was at home) and the visitor ignored her, just chatted as normal, and then i gave him her toy and she realised he was friendly and was happy to interact. They're all a bit different though! :)

Lindsay