I am an 18 week old Doberman pup named Blade. I am one of the most tender and loving pups ever and i love to meet new people and am very sociable, my mummy and daddy say my obedience is second to none already but i do have a small problem..... i am scared of other dogs!( any size ). I am very obedient so i don't run off, but i tend to hide behind my dads legs, usually weeing at the same time. I went to a visit back to my breeders house 2 weeks ago ( she kept one of my sisters called Maggie for showing later on ) and when i walked into the kitchen I think I recognised Maggie and spent hours playing rough and tumble with her and thoroughly enjoyed it!! But that is the only other doggie I have ever played with, i am scared of all the rest, even on the lead i am nervous and would love to play each day in the park. Please could you help me!!

Blade xxxx

Blade, don't worry, I used to feel the same, I'm sure your Mum will take you to places where you can see and meet lots of other dogs and you will soon get used to meeting them and start to feel much better. Even if you don't want to be a show dog perhaps Mum could take you to a ringcraft class where you will meet lots of dogs and people will come up and stroke you, you can always sit between Mums knees until you feel able to join in. All the best, Solomon

Woof Blade

If you don't have any ringcraft classes near to you, even though you are letting us down by being well behaved, you're not supposed to do that you know! It's OK to know what to do - just don't let the humans know you know - catch my drift?

You could ask your mum to try obedience classes but remember - they are for training your owner not you;-) They are a good way of meeting other dogs too.

How old are you? I am just one and I don't like strange men. Don't mind dogs as long as they want to play, but those men things are weird. My new pal Buddy is 16 weeks and he is an embarrassment, he is doing it all wrong. He's not scared of anything and is so relaxed. I keep trying to wind him up but he just swings on my ears instead - don't know what I'm going to do with him. But he is starting to learn - he has started to eat poo - our mum is not happy. There is hope for him yet:-)

woof and licks

Jasper

Hi Blade,

I am a nine month doberbitch called Maverick and when I first went out into the wide world I would not even get out of the car. At obedience classes I sat in the corner of the hall or behind the greenhouse if it was in the instructors garden.

However, my mistress did not reassure me just took it for granted that I would join in and praised me each time I even sniffed noses with another dog. She took me out and about lots, especially to things called exemption shows where there are lots of dogs around (I made her carry me to start with though).

Sunday she took me round a show with lots of dogs although we were not entered and yesterday to a village fete - where she made me practice my obedience and had lots of people give me a tiny bit of liver. By the end of the afternoon I was enjoying it and I don't think I am shy any more.

Maverick

Hi Blade, nice to meet you. My name is Harris and I'm nearly 7 months old you know and I'm one of the big boys now ;-) Well I used to be very frightened of other dogs, I still am wary of them sometimes cos my mam says you have to be careful cos not all dogs are as friendly as me anyway my mam took me to these puppy playgroup classes and I was a bit a scared at first. But then after a couple of weeks I noticed that I was much bigger than some of the other dogs so why should I be scared, they're just babies anyway. My mam wasn't scared either and she's a real softy really, says I hurt her when I try to nibble her hand but that's just what I do :rolleyes: Anyway if she's not scared then why should I be AND if I'm nice to the other dogs and not scared I get a tasty tidbit but if I am scared she just ignores me well let me tell you I like those tasty tidbits so I'm not gonna be scared anymore. The playgroups were fun and I got to play rough and tumble with all the other pups, I tried to boss some of them around but mam said I wouldn't get a tidbit if I did that so I tried to stop but you know sometimes those little terriers need putting in their place!

She also took me to obediance classes where I met loads of other dogs, some were a bit older than me but those tasty tidbits won again. I know I am a bit greedy sometimes but I just can't resist a bit of frankfurter and if I have to be good and brave to get it then who cares :-)