I've got an 11 and a half week old pup who has just started going out for walks. Shes quite a sensitive soul, which is quite normal for her breed, but from very socialable parents. She has met lots of people inside, at home and at work and is fine. Now that i am taking her out she finds the world a very scary place. Shes terrified of traffic, so i'm desensitising her by taking her to places where the traffic is some distance away and playing and treating etc and she's getting better. However my new challenge is that she seems terrified of people outside. I know she is already sensitised outside so this could possibly be why she sees them as ompletely differnt when outside, but she has started growling and barking as people go past which is deffinately not something i want to allow her to do. I've tried calling her to me and giving a treat as they go past and having her some distance away so that she can jsut sit and watch as i'm very aware that i don't want to over face her, but i'm not sure if this is the way to go. I've never seen a pup like this before and its got me worried.

My pup was wary of EVERYTHING when he first started going outside. I was very worried about his shyness around strangers due to the fact he's a guarding breed so I spent a lot of time with him outside of the school waiting for my boys as he found children much less scarey, he enjoyed the attention from the kids and while being fussed by all the kids he didn't get frightened of the adults.
When out without kids about he would get a treat as soon as a person came into view, he soon associated people with treats, but as I had focused so much on simply making a positive association I was soon faced with a huge puppy that was very exited to see people and I had a job to hold him :(  You really wouldn't beleive that this huge dog who now wants to say hello to everybody was a shy little pup that would lay on the floor and wet himself because he found the outside world such a scarey place.
I think the way you are doing it (sit & treat) is great as you are also teaching pup to take on the sit posistion, so when she finally realises people=treats, she should already have some manners :)

I'm sure an experienced poster could offer you some more advice.

Hi Lucy,

Just a thought (But this only relys on the fact that I may or maynot have remembered rightly that your little 'un is a Kelpie??)
If so, might be worth bashing off an email  here Kelpie trainer... she may be happy to give you some advice/good tips?
HTH!

Try not to worry. Many pups go through a growling and barking phase at things they are anxious about. At least she's not cowering away. I'd just try to jolly her along and, as you are, use distraction, games and titbits, to get her thinking about other things. Don't overwhelm her just gradually build up to things she is uncomfortable with but be matter of fact. Don't make too much of anything and anticipate, anticipate, so you can get your distraction in before she gets too aroused.

These things don't happen overnight so be patient and I'm sure things will work out. Remember growling and barking are just doggie forms of communication, she's saying "Mum I'm a bit uncomfortable about this", it does not indicate a monster in the making. Think of all the toddlers who cry and scream when things get uncomfortable. If you always appear, calm, no nonsense and in control she'll be led by you. Dogs monitor our reactions constantly and are often watching us even when we think they aren't.

I expect that when she gets more comfortable with the big wide world outside of the security of home her fear of strangers will ease too.  In the meantime, can you set up a situation where she meets strangers outside?   Ask someone she does not know to meet you outside and ask them to approach you slowly, with both of you ignoring the pup.  When you've had a brief chat and your pup is calm ask the "stranger" to give you pup a treat and a pat.

Just a quick update, Molly is slowly getting better outside, not quite as bad as she was, although still nervy. My big problem is she is now barking and growling badly at children, which is a nightmare! Trouble is i don't really have any friends with children, and she isn't getting enough contact with them on a day to day basis to work on it. I used to walk near the school at pick up time when my other pups were younger, but because i'm at work then i can't do that now. She was ok with children coming into where i work previously but now shes started being really nasty, which is a right pain.

If you want/need child contact have a look for a local Brownies or Cubs.  You can then either call in and have a word with the organisers to see if you can arrange a formal situation for her to meet them OR just be walking past as the children arrive.  The difficulty with this time of year is that people don't want to be outside too long in the cold!!

There are other places to meet children but more structured activities are best as you're more likely to meet sensible organisers that would be willing to help you.  They may even let you sit in the hall to watch for a while or help to safely manage the children around the puppy.  Obviously security will be a question that may need to be addressed but a female with a puppy is likely to cause less concern and if you asked in person there is little reason for them to refuse to help you.  I took my puppy to the village Sunday School to introduce him to the tinies and there is a toddler group we still go and say hello to from time to time: it's good for the dog and the children :)