Hi

I recently got a new puppy seberian husky male 3 months old. The owner I got him from said that he has never been socialised never seen or been touched by other people apart from the owner. When I first got him he was scared and was hiding. he was ok at the vets but yesterday in the evening at home everytime i go to pick him up (lying or standing up) he would run away and hide he seems scared. He doesnt respond to me .....I know it will take a while before he will gets use to me but is there anything i can do as i do not want him to be scared or keep running away from me ....... thank you

i would stop trying to pick him up unless you need to. imagine how you'd feel with someone you didn't trust picking you up?

how can this person have treated this puppy that way :angry:

i'd think sitting quietly on the floor and throwing him the occasional titbit might be a good way to start so he associates you with nice things. no loud noises or quick movement etc, just very relaxed.

Hi astarte

Thanx for the advice... I dont pick him up all the time its only when he hides under things or behind things. he seems to do that. i do give him the treats from time to time to slowly get him to like me but he just likes to smell it and thats it.

Hi,

How long have you had him? Does he choose to come to you at all, is he just running and hiding when you go to him? If he's hiding behind or under things it's because he feels scared and wants to retreat so unless he's somewhere that's dangerous for him to be then leave him where he is and let him come out in his own time.  It often works well to give dogs that are scared a little den that they can retreat to when they are worried, maybe set him up an open crate with a blanket laid over the top of it as his little safe haven.

As already said above, don't push him and really avoid picking him up, you need him to trust you before you get him used to being handled as other wise you could make him more scared.  Is he eating meals?  Would he come to you to eat out of his food bowl, if he would do that you could start hand feeding him out of his food bowl for a while to build up a good association with you and to gain a bit of trust from him.  If he's not ready for that if you could pop the food bowl down with part of his dinner in it and sit at what ever distance away he can cope with and still eat, when he has finished slowly go over tho the bowl without making eye contact and add some more food and repeat.  Then gradually move closer, this could take a while and should be done at his pace.

Try sitting on the floor, relaxed whilst watching telly or something and ignore what he's up to and let him come to you if he wants, try avoiding eye contact as this can be quite intimidating for some dogs.

It amy also be worth trying a DAP collar on him, you can get these on line or at a lot of vets, the release a pheremone that is an replicates a pheremone that is released by a lactating bitch and it can help with confidence and help scared dogs feel more secure.

> It amy also be worth trying a DAP collar on him, you can get these on line or at a lot of vets, the release a pheremone that is an replicates a pheremone that is released by a lactating bitch and it can help with confidence and help scared dogs feel more secure

that and a diffuser to boost it more i'd say, other than that i totally agree.

Hi karenclynes

I've had him for nearly a week now. He doesnt come to me at all. he only runs when i pick him up. This morning when i woke up i found him hiding behind the tv. He's eating fine no problem but he's not eating out of my hands just yet.....

I'd forget about trying to pick him up - he obviously hates it, and the more you try the worse he'll become. Sit on the floor with some titbits and let him come to you in his own time. The covered 'den' idea is great as it will give him somewhere he feels safe - and certainly safer than behind the TV where there are dangerous electric cables to chew.

The poor lad's clearly not had an ideal start in life which is something you'll have to carefully overcome.

thank you everyone for all the advice i will do everything and see how it goes.....the poor lad hasnt had a great start....before I adopted him the previous owner use to keep him outside all day rain or shine since he was a small......hes never been inside the house up untill i got him....

> This morning when i woke up i found him hiding behind the tv

A covered den will give him a secure place to go but also do try and prevent him from getting to anywhere that could be dangerous.  It sounds from your comment above that he has the run of your living area at night?  If his area is too large it might be making him more nervous.  Can you use babygates to keep him in a smaller, more contained, area?  I would try sitting quietly in the same room as him for regular periods, you don't need to engage him at this stage but have a box of tasty treats to drop from time to time.  Sit somewhere he can get a good view of you and just read a book.  He will prefer the lack of movement and no eye contact and he'll just watch you for a while.

If you need him to move anywhere do it by luring him with treats but remember not to walk toward him or get him to face you.  A side approach is more effective.  He will come round but it may be a very long process so take care not to rush him - if you try to pick him up again all your hard work could be undone.

Can I ask - how are you managing toilet training with him?  What's he like in the garden?

Has the owner said why hes never been touched by/socialised with anyone else until then????

poor pup, he would benefit with his own bed/crate, patience from you, steady routine introduced into his life...give him his meals in his crate, and try feeding him it by hand too - he needs to learn to trust you.

take each step at a time, dont overload him with too much at first as it could have negative effects, once he can trust you and has his confidence built up, you can start socialisation, like friends coming over to see him, then venturing out with him..

let us know ;)

Hi Rachel,

I am new to this forum and this is my first post. I have a 1 year old Sibe as well. What I am trying to say is I agree with all the suggestions from all the other members have given so far.

All I want to say is that he is still young and, needless to say, his first time away from his pack. Sibes are well known for their friendliness ( to a fault, if I can hasten to add ! ) and ,yes, as suggested before, try not to pick him up just yet because of his nervousness. He has to come to you! Sit down on the carpet or floor, avoid eye contact (as suggested) and entice him with his favourite treats or favorite toy. Has he got a favourite squeaky toy? Try to go down to his level i.e. sitting down but not standing up. Please let him come to you and not to overcrowd him by bending over and picking him up at this stage? It may take a little bit of time and patience but I am very sure he will overcome this nervousness of his..........