hi, please has anyone any advice, we picked up our new GR girl last Friday she is 8 weeks old and gorgeous. However she is quite nervous she wont look any body in the eye and when new people come to the house that she has not seen she doesnt no how to react she wont go near them she does not hide she is just very wary and wont wag her tail or say hello, she is fine with us as she is getting to trust and know us, I dont think she saw many people at the breeders and I dont think they were well socialised as pups they were kept in the back room and only saw the man and woman. We have started to take her out to school and shops in our arms to try and socailise her a little but does any body have any tips and advice how to make her feel comftable around people and to let her know that it's a exciting thing meeting new people. many thanks sarah

Hi,

First thing is to make sure she is confident with you ,your house and garden and don't push to many new experiences too soon.
Gradually intoduce people (adults) into the house and then children.
It saddens me that the breeders would have time to mate 2 dogs  but offer no real quality time for
proper socialisation for the puppies (if this is indeed the case)which is so vital.
Don't hurry your movements with her evertyhing you do like stroking,feeding,brushing ,steady ,calm and enough reassurance but don't overdo it otherwise you reinforce their is something to be worried about,hopefully with plenty of patience she will come round.Up till about 6-9 months preferably longer she wont need proper organised walks for exercise due to hip development,but obviously take her out for short socialisation on lead,in car SHORT distances,no climbing stairs.Your garden and house will provide enough exercise with short outings on a lead no more than 15-20 mins in total.
Intoduce other animals in a slow controlled manner perhaps when she more confident with her own immediate surrounding a friend perhaps visit with a well behaved conrolled quiet dog to begin with.

Once she gained your confidence put everyday objects on your kitchen floor for her to look at explore in her own time,perhaps an empty coke bottle,the hoover left upright but not switch on not too many things couple at a time
and she can go and sniff the if she want to,the use of safty gates between rooms is an excellent idea then perhaps you could use the hoover in one room and she can watch from a distance the other side of the gate,leave radio and televsion on for different background noises .

Is your pup KC R egistered and both parents hipscored eye tested ?you should have seen the original certs and given photocopies of the certs your breeder should aslo provided pedigree ,diet sheet,hint/tips general advice on how to raise your Retriever and good breeders are always availble for help and advice for the puppy 's lifetime.

Hopefully given enogh time and understanding she will grow to become
confident and outgoing which is so vital to the breed

Briony :-)

Hi ,

Please remember she is still only 8 weeks and joined a strange household and it make take her a couple of weeks to get used to that, especially if she was not the most outgoing girl in the litter .

Briony :-)