We got our girl just over a week ago and she is like two different dogs. In our home and in the backyard when she can run around she is confident, energetic, all wags and playing, and clearly loves us. She sleeps well in her crate, she's still on puppy pads because the breeder trained her on them and it just won't stop snowing and freezing rain here (please I'm waiting for spring) but she never misses. She is loving and intelligent, knowing several commands already.
If we pick her up (both to go outside or just sitting on the couch) or put her in a stroller or on a little mat outside she is absolutely petrified. Her entire body trembles and the few occasions we've had to do it for a long time starts panic panting. Sometimes she'll take treats in this state, sometimes not. But it will not stop no matter how long we wait. And pushing her through it when she's like that feels awful because she is completely shut down the entire time.
Then the very second you put her down again and let her move around it's all forgotten and she's all waggles and running around joyfully. She goes from 0 to 100 and back again with no period to really get her used to the scary parts before she is already shaking. The breeder did ENS with her and she absolutely is confident with new things but only when she's on the ground.
We are absolutely at a loss on how to socialize her for all she's going to need to do out there in the world once she gets her vaccines when the act of getting her out the door is terrifying her and not being able to run around under her own power makes her tremble so much she just hides in on herself. I've officially run out of ideas and could use some advice if anyone has had a fearful dog that's only really afraid some of the time.
submitted by /u/asiina
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