I'm a hypocrite.

[Kelly]

So.

Betty is a great representation of the breed. She's social, lovey, well rounded.. just a great dog! Her only issue is barky/scared of larger dogs. Not so bad, really. Anyone can hold her, she loves ANYBODY and kids too.

Goose, on the other hand... man, I feel like a failure!

He's skittish, nervous, terribly barky, screams when someone else tries to hold him, he's attached to my leg if I'm sitting down and terrified of me when I'm walking around the house. I treat him the same as I do Betty, atleast.. I did. But the screaming when someone else holds him gets me.. it's terrible. My spouse actually thought we had hurt him tonight.

I've taken him to baseball games, pet stores, he goes on walks all the time and he just... won't get over it. He was a preemie, and had to be handfed.. his spot on his head is fairly large... I tend to coddle him because of that, but in general I have a very "It's a dog, he'll get over it" attitude. Only, it's gotten WORSE not better. I can force him to deal with things, and he seems to get a little better but then regresses 10000%. I can only put him through so much before I worry about his poor wee heart.

Ofcourse, tonight, I hand him to my friend and he SCREAMS like the dead are after him.. so I take him back and console him. He particularly does not like this girl.. she is a good person, great with pets, Betty loves her. He just DOESN'T. Usually, people come in, he barks.. I tell them to ignore him completely (no eye contact, etc) and he stops barking eventually and comes for attention. Not her. Can't tell why either.. no one else is afraid of/dislikes her. Anyways... I consoled him and BAM! I realize.. OMG... I am one of the people I disagree with! Consoling a dog when I should be setting an example for him of behaviour I expect!

*sigh* Vent over.

I won't be giving up trying.. but it sure doesn't seem to be helping at all.

[brodysmom]

Dont' blame yourself Kelly. Some dogs just have different temperaments. Betty has a more stable personality/temperament than Goose. It's not anything you did or didn't do most likely. But next time you hand him to someone and he screams, dont' console him. LOL. I know you know that! But that is just rewarding his obnoxious behavior. It's easy to do though.

Just keep on trying to socialize him a little at a time. Some dogs, no matter how much you try, never get over their fearfulness. It is just in their nature. Just accept him for who he is.

[Sarah]

Let him scream dogs can only freak for so long donttake him back til he's calmed down whilst someone else is holding him. I think you need to de sensitise him I went through a similar thing daisy is so social she makes me feel like a hermit lol lotus isn't so much she barks at strangers she's over her fear she now barks because she wants to play! Anyway I randomly got people I didn't know o hold her so she is way better she use to buck for a bit but now she just looks pissed off ad goes to sleep which is fine by me!!

I agree though it's not your fault somejust are like that

And I avoid all dogs bigger than a yorkie lol

[tallulahcouture]

I agree..its just the personality of some dogs.. some a social butterflies and some are awkward in busy surroundings.

We go to training classes and Lula doesn't like many of the big dogs there. (she stands behind my legs to avoid them)
Our trainers have told us to let her do that if she feels comfotable. There is not point forcing a dog to be sociable if she doesn't feel happy. If she stands quietly behind my legs than thats fine...she's not doing any harm.

Maybe have a safe space where goose can go hide when there are strangers in the house and have a little blanket that can be taken out with you where Goose can hide if you're out

[Lucy]

Don't blame yourself! As everyone else has said, some dogs are just like that. Chaos isn't phased by anything (unless I tell him no, then he screams bloody murder) and Kiki is fine as long as the other two arent barking lol. Gambit isn't too bad with humans once he's smelled their hands but for the most part he's not very sociable, especially with other dogs and I don't think he ever will be.

I'm not saying to just accept it and let him continue lol but just don't be too hard on yourself

[jesuschick]

Well, then you are in my company. You have described my two EXACTLY. Except instead of screaming, Ruby will flail out of someone's arms (dangerous) if we hand her to them.
Hope has NEVER met a stranger and Ruby has decided until you have been to our home a few times, you will be treated like a stranger.
Both came form good environments so I have no explanation except that personalities are different. One is JUST like me and the other is EXACTLY like my husband.

[Paula]

I agree, don't blame yourself. As others have said, dogs just have different temperaments and personalities, we do out best, but some of is simply inborn. I did everything right with my Pom, socialized her like crazy, and she still had fear issues and was very temperamental. She took ages to warm up to strangers too.

[Sarah]

I think it depends on the setting too if you bring little dogs into my house then lotus is fine with you! Take Lucy for example she met her here with her dogs had a growl at the dogs to tell them it's her house but was fine with Lucy whereas if shed come in on her own she would have woofed the house down!!

Same with Louise and Chris couldn't care less because she likes their dogs!!

I think sometimes it's good to put things in their perspective everything is giant to them