My 3 months old (a terrier-black lab mix) puppy has an incontrollable fear
of the christmas tree box that stays over the top of a cabinet in my garage.
My wife tried some things to get rid of his fear:
1-let the box in his reach for a while, so he would get closer to the box by
himself - no good results
2-My wife got inside the box and tried to play with him.. nothing
3-Put him inside the box (without the christmas tree inside, of course)...
even worse, he urinated by fear

Since we got him (8 weeks old), he's shown very fearfull behavior... two
weeks ago, he got his last parvo shot, then we started taking him to the dog
park, trying to let him socialize with other dogs, but he doesn't want to
play with other dogs, only to stay close to us. I can see that he gets a lot
scared when other dogs came to smell him (ears down and pointed back, fur on
his back raises). Additionally he's afraid of people... Every time a friend
of mine comes to visit, I let him in trying to socialize him. It takes a lot
of time to get him used to my friends, and I have to instruct them to go
easy and not to make abrupt movements, or he gets scared.

Any hints?

Padu

On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 10:25:38 -0800, "Padu" wrote:

My 3 months old (a terrier-black lab mix) puppy has an incontrollable fear
of the christmas tree box that stays over the top of a cabinet in my garage.
My wife tried some things to get rid of his fear:
1-let the box in his reach for a while, so he would get closer to the box by
himself - no good results
2-My wife got inside the box and tried to play with him.. nothing
3-Put him inside the box (without the christmas tree inside, of course)...
even worse, he urinated by fear

Yikes. Get rid of that box immediately. Purge your life of that box.
The box is bad and will always be bad. Keep your fake christmas tree
in something else.

Since we got him (8 weeks old), he's shown very fearfull behavior... two
weeks ago, he got his last parvo shot, then we started taking him to the dog
park, trying to let him socialize with other dogs, but he doesn't want to
play with other dogs, only to stay close to us. I can see that he gets a lot
scared when other dogs came to smell him (ears down and pointed back, fur on
his back raises). Additionally he's afraid of people... Every time a friend
of mine comes to visit, I let him in trying to socialize him. It takes a lot
of time to get him used to my friends, and I have to instruct them to go
easy and not to make abrupt movements, or he gets scared.

You are doing exactly the right thing here. Be patient.

Any hints?

Padu

Fully indulge his need for security and privacy at this point. Be
very gentle with him, and don't ask him to do anything socially that
makes him uncomfortable. The more you trigger the fearful behavior,
the worse it will get. The less it is triggered, the better.

Over time, you can use treats and rewards to help him develop more
positive associations with things he now fears... but first, keep him
calm and comfortable, whatever that takes.

Melanie L. Chang, our group cheerleader, has a fearful dog who is
being treated by one of the world's top experts, Dr. Karen Overall,
Director of the Behavior Clinic of the School of Veterinary Medicine
at the University of Pennsylvania. Here is what Overall recommends
generally in dealing with dogs:
___________________________

-- Practice deferential behaviors.
-- Do not use physical punishment.
-- Teach the dog that you are not a threat.
-- Reward good behaviors, even when they are spontaneous.
-- Don't worry about minor details -- none of us are perfect.
-- Always let the dog know he can have treats, love, or toys if he
sits quietly first.
-- Never do something just because you can.
-- Talk to your dog. Use his or her name. SIgnal clearly.
-- Be reliable and trustworthy.
___________________________

Good luck.

Charlie

On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 10:25:38 -0800, "Padu" wrote:

My 3 months old (a terrier-black lab mix) puppy has an incontrollable fear
of the christmas tree box that stays over the top of a cabinet in my garage.
My wife tried some things to get rid of his fear:
1-let the box in his reach for a while, so he would get closer to the box by
himself - no good results
2-My wife got inside the box and tried to play with him.. nothing
3-Put him inside the box (without the christmas tree inside, of course)...
even worse, he urinated by fear

Yikes. Get rid of that box immediately. Purge your life of that box.
The box is bad and will always be bad. Keep your fake christmas tree
in something else.

Since we got him (8 weeks old), he's shown very fearfull behavior... two
weeks ago, he got his last parvo shot, then we started taking him to the dog
park, trying to let him socialize with other dogs, but he doesn't want to
play with other dogs, only to stay close to us. I can see that he gets a lot
scared when other dogs came to smell him (ears down and pointed back, fur on
his back raises). Additionally he's afraid of people... Every time a friend
of mine comes to visit, I let him in trying to socialize him. It takes a lot
of time to get him used to my friends, and I have to instruct them to go
easy and not to make abrupt movements, or he gets scared.

You are doing exactly the right thing here. Be patient.

Any hints?

Padu

Fully indulge his need for security and privacy at this point. Be
very gentle with him, and don't ask him to do anything socially that
makes him uncomfortable. The more you trigger the fearful behavior,
the worse it will get. The less it is triggered, the better.

Over time, you can use treats and rewards to help him develop more
positive associations with things he now fears... but first, keep him
calm and comfortable, whatever that takes.

Melanie L. Chang, our group cheerleader, has a fearful dog who is
being treated by one of the world's top experts, Dr. Karen Overall,
Director of the Behavior Clinic of the School of Veterinary Medicine
at the University of Pennsylvania. Here is what Overall recommends
generally in dealing with dogs:
___________________________

-- Practice deferential behaviors.
-- Do not use physical punishment.
-- Teach the dog that you are not a threat.
-- Reward good behaviors, even when they are spontaneous.
-- Don't worry about minor details -- none of us are perfect.
-- Always let the dog know he can have treats, love, or toys if he
sits quietly first.
-- Never do something just because you can.
-- Talk to your dog. Use his or her name. SIgnal clearly.
-- Be reliable and trustworthy.
___________________________

Good luck.

Charlie

On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 10:25:38 -0800, "Padu" wrote:

My 3 months old (a terrier-black lab mix) puppy has an incontrollable fear
of the christmas tree box that stays over the top of a cabinet in my garage.
My wife tried some things to get rid of his fear:
1-let the box in his reach for a while, so he would get closer to the box by
himself - no good results
2-My wife got inside the box and tried to play with him.. nothing
3-Put him inside the box (without the christmas tree inside, of course)...
even worse, he urinated by fear

Yikes. Get rid of that box immediately. Purge your life of that box.
The box is bad and will always be bad. Keep your fake christmas tree
in something else.

Since we got him (8 weeks old), he's shown very fearfull behavior... two
weeks ago, he got his last parvo shot, then we started taking him to the dog
park, trying to let him socialize with other dogs, but he doesn't want to
play with other dogs, only to stay close to us. I can see that he gets a lot
scared when other dogs came to smell him (ears down and pointed back, fur on
his back raises). Additionally he's afraid of people... Every time a friend
of mine comes to visit, I let him in trying to socialize him. It takes a lot
of time to get him used to my friends, and I have to instruct them to go
easy and not to make abrupt movements, or he gets scared.

You are doing exactly the right thing here. Be patient.

Any hints?

Padu

Fully indulge his need for security and privacy at this point. Be
very gentle with him, and don't ask him to do anything socially that
makes him uncomfortable. The more you trigger the fearful behavior,
the worse it will get. The less it is triggered, the better.

Over time, you can use treats and rewards to help him develop more
positive associations with things he now fears... but first, keep him
calm and comfortable, whatever that takes.

Melanie L. Chang, our group cheerleader, has a fearful dog who is
being treated by one of the world's top experts, Dr. Karen Overall,
Director of the Behavior Clinic of the School of Veterinary Medicine
at the University of Pennsylvania. Here is what Overall recommends
generally in dealing with dogs:
___________________________

-- Practice deferential behaviors.
-- Do not use physical punishment.
-- Teach the dog that you are not a threat.
-- Reward good behaviors, even when they are spontaneous.
-- Don't worry about minor details -- none of us are perfect.
-- Always let the dog know he can have treats, love, or toys if he
sits quietly first.
-- Never do something just because you can.
-- Talk to your dog. Use his or her name. SIgnal clearly.
-- Be reliable and trustworthy.
___________________________

Good luck.

Charlie

Remember this is from a drug addict that wants to have his mother
killed.....As seen below in his own words...

I have a tendency to be creeped out by nursing homes. My mother
is in
one now. She is a brain-dead vegetable dying in slow increments.
I'll pay you cash to go kill her right now -- email me if
interested.

Charlie


"Charlie Wilkes" wrote in


"Charlie Wilkes" wrote in
message ...
: On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 10:25:38 -0800, "Padu"
wrote:
:
: My 3 months old (a terrier-black lab mix) puppy has an
incontrollable fear
: of the christmas tree box that stays over the top of a cabinet
in my garage.
: My wife tried some things to get rid of his fear:
: 1-let the box in his reach for a while, so he would get closer
to the box by
: himself - no good results
: 2-My wife got inside the box and tried to play with him..
nothing
: 3-Put him inside the box (without the christmas tree inside,
of course)...
: even worse, he urinated by fear
:
: Yikes. Get rid of that box immediately. Purge your life of
that box.
: The box is bad and will always be bad. Keep your fake
christmas tree
: in something else.
:
: Since we got him (8 weeks old), he's shown very fearfull
behavior... two
: weeks ago, he got his last parvo shot, then we started taking
him to the dog
: park, trying to let him socialize with other dogs, but he
doesn't want to
: play with other dogs, only to stay close to us. I can see that
he gets a lot
: scared when other dogs came to smell him (ears down and
pointed back, fur on
: his back raises). Additionally he's afraid of people... Every
time a friend
: of mine comes to visit, I let him in trying to socialize him.
It takes a lot
: of time to get him used to my friends, and I have to instruct
them to go
: easy and not to make abrupt movements, or he gets scared.
:
: You are doing exactly the right thing here. Be patient.
:
: Any hints?
:
: Padu
:
: Fully indulge his need for security and privacy at this point.
Be
: very gentle with him, and don't ask him to do anything socially
that
: makes him uncomfortable. The more you trigger the fearful
behavior,
: the worse it will get. The less it is triggered, the better.
:
: Over time, you can use treats and rewards to help him develop
more
: positive associations with things he now fears... but first,
keep him
: calm and comfortable, whatever that takes.
:
: Melanie L. Chang, our group cheerleader, has a fearful dog who
is
: being treated by one of the world's top experts, Dr. Karen
Overall,
: Director of the Behavior Clinic of the School of Veterinary
Medicine
: at the University of Pennsylvania. Here is what Overall
recommends
: generally in dealing with dogs:
: ___________________________
:
: -- Practice deferential behaviors.
: -- Do not use physical punishment.
: -- Teach the dog that you are not a threat.
: -- Reward good behaviors, even when they are spontaneous.
: -- Don't worry about minor details -- none of us are perfect.
: -- Always let the dog know he can have treats, love, or toys if
he
: sits quietly first.
: -- Never do something just because you can.
: -- Talk to your dog. Use his or her name. SIgnal clearly.
: -- Be reliable and trustworthy.
: ___________________________
:
: Good luck.
:
: Charlie
:

Remember this is from a drug addict that wants to have his mother
killed.....As seen below in his own words...

I have a tendency to be creeped out by nursing homes. My mother
is in
one now. She is a brain-dead vegetable dying in slow increments.
I'll pay you cash to go kill her right now -- email me if
interested.

Charlie


"Charlie Wilkes" wrote in


"Charlie Wilkes" wrote in
message ...
: On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 10:25:38 -0800, "Padu"
wrote:
:
: My 3 months old (a terrier-black lab mix) puppy has an
incontrollable fear
: of the christmas tree box that stays over the top of a cabinet
in my garage.
: My wife tried some things to get rid of his fear:
: 1-let the box in his reach for a while, so he would get closer
to the box by
: himself - no good results
: 2-My wife got inside the box and tried to play with him..
nothing
: 3-Put him inside the box (without the christmas tree inside,
of course)...
: even worse, he urinated by fear
:
: Yikes. Get rid of that box immediately. Purge your life of
that box.
: The box is bad and will always be bad. Keep your fake
christmas tree
: in something else.
:
: Since we got him (8 weeks old), he's shown very fearfull
behavior... two
: weeks ago, he got his last parvo shot, then we started taking
him to the dog
: park, trying to let him socialize with other dogs, but he
doesn't want to
: play with other dogs, only to stay close to us. I can see that
he gets a lot
: scared when other dogs came to smell him (ears down and
pointed back, fur on
: his back raises). Additionally he's afraid of people... Every
time a friend
: of mine comes to visit, I let him in trying to socialize him.
It takes a lot
: of time to get him used to my friends, and I have to instruct
them to go
: easy and not to make abrupt movements, or he gets scared.
:
: You are doing exactly the right thing here. Be patient.
:
: Any hints?
:
: Padu
:
: Fully indulge his need for security and privacy at this point.
Be
: very gentle with him, and don't ask him to do anything socially
that
: makes him uncomfortable. The more you trigger the fearful
behavior,
: the worse it will get. The less it is triggered, the better.
:
: Over time, you can use treats and rewards to help him develop
more
: positive associations with things he now fears... but first,
keep him
: calm and comfortable, whatever that takes.
:
: Melanie L. Chang, our group cheerleader, has a fearful dog who
is
: being treated by one of the world's top experts, Dr. Karen
Overall,
: Director of the Behavior Clinic of the School of Veterinary
Medicine
: at the University of Pennsylvania. Here is what Overall
recommends
: generally in dealing with dogs:
: ___________________________
:
: -- Practice deferential behaviors.
: -- Do not use physical punishment.
: -- Teach the dog that you are not a threat.
: -- Reward good behaviors, even when they are spontaneous.
: -- Don't worry about minor details -- none of us are perfect.
: -- Always let the dog know he can have treats, love, or toys if
he
: sits quietly first.
: -- Never do something just because you can.
: -- Talk to your dog. Use his or her name. SIgnal clearly.
: -- Be reliable and trustworthy.
: ___________________________
:
: Good luck.
:
: Charlie
:

Remember this is from a drug addict that wants to have his mother
killed.....As seen below in his own words...

I have a tendency to be creeped out by nursing homes. My mother
is in
one now. She is a brain-dead vegetable dying in slow increments.
I'll pay you cash to go kill her right now -- email me if
interested.

Charlie


"Charlie Wilkes" wrote in


"Charlie Wilkes" wrote in
message ...
: On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 10:25:38 -0800, "Padu"
wrote:
:
: My 3 months old (a terrier-black lab mix) puppy has an
incontrollable fear
: of the christmas tree box that stays over the top of a cabinet
in my garage.
: My wife tried some things to get rid of his fear:
: 1-let the box in his reach for a while, so he would get closer
to the box by
: himself - no good results
: 2-My wife got inside the box and tried to play with him..
nothing
: 3-Put him inside the box (without the christmas tree inside,
of course)...
: even worse, he urinated by fear
:
: Yikes. Get rid of that box immediately. Purge your life of
that box.
: The box is bad and will always be bad. Keep your fake
christmas tree
: in something else.
:
: Since we got him (8 weeks old), he's shown very fearfull
behavior... two
: weeks ago, he got his last parvo shot, then we started taking
him to the dog
: park, trying to let him socialize with other dogs, but he
doesn't want to
: play with other dogs, only to stay close to us. I can see that
he gets a lot
: scared when other dogs came to smell him (ears down and
pointed back, fur on
: his back raises). Additionally he's afraid of people... Every
time a friend
: of mine comes to visit, I let him in trying to socialize him.
It takes a lot
: of time to get him used to my friends, and I have to instruct
them to go
: easy and not to make abrupt movements, or he gets scared.
:
: You are doing exactly the right thing here. Be patient.
:
: Any hints?
:
: Padu
:
: Fully indulge his need for security and privacy at this point.
Be
: very gentle with him, and don't ask him to do anything socially
that
: makes him uncomfortable. The more you trigger the fearful
behavior,
: the worse it will get. The less it is triggered, the better.
:
: Over time, you can use treats and rewards to help him develop
more
: positive associations with things he now fears... but first,
keep him
: calm and comfortable, whatever that takes.
:
: Melanie L. Chang, our group cheerleader, has a fearful dog who
is
: being treated by one of the world's top experts, Dr. Karen
Overall,
: Director of the Behavior Clinic of the School of Veterinary
Medicine
: at the University of Pennsylvania. Here is what Overall
recommends
: generally in dealing with dogs:
: ___________________________
:
: -- Practice deferential behaviors.
: -- Do not use physical punishment.
: -- Teach the dog that you are not a threat.
: -- Reward good behaviors, even when they are spontaneous.
: -- Don't worry about minor details -- none of us are perfect.
: -- Always let the dog know he can have treats, love, or toys if
he
: sits quietly first.
: -- Never do something just because you can.
: -- Talk to your dog. Use his or her name. SIgnal clearly.
: -- Be reliable and trustworthy.
: ___________________________
:
: Good luck.
:
: Charlie
:

"Charlie Wilkes" wrote


Yikes. Get rid of that box immediately. Purge your life of that box.
The box is bad and will always be bad. Keep your fake christmas tree
in something else.

You are doing exactly the right thing here. Be patient.
Fully indulge his need for security and privacy at this point. Be
very gentle with him, and don't ask him to do anything socially that
makes him uncomfortable. The more you trigger the fearful behavior,
the worse it will get. The less it is triggered, the better.

Over time, you can use treats and rewards to help him develop more
positive associations with things he now fears... but first, keep him
calm and comfortable, whatever that takes.

Melanie L. Chang, our group cheerleader, has a fearful dog who is
being treated by one of the world's top experts, Dr. Karen Overall,
Director of the Behavior Clinic of the School of Veterinary Medicine
at the University of Pennsylvania. Here is what Overall recommends
generally in dealing with dogs:
___________________________

-- Practice deferential behaviors.
-- Do not use physical punishment.
-- Teach the dog that you are not a threat.
-- Reward good behaviors, even when they are spontaneous.
-- Don't worry about minor details -- none of us are perfect.
-- Always let the dog know he can have treats, love, or toys if he
sits quietly first.
-- Never do something just because you can.
-- Talk to your dog. Use his or her name. SIgnal clearly.
-- Be reliable and trustworthy.
___________________________



I've read a recomendation in a book not to bring another puppy home until
the first one is at least 5 months old... in this case, would a new puppy
help my puppy to socialize better?

Padu

"Charlie Wilkes" wrote


Yikes. Get rid of that box immediately. Purge your life of that box.
The box is bad and will always be bad. Keep your fake christmas tree
in something else.

You are doing exactly the right thing here. Be patient.
Fully indulge his need for security and privacy at this point. Be
very gentle with him, and don't ask him to do anything socially that
makes him uncomfortable. The more you trigger the fearful behavior,
the worse it will get. The less it is triggered, the better.

Over time, you can use treats and rewards to help him develop more
positive associations with things he now fears... but first, keep him
calm and comfortable, whatever that takes.

Melanie L. Chang, our group cheerleader, has a fearful dog who is
being treated by one of the world's top experts, Dr. Karen Overall,
Director of the Behavior Clinic of the School of Veterinary Medicine
at the University of Pennsylvania. Here is what Overall recommends
generally in dealing with dogs:
___________________________

-- Practice deferential behaviors.
-- Do not use physical punishment.
-- Teach the dog that you are not a threat.
-- Reward good behaviors, even when they are spontaneous.
-- Don't worry about minor details -- none of us are perfect.
-- Always let the dog know he can have treats, love, or toys if he
sits quietly first.
-- Never do something just because you can.
-- Talk to your dog. Use his or her name. SIgnal clearly.
-- Be reliable and trustworthy.
___________________________



I've read a recomendation in a book not to bring another puppy home until
the first one is at least 5 months old... in this case, would a new puppy
help my puppy to socialize better?

Padu

"Charlie Wilkes" wrote


Yikes. Get rid of that box immediately. Purge your life of that box.
The box is bad and will always be bad. Keep your fake christmas tree
in something else.

You are doing exactly the right thing here. Be patient.
Fully indulge his need for security and privacy at this point. Be
very gentle with him, and don't ask him to do anything socially that
makes him uncomfortable. The more you trigger the fearful behavior,
the worse it will get. The less it is triggered, the better.

Over time, you can use treats and rewards to help him develop more
positive associations with things he now fears... but first, keep him
calm and comfortable, whatever that takes.

Melanie L. Chang, our group cheerleader, has a fearful dog who is
being treated by one of the world's top experts, Dr. Karen Overall,
Director of the Behavior Clinic of the School of Veterinary Medicine
at the University of Pennsylvania. Here is what Overall recommends
generally in dealing with dogs:
___________________________

-- Practice deferential behaviors.
-- Do not use physical punishment.
-- Teach the dog that you are not a threat.
-- Reward good behaviors, even when they are spontaneous.
-- Don't worry about minor details -- none of us are perfect.
-- Always let the dog know he can have treats, love, or toys if he
sits quietly first.
-- Never do something just because you can.
-- Talk to your dog. Use his or her name. SIgnal clearly.
-- Be reliable and trustworthy.
___________________________



I've read a recomendation in a book not to bring another puppy home until
the first one is at least 5 months old... in this case, would a new puppy
help my puppy to socialize better?

Padu