New EM puppy had a freak out today

[College Geezer]

Hi everyone,
We brought "Hudson" home just over a week ago. He is an 11 week old EM we got from a farm nearby. I've noticed that he seems to be a little skittish around the house since we got him. We have crate trained him and he has done exceptionally well with all of his training, leash, housebreaking, and limited socialization with strange people and dogs (he just got his 2nd shots) but still there has been a slight sense of apprehension on his part.

Well today we were getting ready to go for a walk and I attached his leash, I set it down while he was getting a drink and i guess he started to move and the noise of it dragging spooked him. He started running around uncontrolably, and dove through the screen door in a desperate bid to escape whatever he thought was chasing him, I went out the front door after him and finally caught him as he was running down the walkway. We came back to the front porch where I noticed he defecated a small amount.

I brought him back into the house and put him in his crate. This was about an hour and a half ago, about 20 minutes ago, he started fussing in his crate, so i waited for him to calm down and let him out. He is now laying on the floor next to me in a calm relaxed state. I wouldn't say he is 100% yet.

Is this "normal" is it something I should be concerned about?
How should I addresse this?

Thanks,
jonn

 

[Cody]

I would guess he wasn't in the house or socialized prior to you getting him, so yes, is normal.
You have a lot of work ahead of you.
Take him everywhere, socialize the heck out of him.
Take him everywhere you can and in the house positive reinforcements when he is calm, also make the house fun, be sure to have play time in the house. I would also attach his leash in a fenced yard and let him freak out until he calms down. Then when he calms down and realizes it won't hurt him give him rewards. But only in an enclosed safe environment.
He is young enough to come around if it isn't genetics, if it is then the dog may always be spooky.
My first CC was a genetic mess, and skittish as they come
Good luck and we love pictures

 

[College Geezer]

Hard to say if it as genetics. The mother was there, with the grandmother. The grandma was pretty cool, but the mother kept woofing at us. She didn't seem to spooked, just a loud old girl who wanted to know who was picking up her pups. Also, Hudson isn't spooked on the leash at all. We go for 2 walks a day and he has no problems. I think its just that the noise of it chasing him spooked him and that escalated quickly into total terror.

Now that he has his second shots, I will be taking him to a local puppy social club and on walks in busier areas. He is coming around, when we first got him, he would growl at new people and cower around large dogs, He isn't totally cool yet but is making good progress for just over a week. I'm just wondering about his skitishness around the house with us and random loud noises here. I thought, he would be over that by now....

I just read Cesar Millans book and am finding it is working fantastically. (i thought he was hoaky but I was wrong) So I'm all about calm assertive energy and keeping cool around him and I can really notice him responding to that.

I guess my question is will socializing him on walks to busy areas, and with other dogs help his nervousness at home? What can I do to help that? We have our play time on the floor, he is great in his crate and is tuned right into my and is otherwise laid back.

Here he is with my daughter

 

[Ripsmom]

I agree with Cody...sounds like he hasn't been exposed to many things...just keep socializing and exposing him to different things and noises; pups do go through a fear stage very often for a couple of weeks and then snap out of it...I think it's between 10-16 wks (not sure, others with more pup experience may be able to nail that period down better). If you find that he's responding fearfully to certain things don't feed into it by coddling him and showering him with attention while he's freaked or you will perpetuate the behavior...just ignore it and go about your business and if he doesn't snap out of it after a few minutes then you can try giving him high value treats WHILE the stimuli is present. This will help him associate the stimuli with good stuff and ultimately change the way he thinks of the stimuli BUT timing is everything so you'll need to reward him only while whatever he's reacting to is present. so if he's afraid of the door slamming shut have someone shut the door a few times while he's getting paid with goodies, as soon as the door stops shutting so do the treats. If it is genetics then you'll need to work that much harder at getting him to be relaxed around everything.

 

[Mathew11]

Usually they respond in a strange behavior when they feel uneasy. If it continues then it is better to consult the concerned persons. Good that you have given required initial training.Training the puppies is very essential to make them obey their owners.