Hello,
This is a very common issue that I see all the time. The great news is that your puppy is so young and you are very proactive in both identifying and trying to resolve the problem. That’s wonderful! The first piece of advice I can give is to call around for local References on puppy classes. That’s a great place to start. Next start taking walk with the dogs she is used to and see if they can help her build confidence. Next start to find out where her discomfort zones lie. How close does she need to get to someone before she starts signaling she is unsettled. From this you start working very gradually on reducing the distance. It may mean you sit at a park bench 20 feet away (if that’s her radius to anxiety) and just watch the world pass her by for a few trips. Then the next time try for 15 feet. No interactions. Tell people you are in training and they should not approach her. This is allowing her to be challenged very gradually on terms she is comfortable with. It needs to be slow, consistent and full of rewards when she is doing well. And understanding but not being harsh or reprimanding when she needs more time and patience. You can also ask for a positive reinforcement trainer. But be careful as she is demonstrating submissive anxiety now. I fear with hard reprimand it might turn to fear which can lead to aggression if treated unkindly. Be kind. Gentle and supportive but help her face her challenges. I hope this helps. I also love the training books by Victoria Stilwell. Try them. They are very helpful.
My question is should I be worried
Hello,
If a client calls me with concerns like this I always tell then to listen to their concerns. You know your pet better than anyone else and you are their only advocate. Isn’t it better to be safe than sorry?