How can I help my puppy feel more safe on our walks?

Question

-My new puppy Ellie is very afraid of cars, trucks, and busses.

-She is only 2 months old and 27 days...Is this normal?

Will she grow out of it?

(She had a very bad experiance with a bus... We were just walking along *not on a bus rought* and a bus just comes around the corner. **I am asuming that he was lost** Ellie freaked! I don't know how but she slipped her collar. **I made sure that it was tight enough for only 2 fingers to fit comfortably** She ran the direction that the bus was going and when the bus passed her she cried and urinated all over herself!

-She won't take food on the walks because she just loves to travel. I have to stay in neighborhoods that don't really have a lot of traffic.

-Ellie wants to expolore new places but we have to go pass one of the most busyest roads. I can see it in her that she wants to travel to more places but she is too scared to.

I have tried to have her sit by a car that is turned off. That works.

I have also sat her by and idling car. And that worked as well.

Same with trucks.

BUT as soon as the car or truck starts to move just a little bit she will try and get away...Sometimes though she will just sit there and not run.

Answer 1

My puppy freaked at cars, etc going by but particularly buses, trucks and big vehicles.

We got him at 8 weeks of age and I would take him and sit by the fence in the afternoon when there was a bit of traffic going by and play with him.  When a car would go by he would stop playing and start to run away.  I would ignore the fear and call him back and just recommence playing.  I would progressively play with him closer and closer to the fence.  When walking him he would pull on the lead and want to run for home.  Again, I would ignore his fear and talk to him in a bright voice and say anything that came into my head.  Don't pat her or cuddle her and mollycoddle her - that will only play into his fears.  You need to show her that you are not afraid so there is nothing to fear.

Maybe instead of just having her sit by the car, give her a safe distance, sit down with her on a lead and play with her and when she is distracted get someone to move the car.  Ignore her fears and keep yourself happy and upbeat and continue to play with her as if nothing is happening.  Once she feels secure move a little closer.  Maybe you could go to a park where there is a bit of traffic (not too busy) and sit down and play with her in the same way.  I don't think that it is bad for dogs to have a healthy respect for traffic.  I wish my Kelpie did (older dog).

Good luck

Answer 2

buy him a ******* tank

Answer 3

You are definitely doing the right thing by desensitizing her to a still car, then an idling car. With a slightly moving car, here is what you may try: have a friend control the car, and start ellie from far away. Have a car move a bit. If she freaks, move her back more and try again. You want to find the distance where she is comfortable, and then get her to do commands or attention exercises with you so you can treat her and build her confidence. Once she is better, you can start and reduce the distance. reduce a bit, have the car move a bit. If she freaks, then move back and desensitize her from a farther distance. Do the exercise slowly. You want to reduce the number of incidents where she gets afraid.

In the meantime, I would take her to nearby parks for her walks. That way it is fun and there are no cars and such around.

Answer 4

When my dog went to puppy training lessons, the instructor once told us, if there's anything the dog is afraid of, eg  a noise, you should try to record the sound and when the dog is doing something it enjoys, like eating, for example, play the noise back to it and it should associate the noise with something good.

Answer 5

u have to show her there's nothing to be afraid of .

if u interact with the object and show her its not scary she wont be as

scaired .

cause i have a dog and when he was only  10 weeks we walked him he was terrifed of everything and when we got him he was only 6 weeks old and all we had to do was show him theres nothing to be scared of and it worked now hes a 1yr old .

hope that helps! =]]