Help love/hate my puppy

[phillz]

I have a 6 month old sprocker puppy and he's extremely submissive he will wee anywhere over the tv, loud noises or being asked to do something even sit!

He's petrified of other dogs to the point it's bloody embarrassing to walk with him he will scream and try hiding in my legs causing me to trip and I have fallen due to him!

This is not what I thought it would be I see other peoples dogs on the school run and their dogs puppies and older all playing lovely and running around, there's mine cowering in between my legs! I've gotten to the point I don't want to walk him,

Home he's honestly a shit will steel anything he's not aloud I know he's a puppy but he wasn't doing this until a month ago he will not do commands like he did just ignores us, won't eat his food he wants ours! Not happening I've spent a fortune of food and it's quite frankly getting on my nerves so much so I can't feed him as it winds me up he will look at it and then show his tummy and pee all over hisself, and leave it he had gone hungry for days,

Is there a silver light for submissive dogs? Am I just being picky about him?

Don’t know much about submissive dogs but can sympathise - puppy’s are tough! Gorgeous & lovable but are literally like having a toddler. Just when you think you’ve got one thing sorted it shifts & changes to another.

Ours is 9 months and has definitely gone through different stages & they keep coming. Recall went awry around 6 months but has improved again. Still eats anything & everything she can get her paws/jaws on- whether edible or not. Teething been fairly constant. We try & restrict access to anything tempting & provide lots of chew toys. We try & ignore unwanted behaviours and distract into more positive behaviours. Lots of praise/treats for wanted behaviours. It’s not easy though & we’ve def got a way to go before she’s perfect pup.

They like pushing boundaries but if we remain consistent I’m hoping all will come good at some point. I like to focus on the bigger picture…

Others with more expertise will advise but I think they grow out of submissive weeing. Maybe offer lots of toilet opportunities & see if that helps.

Dogs/ puppies are really sensitive so if he’s had a scare you might need to build up gradually to loud noises, tv & being around lots of dogs. Do you have a friend with a well socialised dog perhaps you could meet. Try & build up lots of positive experiences.

There are a few good pod casts around worth listening to. Graham’s Hall - Talking Dogs & Susan Garrett Shaped by dogs.

Why do you think he's submissive when he stealing stuff and peeing everywhere?

Is he well socialised? Sounds like he's ruling the roost at home and scared when he goes out.

He'll get there. Work on building the bond between you and he'll get there in the end.

He sounds absolutely terrified rather than submissive.

Where did he come from? What socialisation did he get as a puppy?

It does get better but the peeing doesn’t sound normal at all. I’d be getting a vet check for that

Can you find a good local trainer who’s used to working with your type of dog?

He sounds more than just submissive. Puppies are hard work but this isn’t beyond resolving by any means, the right trainer will make such a difference x

I agree that he sounds very nervous. I've spent a fortune of food and it's quite frankly getting on my nerves so much so I can't feed him as it winds me up he will look at it and then show his tummy and pee all over hisself, and leave it he had gone hungry for days This is a strange reaction to being given food, even if he doesn't want it. Has he had any negative experiences near his food bowl? Has somebody removed it whilst he was eating or punished him near it?

I would get advice from a behaviourist (this may be covered by your pet insurance). In the meantime, I would only walk him places where he won't see other dogs and would stop taking him on the school run.

I’m no dog expert but he sounds very anxious and insecure. Does he seem intimidated by? It all sounds quite fractious. Could you work on reassuring him and creating a loving bond so that he has a strong foundation for which to explore and learn?

What’s his background ?

Puppy classes?
Please get some training

I would take him to the vet as not eating and being so terrified doesn't seem normal

I wonder like other posters if there's a reason for him being so very scared eg missed out on socialisation as a pup or had bad experiences eg aversive training or a bad encounter with another dog.

Apparently they do have a second fear period between 6-14 months though so maybe it's that? The usual advice is to stay calm, not force your puppy to confront the feared thing (horses and cows in mines case and weirdly statues!) just watch from whatever distance they can stay calm, give treats if they manage to look at it, walk away and come back another time. This did ruin quite a few walks for us where he could not go past fields with livestock in.