[Pegasus]

Fashion Island is a very dog friedly shopping mall by me, all outdoors, dogs everywhere

Marbles wants no part of it...he is terrified walking in here...WHY....he is only 8 months...and the reason we got him was to have CONFIDENCE to give to our 3 yr old rescue, Snoopy!


Now I feel he will be scarred like Snoops although we walk them apart mostly we walk together just to poo..

We need Marbles to be confient

Any suggestions

Manda

 

[Murphys Dad]

Manda, maybe you can take him there with treats (which I'm sure you take with you) and just stay with him outside for a bit. When he calms down for a few minutes, treat and praise, then move a few steps towards the entrance. Keep doing the same and treat and praise everytime he is calm in the new "step".

Don't encourage his fear, or feel sorry for him. Don't give up either, because he will learn that by acting that way, he gets his way.

It will probably take a few times of going through those stages in the mall.

 

[BeagleBabe]

Could it be anxiety? Abby becomes overwhelmed when we go to Petsmart and dog parks, this IS a lot to sniff, especially for a dog that is not use to being around so many dogs (and in an unfamiliar environment. She use to drool and duck her head down low, kind of mope around.

I would talk to your vet.

 

[Murphys Dad]

Another thing. Personal example.... Chloe used to be terrified of going down the stairs to the subway. She did fine in the building and used to run up and down like she was born on the stairs. But the subway, she started drooling and shivering like someone is holding a gun to her head, I was in a bit of a shock the first time I saw her, I thought she is having a seizure.

Anyway, after 2-3 times I actually picked her up to go in, I decided she can do it herself. I took her by the leash, and gently pulled/dragged her down the stairs, 1-2 steps at a time, and everytime she cooperated even a little, I praised her and gave her a piece of dried hotdog (just a little something I made in advance). I can only say that she got down the last 3 steps by herself without me pulling her.

She is fine ever since.

But I would check with the vet, as Jamie suggested, just in case.

 

[Zookeeper]

Duke was scared to death the first time we took him to puppy school, which was at PetSmart. He shivered the whole way in, but after a few minutes he finally calmed down and from then on, he was chomping at the bit to go in.

It may take a few times, but I think Marbles will gain confidence eventually. Just be patient and calm, but don't baby him. Act like it's no big deal and this is just what you do and he'll get there.

 

[Smeagle]

What other socialisation have you done with Marbles? i.e. what other places do you take him out to and did you do this from the day you bought him home?

Daisy is great with going to new places (although does get a bit over excited sometimes, lol) but that is because I took her out and about from the word go. I think from memory you got Marbles when he was a few months old? He may not have had a lot of socialisation (and that involves going to new places, meeting new people and not just playing with other dogs) at the start.

Maybe start taking him to a few more new places (if possible) even a new park, a walk to the corner shop etc so that he can build his confidence in less busy but still new environments. And as others have said reward him for his good behaviour!

 

[missmollygirl]

Wow, they have sure changed things there. I never saw a dog there in all the years I lived in SoCal.

If I remember right, Fashion Show has escalators too. Could those be the culprit, or just the people and other dogs? Since he is young, I would keep trying in small doses each time. Maybe have some word association fun. Ask him if he "want to go to the mall?" Eventually, after time, I think he will get over it.

Molly used to be scared to death of the sound of Harley Davidsons. No other motorcycles, just those. The more we had her around that sound, the more used to them she became. Now, she hardly notices them. Also, she was scared of thunder and gunshots. Now, she never notices thunder and if you shoot of a gun or firework, she thinks it's time to chase bunnies. We did it in small doses. Each time she was exposed it was a little longer than the last.