“This dog is obviously well-loved. Socialized, not so much. But I don’t blame it on the owner. Some just don’t take, and I’ve had a couple. You just deal with it.”
I took my puppy to UNLV 4 days a week for an entire semester. I did everything the experts recommend. When he started showing fear, I put up a presentation board with treats by it that said “Puppy 101- help my puppy be socialized by tossing him a treat.” I sat in a recessed area with him so people weren’t too close. The best I ever got with his progression was gingerly accepting a treat by had and retreating. When he was about 3 months old, a neighbor said, “my dogs just want to say ‘hi.’ They won’t hurt him,” which was followed by him being attacked leaving him afraid of other dogs. I’ve invested a huge amount of time with my dog. Just a few days ago I sent my clicker to my parents that are working with a beagle puppy. I almost sent them a training dvd set that I was alerted in email that was on sale, but I thought that might be an over step. I’ve had dogs all my life and they’ve all been loved and obedience trained.
Sorry dear. I didn’t mean, in my reply to you, that you failed to socialize him. I worded my reply badly. It sounds like you went waaaay out of your way to do the best but it just didn’t take.
I’ve also had dogs around me for my entire life. Some just never lose the wild aspect. I had a Belgian Sheepdog, at the ripe old age of 14, that bit me and resulted in 300 stitches to my face. Luckily, a wonderful plastic surgeon was on staff that night and I hardly have any scars.
It just goes to show, you never know. They are animals after all. We have a Jack Russell Terrier now. I figure he can’t maim me as much as a big dog which I’ve always had in the past. Our Newfoundland was the most gentle guy so that logic doesn’t always work. :0)