Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12
Troubles with timid dog
8/13/2010 at 10:24 AM
I don't know what to do with one of my dogs. She's a great pyrenees (Lily) and it turns out she was the runt of the litter. I don't know for a fact, but she sure acts that way. When I picked her out, she was the most curious pup and followed me around the farm, put her paws up on my leg and barked plenty.
When we got her home, she started to act very shy and timid. She gets along well with our other dog now (a lab/collie cross) and plays with him and demonstrates dominance from time to time.
With other dogs and people though, she is so timid that she will roll on her back or pee as soon as they look at her.
She seems untrainable - very headstrong and won't come when called or even flick her ears. She's about 1 year and a half old now and she pees when you look at her funny. When I talk to her or tell her to come or sit or get in the car, she doesn't listen to a normal tone of voice - doesn't even acknowledge. By her body language, she's completely ignoring me. I have to raise my voice to get her attention and it immediately results in her squatting and peeing - usually all over the floor.
I'm really stressing out over this because she pees on the floor and cowers often twice a day - and not because she has to go to the bathroom, because she's afraid or something.
We show her plenty of affection but have set rules and boundaries for all our dogs. Lily doesn't want to follow any of them though - I cannot correct her (verbally or grabbing her collar or otherwise) or she just pees all over and cowers.
She's the only dog I've ever had this sort of trouble with and I'm hoping someone here can help. It's starting to get to the point where I dread telling her to do anything for fear of having to clean up another puddle and I know that avoidance will only make things worse.