Winston is now nine months old.....He is in his 6th week of obediance training. We got him into training because he is scared of his own damn shadow! He is fine around other animals, but get a stranger in the room he is shaking half out of his skin. Now, he is getting better.....we take him to dog friendly stores a couple of times a week, and encourage strangers to pet him, even carry treats with us to give to people who want to pet him, but it's still bad. I just don't understand this fear he has....we have had hijm since he was 8 weeks old...and no one that we know of has ever been mean to him. Then our trainer said last night that shyness is a personality trait that can be past down to offspring. I had never heard this....and thinking back to meeting his father, he was very stand-off-ish. Anyway, we're stumped.....does anyone know of anything else we can do to make Winston a little happier around strangers? How do we make him feel comfortable? OH and we're going to Pittsburgh PA in the fall and Winston will have to be boarded...How can I do this to him when he is so terrified? I just don't know what to do..... Here's a new pic of my baby :o)
Your trainer is right. Temperment is very inherited. If you only had the bit of limited access to the sire, and he did not run up into your lap, then that is part of your answer.
Just keep doing what you are doing. If he is not neutered, I would get him done now. He is safely old enough. Take him to Home Depot and such stores where there is alot of noise and people. Keep him in obedience classes since it is good for him. Take him to active family spots like a lake or camping area.
You will see improvement if you keep it up and throw new things at him :)
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PawPrint Boxers 
