What would you think?

I went for a stroll around the harbour this morning as the weather is so beautiful.
Sitting at an outside table at one of the cafe's was a man with 2 Border Collie pups, I would say around 4/5 months old. Dear little things so I stopped to say hello and give them a tickle
Well they were so nervous, they were shying away from me and eventually backed away underneath the mans chair. I said "They are very quiet aren't they" to which he said "Yes". End of conversation.
Now I don't know, but in my mind, puppies are bouncy friendly creatures. Right or wrong? Cos these certainly weren't and I have worried about them ever since.

It might have been their first time out in the big wide world... scarey stuff to any creature!

mmmmm i think i would worry to...if he was so abrupt and rude, i would wonder if he shouted at them etc....

That was one thought I had, although it was early and fairly quiet.

This was my main concern, they looked very wary of people

Like someone said might of been thier first time out...but due to the age, I'd of thought they had been out before that, well mine were.
We went to see some x puppies before choosing Bruce, and said No as they were 9 weeks and frightened of thier own shadow. But the OH seemed a bully, although the lady selling them was fine

It does sound not quite right, but there may be an innocent explanation.

He could have just got them, even though they are a bit older and it may not be his fault they are like this.

Stumpy is still very nervous and usually I will chat to people about it, but every now and again, particularly where we've had a morning of meeting new people, I can't face repeating her story over again, so I don't say much - I'm sure those people that I don't explain it to go off wondering what kind of owner I am too.

Our new addition Max, is a bit nervy when we take him out. He is 4 and a half months old but had spent most of his life in kennels. As far as i'm aware, he hadn't mixed with other dogs and had only had contact with the kennel staff. He is fine in the house with our Molly, but outside, although he trots along quite happily, he is wary of new people, other dogs and any strange noises

I know you are probably all right, but you know how sometimes you keep just wondering..........
I wish now that I had tried talking to him longer but he was just not a talkative type.

Spencer was a nightmare with strangers until he was 2. He was socialised from 8 weeks and was great wth visitors to the house, but outside he would shake, wee, and try to hide. In contrast Dice was such a confident puppy he would speak to any one which seemed to make Spence worse.

yeah maybe he was trying to gently break them in