Nervous Avek(white German Shepard) please help

Hello all, i am very pleased to be here. I am hoping i may find some help and advice. 4 weeks ago i traveled down to london to buy a White German Shepard pup my family and i had fallen in love with on the inernet.it was a 600 mile round trip from cumbria, but we didn't mind we had fallen in love when we arrived at the house,i found it less than inviting, even for the dogs.Avek (we had choosen his name before we went to pick him up) at 12 weeks old was very scared and nervouse, we paid our £450 and promtly left with Avek. I sat in the back with him all the way back to Cumbria with him mainly hiding behide me.on returning home Avek stayed on the dog rug we had traveled with and look very very poorly. i took him to the vets the next day and was told he was flee ridden and had worms. he was given 2 injections and i was given a weeks worth of antibiotics for him. he improved over the next 4 days. Dueing the last 4 weeks i have been trying to socailize(please exscuse poor spelling) him, to no avail. He is used to the family but when other people come into the house he still hides behind the couch(which is proving more and more difficult to get him out as he grows). also when i try to take him for a walk, i drag him to the park....and he drags me home...lol. he is absolutely scared of every thing...men inperticular. he becomes so terrified when i try to leave the house with him, i just don't have the heart to put him thro that. also he is eating his own poo(given half a chance) I am feeding him pedigree chum puppy complet, and i am giving him the recomeded amount, but he comstantly seeks food. i find myself giving him half the amount again. i now fear that as if i do not manage to teach him to walk out with me, he will become to strong and bolt, causing himself and maybe others harm. when someone or something comes towards him he runs backwards till he carn't get any father back...then runs sideways till he is in a corner... when he runs backwards it take all my strenth to hold him now...what is he going to be like in a few more weeks


please if anyone has any advice my family and i would be very greatfull...many thanks ...River

I am no expert by any means but I can only offer you my opinion. You say that he is nervous about everything and that he is terrible when you take him out. Can I suggest that you maybe put a lead on him and just sit on your front step watching the wold go by. He is then on his own territory but still being exposed to the outside. One thing I would suggest is that when he is nervous do not reassure him. This sounds cruel but from what I understand - and I am sure others will set me straight if I am wrong! - if you reassure them then the dog interprets that as there actually being reason to worry and so you make it worse and a vicious cycle is formed.

As for in the house it may be worth investing in a house line so that you can have contsant control over him. These are not always practical for constant use but would probably be very useful to you especially when you have guests.

I am sure that others with more experience and knowledge will follow but these are just a few things that I thought of.

Good luck and welcome

Don`t take this the wrong way but next time get a dog from a decent breeder. This poor pup has probably never been out of a shed before you picked him up. The world is new and terrifying and he doesn`t know you well enough to trust you to protect him.
Stop dragging him about. Give him time to settle in. Provide him with a safe place he can go - his own bed in a quiet corner.
Don`t introduce him to visitors. Ask all visitors to ignore him. If he creeps forward, ignore it. He`ll get more confident in time.
Stop feeding Pedigree Chum. Ask your vet to recommend a good puppy food and follow the instructions.
Don`t take your dog outside if he hasn`t completed his vaccinations (you should have been given a record of his first one).
Get several good books on bringing up your pup, read them all and decide which methods suit you. And good luck with your new boy. Hope this helps.

thankyou Ceefer.i will try the door step, we do live on a main road, so i can understand why he is nervous. you are absolutly right tho..i was trying to reasure him...he just seemed so so scared...i will stop doing that now. thankyou for you kind advise...River

thankyou for your kind advice ClairandDaisy, i agree i should have done more research. it was my 6 year old daughter who chose him, i have been slightly irisponsable. only now i don't want Avek to suffer because of my lack of knowlage..Avek did not come with vaccination papers so i had them both done..thankyou again for your kind advise.....River

sorry i have posted it twice...i was unsure of how to post...how do i close one of the threads...please?

He needs lots of positive reinforcement, Make sure as mentioned already you don't fuss over him when he shows fear, ignore him. If you have visitors over ask them to sit quietly, talk to each other and ignore him. If he hides leave him. However if he comes for a sniff, ask that they ignore him. After a while a treat could be offered no sudden movements though, he will learn that visitors are nice they give treats.

He will prob be a big dog when an adult so really needs socialising, I like the idea of sitting on your step also have rewards for " being brave" cuddles or treats would do. Alternate so he never knows which he is going to get.

When out and about walk confidently he will pick up on your worries so be as confident looking as you can. If it doesn't bother you then he will hopefully learn he doesn't need to bother either.

It is still early days and he probably hasn't seen much of the world but with gradual socialising he will learn that people and experiences are a good thing.

It will take time and love, you have to be strong as a poorly socialised dog is not a happy dog. Look into a training centre, where they will let him meet other dogs in a controlled environment (make sure he is fully vacinated first). Lots and lots of positive training, never shout, all the best,

always ask on here there is lots of advice from people who have been there, I have GSDs and I love the breed and know they love to learn so you will do just fine

thankyou melsgems..i am about to move from the pc and go and sit on the door step with him...we have a small front garden so there is some distance before the road, it is a very very busy street tho...i will be back in about 1/2 an hour if all goes well...thankyou all for your kind advice

River

take some nice treats for him too

The first thing you need to do is to build the bond of trust between you and him. This should involve letting him come to you and giving rewards, either treats or positive voice rewards.It is important that he has a place to call his own where no-one bothers him. He has so much to learn that he was deprived of as alittle one. As he gains confidence in the house then he will learn that you will take care of him as you introduce him to other people and situations.I would suggest getting some advice on what to feed him. It would also be beneficial to involve him in some puppy classes when he has gained confidence with you and in the wider world.Your vet should be able to help with both of these.

IU would also like to welcome you to Dogsey, there are many experienced people on here that will be able to help and advise.