You need to get plenty of bags of puppy treats for him to reassure him when he eventually comes out from behind that couch! Poor boy, he hasn't been socialised at all, and it is soooooooo important, especially with this breed to get them socialised UP to the age of 12 weeks, that is the decider, the 12 week age, but of course it's all too late for you now, so you're going to have to work twice as hard. Take everything sloooooowly with this boy, don't overwhelm him, don't pressurise him, give him lots and lots of reassurance at home, that will help bond you together too, so he learns to trust you and will come out of his shell a tad.

Did your vet tell you that after the 2nd jab there is also a further incubation period where he mustn't be around other dogs? Some say one week, but others say 2 weeks, so you'll have to check with your vet on that one.

You can also ask your vet if they do puppy classes for unvaccinated dogs or puppies in this incubation period, so go to them, there will be lots of puppies there to socialise him with without scaring him to death. Alternatively phone your local ADPT puppy training school and get him booked in, so that he can be socialised in a safe environment, and the outside bit can come later when he feels more secure. At the moment, when you drag him out, it must be a terrifying experience for him, you're more than likely to lose him too by the sounds of it, or break his neck! Have you got a little soft harness on him or a collar with the lead? I'd opt for the harness, you've got no risk of him slipping that collr when he backs off!

OH dear, oh dear, oh dear, but you're in this boat now, if only you had sought this advice BEFORE falling for this one, but it's too late now, like I said, you're going to have to work really, really hard to build up this little guy's confidenc that's for sure. Good luck. We're always here for help, there's lots and lots of gsd peops on here now so somebody can always, always help you out.

everything is new to this pup,and time and effort will turn this dog around ,Clairsaid it best,IMO,sometimes pups are taked from there moms too soon and this sounds like the case ,if you act like his mom you may get better results,i encountered this a few times over the last 30 years ,one thing i did was to grab the dog buy the back of the neck and simulate a mom moving her pup ,i did this several times a day for a few weeks.dont pat the dog at the top of the head ,under the chin works best to build confidence and be patient.dont rais your voice and tread lightly around the dog,kids are great a spooking a dog ,ask them to be calm and give your dog a place to call home ,a creat works good,and i used treats to get a pup to associate all things good ,lots of love and praise,dont expect much for a few months ,but lots of fun,comforting can be damaging also,ignoring some behavious for a pup ,let them try out the world for themselves..oh pics please!!! good luck and keep asking questions there are lots of gsd people here at dogsie,who love to help....phil

sorry i do disagree with this, this pup sounds very nervous and scared and sounds like it may have had issues with men abusing it in its short life, so i would not be grabbing it at all...it might have already experienced being hurt by human - Just take some time and let him trust you, that will be what should work best.

Time and patience will probably help him to come around and realise the world isnt that scary !
good luck

well that went better than i thought he stepped down away from the door and had a sniff around...he tended to growl at people passing by tho(yay he has got a bark..even if it is just a lil one...hehehe)..but the door is about 15 feet away from the pavement...i gave him a few treats and a few hugs(alternitively)...i came in because i had finished my coffee and it was freezing...lol but we were out there about 30 mins...so...well done Avek..yay!...thankyou all for your helpfull advice...please keep it coming...i have seen a diffrence(i.e the doorstep) already..again many thanks

River

Avek is now 16 weeks old...i got him when he was 12 weeks..so i don't think it was too soon...i thought maybe a lil late...there was only Avek and 1 other dog(the other dog being very confident and bubbley)...i did text the breeder asking for an exsplaination as to why Avek was like he was...she told me he was the last to be born...Avek plays beautifully with Nia(my 6 year old daughter)

Welcome to Dogsey. I am sorry you have found yourself with such a poorly bred, nervous pup Did you see the parents when you collected him? What were their temperaments like?

I agree with most of what has already been said. Your pup needs to learn from you that the world is not a scary place - loads of positive training and socialising by you (never try to reassure a dog who is showing fearful signs, as he then thinks that there IS something to worry about). You need to build up the bond between you, so that your pup looks to you for pointers on how he should behave and trusts you to do the right thing by him.

I would suggest you stop feeding Pedigree Chum, and change him to a high quality dry feed such as Arden Grange, Burns or James Wellbeloved.

I would also strongly suggest you ask your vet for advice on a good training club, or behaviour consultant, in your area and get some professional help with your dog's fearful behaviour. Unfortunately, it sounds to me as though your pup may also have some fear aggression issues with strangers, and this needs to be sorted out asap.

Good luck and I hope you can keep us informed how you get on.

Also, can we please see some pics of Avek We love piccies on here

personally i think the breeder sounds like a BYB - so in it for the money and nothing else... but there is not much you can do about that now, Avek will just need a little time and it sounds like already progress has been made.

good luck with him, and its mandatory to post piccies of puppies on Dogsey !! LOL

please !!

Also whereabouts in Cumbria are you? I was born and brought up there

i'm afraid i am not pc aware...how do i post a pic?

He's the same age as my gsd puppy now then at 16 weeks and I've had her for 6 weeks now, during which time she's been vaccinated, been out twice a day every day, been to puppy parties, been to 4 training classes and she's as bold as brass, because when I first got her at 10 weeks old she got socialised with just about everything going, which is what your puppy should have had, so now, you've got to concentrate on getting her into some proper training classes where she will meet other dogs and people and be introduced properly, not just meeting up with dogs in the park who might just scare her to death!

So glad the initial doorstep routine went well, you must get her to bond with you, and you'll be halfway there with her, she'll learn to trust you. Constantly take notice of her, play with her with her toys, speak to her and stroke her lots and you'll turn her around in no time.

Such a darn shame you got her like you did though, and you won't get much help from that breeder I wouldn't have thought, no help that's worth anything that's for sure imo! Good luck, keep us informed, and there's a "posting pictures" thread somewhere in the forum support at the top of the main index page I think, would love to see her, I have a white gsd along with my puppy and he's white, but he's nearly 10 now!