I am the owner of a 15 month old Golden Retriever, Johnny. He is the kindest most loving dog I have ever been around. He adores attention and loves to play with people and other dogs. Lately, however, I have noticed that if anything of a substantial size is present, held, or moved he immediately tucks his tail and assumes the “scared position.” One evening I was throwing a pizza box away in the kitchen and he happened to be there. As I stood in the kitchen with the empty pizza box he leaped over the kitchen island in order to get away. He didn’t just leap over; he CLEARED the height of the counter. If my husband and I are going away for the weekend (my sister is his sitter), he is afraid of our luggage. If I am doing laundry, he is afraid of the hamper. If I get a package in the mail (no matter the size) he runs and tries to hide. I have a baby on the way and am concerned that the size of a baby, a carrier, a stroller, etc. will keep him in fear continuously.

My sister-in-law owns Johnny’s sister and she exhibits the same exact behavior as well. We have raised our dogs in different ways. She babies her dog, bathes her weekly, and sedates her at every moment she may get scared. I do none of these things, I expose Johnny to as much as I can. Yet both Goldens are afraid of the same things. The dogs have only met once as they are siblings from different litters. I do not believe that this is a "breed" problem as it is most likely my problem as the "pack leader."

Our home is multi-level with carpet upstairs and hard wood flooring down stairs. In the morning when it is time for his first walk, Johnny is frightened to step on the wood flooring. This is a new development. When he was a younger puppy he did not exhibit these behaviors. Both my husband and I walk Johnny. I do it twice a day for a total of 30 min. and my husband takes Johnny on his daily long runs averaging about 4 miles. He is in the heel position for the length of the walks/runs. If I were Johnny, I would hate to be so scared of everything. What are we doing wrong as pack leaders and what can we do to get Johnny to overcome his fears of everything large?

Oh my! Poor baby! I don't have any advice to offer but I'm sure others will have some good ideas. Good luck.

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Hello and welcome. It really sounds like you and your husband are doing everything correctly. The only thing I can offer is to keep exposing him to new things and if he becomes frightened just make him sit and stay. You might need to use a leash so he doesn't leap over the kitchen island Good luck and keep us posted on how you make out.

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IMO, that's genetic... no pack leader issue about it... a "normal" Golden with the typical temperament would never behave that way, no matter how he or she was raised.

There are so many posts here about shy Goldens. It IS, clearly, becoming a problem in our breed. Don't blame yourself.

You are doing right exposing him to as much as you can! He's lucky to have a loving family

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Thank you all for your support. He hadn't started acting this way until the last few months. Hopefully with time he will grow out of this. He's only cleared the kitchen counter once. I'd never seen anything like it! Does anyone suggest I try to get Johnny to investigate the things I'm holding no matter how long it takes to get him to approach?

Call your local training facility and ask if they have the program many are offering. It's called Storks and something and I can't remember the title. It's part of the Be a Tree program. The Be a Tree Program teaches children how not to get bit, but the storks program teaches parents how to introduce their dogs and babies.

There are a few articles you may want to read on this site. They're in the resource section I believe.

Baby on the Way


Doggone Safe - A Non-Profit resource of dog bite prevention - education programs for schools, parents and workers, diponible en francais

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This is not normal behavior and given that his sibling exhibits similar expression...my guess this is genetic...please let his breeder know. The breeder should not repeat the pairing again....

Many dogs go through another fear period around a year of age....but it is usually short lived and not to this extreme.

How long does it take for him to recover from a scare?

I agree to continue to expose him to 'large' objects - the only thing I would add is that you have to find out at what point the object doesnt frighten him...is it 5', 10', 20', 30', 50' - 100' away...?
You start desensitizing him from the point that he is calm at that distance while the object is present you work him with much happiness - sits, downs, heeling, playing ball etc.... Then VERY gradually and sytematically over much time...shorten the distance...

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Mary and the Goldens from Maine
"Lexi" - Wise Teacher
"Liberty" - Bramley's Golden Moments Libby CD, RE - ASCA-CD, Can. CD (CGC and TDI-Therapy Dog)
"Trace" - Can. CH Bramley's Light Up The Night, RN - CGC, CCA, TDI-Therapy Dog and Novice DockDock

Mary gave some great advice above.

I see many Goldens go through a secondary fear period around roughly 10 months. My Quiz did for a bit. Caryying things bothered hiim. People who came up suddenly on us made him go "woof". He recovered very quickly and we worked through it. I see a LOT of Goldens who worry about "stuff" in the environment, mainly things that aren't always there. Any strange object that he worries about, place it by his food bowl and make it his dinner date for a week.

How much early socialization did he have between 7-12 weeks? Did he go lots of different places, meet lots of different people and experience lots of different things? (Like the kinds of things he's worried about now?)

Did you meet the parents of the litter? How were they? Do you recall anything about them that might be a clue?

Definitely start getting him ready for baby. Get as many "baby things" now as you can and start desensitizing him. I'd also get a CD of baby sounds. You can get it here. It's the "Sounds Good CD - Babies". I recommend a book called And Baby Makes Four by Penny Scott Fox, available on Amazon.com. She's a friend of mine, a great dog trainer and also a mother.

-Stephanie

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Stephanie and her Canine Crew of Two:

"Quiz" (Golden Retriever)
U-CD, Can. CD Tanbark's Number Two Pencil, CDX, JH, AX, AXJ, OF, JS-E, RS-E, GS-E, NAC, WCDex, SRD
I love being this dog's partner! Watch him shine!



"Zoie" (Whippet)
Donmar-Valair Second Wind, CD, RE, MC, ASCA-CD, Th.D.
#1 AKC Obedience Whippet for 2004 / AKC and ASFA FCH Pointed

Murphy used to be terribly afraid of large and strange objects. I too had him get used to things slowly. Murphy loves food, so a treat/reward worked well for him. I could get him to approach slowly, then offer a treat, then a little closer, and so on. If it was a box or something I would put the last treat on it for him to get. He always caved, and once he actually smelled the offending object, he was just fine. He is so much better now. I never forced him to get close...just gently encouraged him with treat in hand.

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Janis and 'da boyz"

Murphy
Sampson
Sunka

Spencer....so sadly missed

Oh my goodness, Mary, Janis, Stephanie, and Kim, thanks soooo much for the advice!! I will start to "entice" him closer with treats to get him accustomed to larger things. I can tell he knows I'm disapointed when he exhibits the behavior (because he is so proud of himself first thing in the morning when he finally walks on the wood floor). Yesterday, when I brought our cat home from the vet (overnight stay due to an allergy to antibiotics) he was in his carrier. Johnny was so scared of it he was shaking, but I did try to entice him closer (with a treat). He got close, but wouldn't approach it. I thought it was a good start. He gets over his fear as soon as its gone, or if it stays still for a long while.

We bought a 42" plasma TV on Saturday. I have intentionally kept the large box in the den by his food and water until he gets accustomed to it. He hasn't been afraid of it for a while (it doesn't take long). However, I know if I were to move it, he would probably pee on himself. I did hear about the second phase.

His sister acts this way, but neither of his parents act this way. I met both as they were owned by the breeder. I still have to remind myself that although Johnny is huge (75 pounds, large head) he still wont be fully mature until about 3 years.

Johnny did attend (and did quite well) kindergarten classes. I need to get him back to obedience school, however. He's such a GREAT dog in all other ways. I absolutely adore him.

Thanks again for all the advice!!!!