Proper way to socialize a timid pup

[Magwart]

Baby steps. It sounds like she made great progress at her first dog park outing!

My first challenge was getting a shy, shut-down rescue pup fresh from the shelter to even be brave enough to go for a walk-- she'd shut down at the edge of my driveway and freeze. I enlisted my big, nurturing, old dog's help, taking him out with her. He showed her how to do it, and hovered close to make her feel safe, licking her to reassure her sometimes and get her going again. It worked -- she moved forward for him, without freezing or shutting down. It took many, many months before she would go for a walk on leash by herself without him -- but we got there, all without forcing her to do anything. He did something for her in those early days that I couldn't do by myself.

Celebrate the successes -- even small ones. If she's dog friendly, don't be afraid to use some good canine assistance to help her get over hurdles that seem insurmountable -- if you have access to a friend with a gentle, nurturing, stable dog, that kind of dog can do wonders to help a very scared pup navigate new experiences.

[XtremeGC]

Thanks for the advise