labradoodle

Question
 i recently purchased a labradoodle from a breeder who kept the dogs in a large kennel in his back yard.  the dog lived with his 4 brothers and was about 5 months old when i purchased him.  since we got him home and cleaned him up he has been very skittish about just about everything. he lays in the corner and really thats all he wants to do.  the collar and leash have been a major adjustment.  im just wondering if this dog will eventually relax and return to "normal" dog behavior and finally become part of the family.  he is being kennel trained and has gotten better at walking on the leash.  he just doesn't want to eat or drink or even explore the house. thanks

Answer
Clearly, you purchased from a disreputable breeder that cares more about his customers' Visa cards than how his pups are raised.  The short answer here seems to be that this pup missed out on the experiences that he should have had during the critical socialization period (age 8 weeks to 16 weeks), and your "breeder" (designer dog puppy mill is more like it) did not see that the pup was adequately socialized.  A reputable breeder that did not sell a pup during this period of time should have had it house trained, doing basic manners commands, and thoroughly socialized by the time it was this age.  Shame on him!!!!!
Your pup may get a bit better within the next few weeks, and you may want to tempt him with a better food than he was getting from his breeder.  Innova is the brand I use, but there are others of equally good quality.  Next, you may want to get a copy of Patricia McConnell's booklet, "The Cautious Canine".  You'll find a lot of good hints on how to deal with this poor pup.  I would also have him thoroughly checked by a veterinarian to rule out any parasites, worms, or other problems that could account for lethargic behavior.  Don't force him to come to you, instead, toss him a treat, or just sit quietly by his side and offer small treats (even if he doesn't take them) and let him come to you for a sniff when he's up to it - Soft cheese or roast beef bits or even some green tripe (Tripett) are good for this.  He may finally get to trust your family, but my guess is that new experiences will always be more of a challenge than they would be for a well socialized puppy.