Behavioral problem.

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We just bought a 5 month old australian shepherd female ( Red Merle ) 5 days ago for our 4 yr old son, she came from a breeder were she lived in a 30x30 kennel with her 2 brothers & 1 sister, the breeder stated she solely lived out doors. The dog is extremely skittish & shy, hasn't eaten in 5 days, she just lays in the kennel we bought her or when she's outside she lays at the door. I took her to the vet two days ago, & the vet said that she is just adjusting to her new home & to give her a few more weeks, but as the days go by she seems to be getting worse!, it seems like she is regressing rather than getting better, & yesterday she started peeing when we would go to pet her, & we literly have to pick her up to take her outside, although she will come in the house on her own & hide behind the chair by the door. The breeder gave us the option to trade her with one of her siblings, do you think this dog will ever be "normal" or should we trade & do you think all the dogs will be like her, cause the way she is now just won't work. Can you help us? P.S. I forgot to mention that we also have a 9 yr old toy poodle who really doesn't pay any attention to her.
Answer -
Sounds like you have a VERY unsocialized puppy! Living in a kennel her whole life gave her very little interaction with the outside world.  Aussies are known to be "reserved" with strangers, but this is MORE than reserved.  Chances are, growing up together, her siblings will be quite similar, the only difference being if they are naturally dominant (which could be a problem, if they are scared it could turn into mean!).  If you do end up keeping her, it'll be lots of work!  Puppies go through a "fear stage" around 8-10 weeks, and then again around 9 months (sometimes), but this isn't the case, so don't let anyone tell you otherwise! If you were up for the challenge you face, you may as well have gotten a rescue.  What I would personally do, is get a full refund, then find a GOOD breeder.  Feel free to email me back with your general area and I will be more that happy to find a very good breeder for you!

Matt
Matt I would love to get a full refund, but my husband asked if the dog didn't get along with our son, could we get a refund, & the breeder stated she would only consider trading. Is there anything I can tell her that would help in me getting my refund back?
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Tell her that she is not what you thought you were getting.  Was there a contract you signed?  By the description of this breeder, I'm guessing not. Therefore, there is nothing signed saying no refunds.  Anything ethical breeder, whether a refund is usually given or not, would refund with these circumstances. Really, any good breeder puts all dogs, pet OR show, on a contract.  Who is this breeder anyways.  Does he/she have a kennel name?

Matt

Matt, There was no contract signed, She doesn't have a kennel name that I know of, the breeders name is Charlene Dotson. The dog is registered with NSDR & that's the only document she gave us.

Answer
Never heard of her.  If the only paper she gave you was NSDR, you totalyl went to the wrong breeder (not a bad thing on your part, it's all her).  A good reputable breeder would give AKC and ASCA papers.  If she doesn't live too far away, go straight to her house to talk to her, itll be much harder to say no.  Theres not much you can threat her with (ie reporting her to ASCA) as she doesn't even register her dogs with them.   Tell me how things turn out and what you decide to do.