Skittish, very fearful Cocker/Basset mix

Question
Hi, love your website. We just adopted a 12 week old Cocker Spaniel and looks like she has some Basset Hound in her because she has short hair, legs, big feet and she is white. Very sweet lovable puppy. Her problem is that she is afraid of any slightly loud sound but has many other fears like the rolling trash can, shiny eating bowl she won't eat out of. We keep her on a leash when walking but if she hears almost any sound she takes off running or stops dead in her tracks and won't go any further. This morning while taking her out on a bathroom break, my husband came home and when he pulled up in the driveway, she got spooked. She was scared of her chain leash until she got used to it.

Answer
Hi Nancy,
You need to start slowly in addressing her fears and, above all, do not "comfort/pet/soothe" or basically pay any attention at all.

As with the chain leash - she got used to it...and if you handle it right, she'll calm down about loud noises.

At 12 weeks the world can seem a pretty big & scary place and she's barely adapted to her new family.

My advice at this point would be to keep calm - be matter of fact and let her learn a noise results in nothing much.
If she stops dead in her tracks on a walk, do NOT pick her up or try and reassure her.  Simply stand there silently and wait her out.  When she's calmed down, you can then say "Okay, let's go" like all is well.  No big deal.
If she runs to the end of her leash...then you stop dead..no conversation..and wait until she returns to you.

And hey..rolling trash cans ARE scary :)

If she's "basically" cocker I highly recommend canned food, not kibble.  Canidae All Life Stages is super.  At the least, do some kibble, half canned.  Too many carbs in kibble for cockers and they're so predisposed to skin issues.

Give her time - be patient - don't over-react to her fears since that just encourages them.  I think you'll see this subside in awhile.

The fear of the shiny eating bowl did make me laugh...now that one I've not heard of !  Interesting puppy !!! :)
She's probably seeing reflection in it.

Hope this is helpful.  Any other questions just do write again.  I also think pretty soon a puppy training class would help her.
Best of luck,
Delores