8 week old lab puppy behavior

Question
we just purchased an 8 week old lab puppy that was just weaned from its mother a week ago, but was kept outside and in a kennel beside her, since we brought our puppy home she has been very shy and just wants to lay around and sleep only gets up at night and we have to carry her outside to go to the bathroom she acts like she is very scared of us, will this go away or how should we treat this issue

Answer
this will go away. remember this is essentially a very traumatic time for your puppy. She has been taken away from her mother, her home and everything she knows and is now in a strange environment with strange people. Just reassure her, give her lots of treats for doing the right thing, positive reinforcement is very important. If she comes to you or goes outside on her own or makes any progress REWARD REWARD REWARD.


She will get better. Once she is comfortable in your home it will be important for you to socialise her as much as possible, this includes not only with other dogs but other people as well.

Also have her experience different places, things, smells, sounds etc. this is the ground work for a well balanced dog that will not be afraid of things like strangers or different houses in the future.

I highly recommend you contact your local vet clinic and book the puppy into puppy pre-school. This will allow the puppy to socialise with other puppies enabling her to understand how to interact appropriately with other dogs. This will also help you and her both gain confidence in training and general leadership.

good luck with your new puppy, take it slow, do not push her to do things she doesn't want to do. You need to build it up slowly with lots of praise and rewards. Remember, puppies are like sponges; everything that happens to them in the next few months will mould them into the dog you are going to share the next years of your life with.