scared puppy

Question
I have a male 5 1/2 month old poodle. When I got him he had not been treated well.I have had him for two weeks. He will stay by my side always but if i make a move to pick him up or walk toward him he backs off. How do I win his trust. He was covered with fleas and hair long and matted and he had only 1 set of shots. I have got him groomed and took to vet he has his 2nd set of shot and is on heartworm and flea preventive. I want to have him nutered but I am affraid this will really set him back what should I do

Answer
Dear Connie,

Give him some more time, never hit or physically harm him, hand-feed him his food for a few weeks, and occasionally toss a tiny but yummy treat his way.  You should probably also have other family members or visitors toss treats near him whenever they visit as well, and if you have access to children, have them do the same or better yet hand feed him if possible.

Make sure your groomer is not hurting him, because this may have freaked him out a little too.  Ask to watch the groomer work, or find a groomer in your area with LOTS of good references, particularly ones that mention that the dog LIKES to go there.

Good for you taking such good care of your little pup.  Do get him neutered but you can probably wait a few 3-4 weeks - it's not going to make any big difference physically but behaviorally he probably could use the extra time to learn to trust.  Talk to your vet about his fear/timid nature and insist that he be treated kindly and get pain medication after the neuter.

Good luck and thanks for writing.
Suzanne Harris, BSc, CPDT
http://www.dogdaysUSA.com