I have a big problem

[Blair]

Gauge is afraid of Ben, I want to start off by saying Ben has never raised his voice or anything to Gauge. Ben has been off of work for Christmas vacation, so home all the time recently. Gauge has always been a skittish dog but I have gotten him to where he isnt skittish anymore and a happy go lucky puppy, like he should be. But I have notice since Ben has been home he has gone back to being very skittish. And recently he has stopped eating cause Ben was around. Well Ben went to the store and as soon as Gauge knew he was gone he started eating again and acting happy again. What can we do to get Gauge not afraid of him? Ben has tryed spending time with him but Gauge just stands there with his eyes so big, like he is deathly afraid of being near him. I dont know why he is like this with Ben cause Ben has never done anything to him for him to be this way. He isnt happy when Ben is home and wont play or do anything when he is home. I am at a complete lost on what to do or how to make Gauge feel safe by having Ben around him. Please I need some help on what to do. Gauge just seems so miserable by having Ben around. Usually Ben is gone till 530 everyday except for saturday when he would get home at 12 and having Sunday off. I am so lost and sad at the sametime. Ben has really tryed to get Gauge comfortable around him. Everything was actually going good till Ben went on his Christmas vacation and been home everyday.

[dober_gurl]

Ditto to Julie, especially the treats in a pocket thing. I bet that would help a whole lot!

[kathryn]

I had this same problem with Shiner around Michael when we first got him.  So I backed away from doing stuff with Shiner for the most part.  Michael fed him and took him outside and even slept with Shiner in a different room for awhile.  Shiner is still super bonded to women but he is now bonded to Michael and loves having him around to play with and get treats.  I hope that helps.

[LibbyP]

I'm going to say the same thing as the others already have: when we got Libby she had never been around wee ones so everytime they were near her they gave her treats if she went outside to potty came inside they gave her a treat
*special yummy treats she only got from them* she walked by them without being skitterish = treat, they would sit beside her on the floor = treat ~ they became known as the yummy treat kids. Have Ben feed Gauge ~ Good luck with time and patience things will work themselves out.

[MagicM3]

I agree also with what has been said,and have a question about Ben with the other fur kids.

If he has a good bond with them it would be a great idea for him to walk the pack as leader,and kind of make it a pack thing.
The other fur kids could influnce him mentally.

Tricia and the fur kids

[Blair]

Thanks for the great advice. The other 2 boys dont have any problems with Ben at all. Zeus loves him to death and Grey does too but he is just more of a Momma's boy. I usually do all the feeding and walking and pretty much anything that concerns the dogs. Ben is going to try to feed Gauge and walk him. Tonight he spent some extra time with him and got him to eat a treat from his hand, which is actually a big step. I will take things slowly and hope they create a bond. Please any more advice is welcomed!!!

[Blair]

After watching everyone very close this morning...I am thinking its the other 2 dogs that are making Gauge so nervous. I went outside to play fetch with Gauge, to make him happy, and every time he got excited Grey would attack him. So he stopped playing fetch and just walked around the yard with his head down and tail between his leg. Also none of them will let him lay next to them anymore, everytime he walks near them they growl at him. So while Zeus and Grey cuddle with each other, gauge sleeps in his crate alone. I just wish you all could see him, he looks so miserable Please I need help

[2Criminals]

Is Gauge your favorite? Maybe the boys are jealous? Or perhaps you should get Gauge one of those cute GSP puppies so he has his very own friend to play with

[Blair]

Is Gauge your favorite? Maybe the boys are jealous? Or perhaps you should get Gauge one of those cute GSP puppies so he has his very own friend to play with

I really try not to show favorites, each boy gets special alone time with me and I try to make at all even.

[Blair]

Yeah I know you are right Holly but when he stops eating its hard not to feel for him and want to interfer I hope this gets worked out soon cause its breaking my heart

[EllieAndBlu]

been thinking about you and your boys. how are things going?

[Icerotti]

I agree with what Holly said too.
 It may be too that Gauge has a more submissive personality than the other 2. This may or may not be a factor but he is smaller in size than your other 2 boys as well. I am basing the last 2 statments on what has been going on at our house too. Farley gets picked on by Puck and Rosie. They wait for him to come outside the door and jump on him. He waits at the door and does not want to go out unless I go with him. He is there with his tail between his legs and head and ears down. He looks so sad too.
Farley is the smallest of our 3 and the most submissive of our 3 and they seem to feed on that. Puck just seems to be renforcing his status and it seems to be a toss up between Rosie and Farley right now. Rosie is coming to that time to loose her puppy status too.

Good Luck Blair

[Blair]

I agree with what Holly said too.
 It may be too that Gauge has a more submissive personality than the other 2. This may or may not be a factor but he is smaller in size than your other 2 boys as well. I am basing the last 2 statments on what has been going on at our house too. Farley gets picked on by Puck and Rosie. They wait for him to come outside the door and jump on him. He waits at the door and does not want to go out unless I go with him. He is there with his tail between his legs and head and ears down. He looks so sad too.
Farley is the smallest of our 3 and the most submissive of our 3 and they seem to feed on that. Puck just seems to be renforcing his status and it seems to be a toss up between Rosie and Farley right now. Rosie is coming to that time to loose her puppy status too.

Good Luck Blair

That sounds like my house to a T!! I am still having little dog fights but nothing serious but not what I am use to! Gauge still hasnt eaten a full meal, he eats maybe like a cup in a half a day compares to his 4 cups a day. So he has lost weight but still very active and playing around. This is just all so frustrating!! Grey is the main one picking on Gauge but Gauge has attacked the 2 boys too when they werent doing anything. I just dont understand these boys some days 

[Icerotti]

I have been having problems feeding Farley too. He is picky but I did notice the other two  will bully him sometimes with food too. I started mixing something yummy with his reg hard food( turkey, lamb, he liked beans with it . I started feeding him a soft puppy food(I will have to check the name) mixed with his reg adult food. The vet said it should help put more weight on him.  I also started feeding just Farley in his kennel. I lock the door so the others can't bug him.   I find that he is eating more by doing this-plus I can monitor  how much he is eating. Then when he is done I just take up his bowl from the kennel.

Puck and Farley have had a few incidents of knashing of teeth--nothing too serious. Rosie and Farley will play better together but Rosie will still get a little bullish with Far sometimes too.

I just hope this all gets worked out soon for both of us

[Blair]

Gauge is BACK!!!!He is acting like his old self and he ate all of his breakfast!!!!!!