File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Hi /an/,
I'm thinking about getting another dog, but the problem is is that my dog Apollo, is a total baby when it comes to other dogs. He won't go near them, and will cower in the corner and basically piss himself.

How do I socialize my dog and get him comfortable if I do decide to get another puppy? (Pic related; it's my brother and my dog.)
>> Anonymous
Make sure he's comfortable with dogs before getting a new one, because fear can lead to them reverting to a self-defense mode, and that causes fights. Do you have any friends/family with friendly dogs? Introduce him to them (with both dogs on a leash, so neither gets overbearing and worries the other), let them sniff, etc-- go slow. After a few leashed meetings, let them off the leash together, let them play, blahblah. If he's ever attacked or frightened by a dog during this period, realize it'll only worsen his fears, so be careful.

If/when you do decide it's time for a second dog, try getting one that's younger than he is, possibly a puppy. I see he's kind of small, so be careful about size in the new dog. Small and large dogs often get along, but not so much in the case of a frightened smaller dog, who will see the bigger one as a possible threat. If you want to rescue, make sure he meets whichever dog you choose before bringing it home. I think it would actually be a good route, because then you can ask the shelter workers/foster/whatever if it has a submissive or dominant personality (do NOT get a dominant one for Apollo). If you choose to get a puppy from a breeder, make sure you watch the puppies playing together, and pick a more passive one. Don't get one who separates itself from its siblings (that can point to an anti-social personality, which would be no good), or actively beats them up (dominant).

And of course, if you don't feel Apollo will ever be comfortable with another dog, don't get one. A scared dog is one that will bite, no matter how sweet of a personality they have otherwise.
>> Anonymous
>>203177
Thanks for your reply, but I have a couple of questions.

Apollo is sociable with other creatures; he gets along fine with our ferrets, he's played with a couple of cats. But it's just dogs that he's afraid of.

My neighbor has a Yorkie, and Apollo's reacted strongly to the dog. He wouldn't move, just stayed behind us, even though the other dog wasn't doing anything. The same thing happened with my brother's friend's Pug; both substancially different sizes of dogs, but Apollo was still scared.

We've taken him to dog parks, but he'll jump on the tables. We'll stay for a couple of hours, but it's useless.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
Have this guy whisper at your dog.
>> Anonymous
>>203182
Do you know his past history with dogs? It's possible he might have been attacked by one before you adopted/purchased him. It sounds like he has a really deep-set phobia of them, if he's even afraid of yorkies.
If you really, really want another dog, you'd probably want to consult a professional on this. As Apollo is, though, it's probably kindest to him to just not get another dog. The stress it would put him through to get him used to other dogs might not be worth it.
>> Anonymous
Slow sessions of exposure to other, timid dogs, on leashes, sounds like your best bet. But it will take quite a few of these to settle him.