I just got a black lab. I understand thing may just take time but I notice some behaviors that are concerning and I want to offer her the correct "support " asap. She was 16 weeks old when i got her. (Thinking this was a mistake as I didnt get to make the 1st impressions" She has never been inside. She was in an outdoor pen. So shes not house broken at all. But the 2 real issues are- 1- I have to carry her to move her. If outside to potty most times she just lays where ever I put her down and looks at me. Wont come when called, wont budge at all. Bring her in put her down, she just goes limp and lays. Does move. This maybe puppy/new home behavior The next behavior is the most concerning 2- Any time I walk towards her she lowers her head in a "scared" posture. I take real effort to walk slow, talk to her in a calm voice even affectionately, smile saying its ok... good girl ect...Thankfully shes not peddling too. I dont want to think she was being mistreated. Do these behaviors indicate that? If so how can I make her feel safe and if it happened that part of life is over. Now I will say if I put her on the sofa with me she will lay close to me, at times putting her head on me. Even nibble at my hand playfully. Am I just confusing new home behavior with mistreatment? Making excuses for stubborn behavior?
You don't say how long you have had her. It is certainly not the behavior I would expect from a socialized pup that had been well treated. I feel it is likely that she was mistreated, or at best ignored. If so it may take some time to get her confidence. I would do everything I could to make her comfortable and happy, using only positive reinforcement. I would probably spend time on the floor with her, with toys and treats. If I didn't see positive changes in a week, I would be looking for a trainer to evaluate her.
These are very worrying behaviours. It's always hard to say if a pup just hasn't experienced something before, or if they have been mistreated. But not experiencing enough of a breeder walking towards you, IS a type of mistreatment - you can see what it has resulted in, for the pup. Sadly the socialisation period ends around 14-16wks, so it is likely these behaviours are here to stay and you will need to work with her very carefully and slowly and with thought - preferably with a force-free trainer or behaviourist making regular visits to advise you. You might want to have a read of these links: http://www.drjensdogblog.com/socializing-your-puppy-why-later-is-too-late/ https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/sensitive-period-for-socialization-in-puppies/ http://deesdogs.com/documents/thepuppysruleoftwelve.pdf
