Hello, my name is Ash. 2 weeks ago I purchased a purebred lab puppy. His name is Buddy. He was 12 weeks when I got him. He is now 14 weeks old. He seems very happy while inside with my husband and I, but very cautious outside. He doesn’t go after squirrels or cats, he seems interested in them. He sits when he sees the squirrels or cats, so I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. He lived on a 30 acre farm for a month before I decided to buy him. He is originally from Virginia and I believe he was separated from his litter mates and mom at a very young age. He constantly chews his paws when he is tired. He looks to me for comfort while falling asleep. I’m working on socializing him with other dogs in the apartment complex where I live. How do I make him feel more secure while he falls asleep? He enjoys his crates, but will always fall asleep on my bed if I take him out of his crate for a potty break during the night. He’s always near me and he loves to follow.
Hi Ash, welcome to the forum! It's normal for baby animals to be cautious or wary of new things - in the wild, it's a vital part of ensuring their survival It's very likely that Buddy will get more bold around cats and squirrels as he grows up and gains confidence in his new environment. In the meantime, giving him a treat every time he just sits and looks at them is a great way to make this behavior rewarding for the future as well (before he can discover that chasing after them is also very rewarding!) The crate training article on our main site my help you teach Buddy to settle, but bear in mind that puppies of his age do just need a lot of company! If he was removed from his mom before 7 weeks old, please contact a behaviorist in your area for help with problems arising from that. Good luck, and do keep us updated on his progress!
