Murphy is a six-month-old 'Labradoodle' (Labrador/Standard Poodle cross) that came to his new home from a well-known Virginia breeder (who claimed she couldn't sell him because he underwent eye surgery). His new owners didn't purchase him but paid $350 to have him shipped to them sight unseen. They are a young couple who plan on having children in the not-too-distant future. Wanting to get off to the right start, they signed him up for my upcoming obedience class before they even received the dog. The owners are not particularly dog savvy but are personable and caring and they were hoping for a dog that would blend into their family unit and be able to join them on numerous outdoor adventures.

At his first vet appointment, Murphy was panicky and badly-behaved. So much so that the vet recommended he see a behaviorist in the home and advised against his participation in a group obedience class. I was invited to their home to meet and assess Murphy.

My first impressions:
- He is a fearful boy, afraid of new things, and new people. He is also afraid of regular everyday kitchen and house noises, and leash walks in the neighborhood.
-Murphy has had little if any experience with children (I had my three-year-old along with me as a "tester").
-His first week in his new home was most likely his first time indoors. I felt strongly that he had lived in an outdoor kennel area with other dogs.
-He was not properly socialized.
-The dog had bonded with the wife, but not the husband.
-He had a severe case of dermatitis.
-Initially, Murphy would not let me (or my daughter) near him, but would eat bits of chicken I threw towards him from across a room. I could not get close enough to touch him.

My preliminary assessment didn't produce much encouraging news and his new Mom was devastated, but not surprised. They had waited three long years and researched breeds and breeders before choosing this puppy. The owner tells me that in her extensive correspondence with the breeder, Murphy had been described as "social and very sweet". However, red flags arose when she discovered he'd yet to be named (despite his advanced age), he arrived in a filthy condition, and the vet saw no obvious signs of a previous eye surgery.

We discussed a variety of options for re-homing him with a family that has more experience with problem dogs. None of the possibilities we discussed included returning him to the breeder. Just as I was preparing to leave, the owner mentioned that he behaves very well with other dogs. We decided to introduce him to my dog, Charlee.

Murphy transformed back into a puppy in the presence of Charlee - his tail wagged, his eyes lit up and he was genuinely happy, and he accepted my daughter and I with no fear. As many young dogs do, he initially came on too strong for Charlee (who promptly reminded him of doggie protocol, snarking briefly at him so he'd back off). We hung out as a group on the porch where he licked my daughter and let both of us touch him. Murphy and Charlee got a few minutes of playtime (while dragging their leashes) in the yard, and he readily accepted my presence in the small outdoor space,and even came to me when I called him.

After seeing his comfort level rise to nearly normal we decided to give him a three-week reprieve. I left his owners with instructions for remedial socialization, and we agreed that he can come to class only if the weather is good and we can be outside. I hope being around other dogs will help him accept his alien new world quickly.

A fearful puppy lacking positive early socialization experiences during their first several months can become a dog with fear aggression. While this critical stage of early learning can never be completely regained, some dogs can 'catch-up' with the help of lots of remedial socializaiton.
Unfortunately I cannot offer any guarantees. Hopefully he has good genes to work with and will be able to snap back from his obvious lack of early socialization to become the companion that he should be.

Tune in later for an update of his first class experience.