Could use some suggestions...

[PeanutsKeeper]

I have a shiba inu puppy (now 12 wks old) that wasn't socialized by the breeder. I didn't know until after aquiring the puppy that this breeder has a listing of complaints against them but thats another story.

Exactly 9 days ago from this posting the puppy got loose and was on his own for 6 days and 5 nights. If approached he would run deeper into the woods. Fortunately he remained in the area and I began feeding him the moment this all occurred. Then someone suggested I contact animal control and they ended up bringing me a humane trap to capture him which eventually worked.

The moment I got him I took him to the vet to have him checked out. Physically he was fine except for a number of ticks he had on him. However, mentally, having not been socialized by the breeder and the trauma of being out in the woods on his own resulted in one fearful little guy.

I've been working with him diligently but patiently. I started by simply sitting on the floor near his crate for hours so he became accustom to me. I limited looking directly at him and didn't speak to him (effectively ignoring him - all this from suggestions I've read elsewhere).

From the moment I brought him back from the vet, he was one exhausted little puppy. All he did was sleep. The next day he stayed in his crate until late afternoon. He was then sitting under a chair and cowered if I approached him. I picked him up and held him for over an hour, just petting him. He didn't resist at all, in fact he was very loving - even licked my arm a couple times. I let him down and he went back into his crate. Figured that was his way of saying he's had enough for the day and called it a night.

Still sitting in the same place near his crate, he will walk around with me right there. I can offer him a treat and he'll take it from my hand and lick my fingers after eating the treat. Progressively his fear of my body movements is decreasing. Since I can't reach for him without him cowering and hiding, I can't put a collar/leash on him just yet so for the time being, he does his business in the basement. (This is just temporary, the concrete is sealed and clean. I clean messes with a solution of vinegar and water.) Reason I mention this, if I'm on my knees with yellow rubber gloves on, sponge and bucket, he becomes very curious and comes over to see what I'm doing. He'll even sit next to me observing what I'm doing. Sometimes if I look over at him and speak to him he'll back up or move and change positions. So I continue doing things around him, getting him accustom to my presence and of everyday activity. This morning I got the broom and was sweeping the floor down there (since he's walking around and checking things out, I wanted to be sure it was puppy proof and nothing on the floor he could get that would make him sick) - initially he would just stand and watch me from across the room as I swept. Then he went into his crate and actually went to sleep. I continued to go about my business sweeping and I notice he's out and walking behind me. Without looking at him, I speak to him and he moves some, sits some - even walks up to smell my leg and foot (I've been barefoot while working with him - I didn't want the clicks or squeaks of shoes to startle him more than he always is). Without stopping, I would let him smell what he wanted while only the broom moved. He then become interested in the broom and was actually playing with it. He was fine if it was just the broom was moving but if I move then he backs off (well, if he notices I'm moving with the broom).

I think we're making super progress. I've done TONS of reading and everyone has different opinions of what to do or what the problem is (to identify a solution) so I thought I would post here as well. Since puppies should be socialized from birth and this guy hasn't, I want to be sure I'm doing this the best way thats not going to reinforce existing behavior.

Is there anything I should be doing that would indicate trust to him so I can touch him without him getting afraid? I cant begin to walk him or house train him until I can get a collar on.

Thanks in advance..