Quote Originally Posted by Freedom
Was he always afraid, or is this a result of his month on his own? If he won't go on a leash, then he doesn't join a team and pull, either?
He's always been extremely timid. He's actually braver than he was before he left. He came from a wanna be musher who thought it would be easier to breed his own team. Apparently the hundreds(if not thousands) of sled dogs around here who are already trained and need homes weren't good enough for him! He had one litter, decided this was way too much work. He gave away all the puppies, except Delta and Antare. He brought them to the shelter when they were a few months old. He'd done nothing but throw a bit of a food at them every couple days. The key window for socializing puppies was missed. Socializing after 16 weeks can be done, but it's much more difficult, much slower and some of that missed learning can never be made up.

No, Delta doesn't run with the team. He has a beautiful gait and I'd love to get him into a harness someday. Right now it would probably be overwhelming for him and just freak him out. His littermate, Antare, is also very shy but is a fine little sled dog. He's actually learning to lead. Antare asked to come for a run the second year he was here. Came and stuck his head in a harness that I was trying to put on a different dog. I don't expect Delta will ever be that bold about it, but when he's ready he'll let me know. He's only five so he has lots of time to decide.