That is nice that Oscar welcomed her with open paws. Sadie is very young and the best thing on her side is that she has intelligent and sensitive owners now.
I have created an exercise that I use for dogs who are very anxious, have separation anxiety, submissive problems and insecurity. I created this exercise when I adopted a puppy that had separation anxiety (now my dog of 10 years).
Sit on the floor in front of your puppy with a dish full of delicious treats that you know she will love. Put the treats to the side of you. Gently get your puppy to sit or lay in front of you. Take a treat and give it to her, say "good girl in a deeper voice" (your top dog) and after she eats it scracth her head, neck, ear, under the chin.
Now take another treat and bring it in front of her face. When she goes to take it, say in a normal matter of fact tone, with no anger "no, look at me" and as you are saying this draw the treat up to the center of your face to eye level. As she follows it, try to look her in the eye for a few seconds. When you make eye contact hand her the bone and say "okay, good girl." then love her up.
Repeat this exercise over and over and every time you hand her a treat. Soon you will be able to hold the treat right in front of her face and say "no look at me" and she will advert her eyes to yours. This will advance to where you bring a treat in front of her and if she goes to take it you give just a one inch movement of it and she will look at you without you having to say anything.
By doing this exercise you have allowed your dog to enter a higher level of the pack, instead being the lowest submissive dog of the pack. You are teaching her the top dog favors her, eye contact and sharing of food is very important in a dogs world. Dogs in a pack have to wait until the higher up dogs are done, they become very submissive, have separation anxiety and are scared to be alone they feel totally insecure without a topdog. If the pack leaders allow them into the space and to eat and make eye contact, they become confident and have a sense of acceptance.
Some dogs naturally take the lowest level of the pack. It is very possible to teach them to be confident by having a deep one on one activity with them. Play and taking a walk, etc. do not have this effect. The method above does work, because the top dog (dogs naturally know this) has the food in hand and is controlling whether the lower dog will eat or not, but the top dog is saying look at me, you can trust me, and I will share with you. The ultimate kindness a dog in pack can receive is the favor and acceptance of the top dog.
This exercise will be a great way for her to become confident and to help her mature.
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Obedience Lessons are another great way to help a dog build confidence, and I am glad to see that you are already doing this.
The next alternative, would be to a complete physical from a vet to rule out other medical problems and possibly get medication. The vet might prescribe something like Clomicalm tablets (clomipramine hydrochloride) a tricyclic antidepressant. Dogs receiving clomipramine have a decreased level of fear and anxiety and increased receptivity to behavioral modification.
You can also try a product like Liquid Composure found at the Only Natural Pet Store.
http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=composure&Search.x=26&Search.y=10
Here is some more information for dealing with this problem:
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/critters/guin_pig/GuineaPig.php
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Peace and happiness to you and your pet! ~ Christina
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