I adopted my dog 7 months ago and he bonded with me almost immediately. He became my shadow and would follow me everywhere and cling to me. When I leave he sits on top of the couch until I get home. He is very wary of strangers and still scared of people he's met multiple times. He runs away when people try to pet him and is very cautious when taking treats. He won't take his eyes off the person and slowly grabs the treat and runs away to eat it. On walks, if he sees another dog close by he will often try and run away. Even if a leaf or bird fly by he gets spooked. He's been getting better since I've gotten him, but I just want him to be happy and not so scared all the time. Any tips on how to get my dog to stop shaking in the presence of people and dogs? :(
Socialize is an individual process and requires time and patience and sometimes changing expectations.
A shy dog may never be the life of the party, but if he is healthy and not aggressive, then you may need to accept his quirks.
That said, ask your vet a recommendation for a one on one trainer. If you are near Pittsburgh, there are 2 that are amazing ones.
The one we chose for Clarence came to the house. She showed us how our behavior affected his and taught us reward based techniques to work on his skills.
He will never be the life of the party, but he is still an amazing boy who loves his people...just not most other people. Which we are fine with since he is happy and healthy.
Wishing you and your pup much happiness!!
The picture with your question looks like a rat terrier. If you dog is indeed a rat terrier the behavior you describe is common in this breed, in my opinion. They are very sensitive and wary of strangers. They are also very devoted to their owners. He probably never will be the life of the party, but he will be there to protect you from the boogy man.
insecure dogs can go two ways:
1) scary and aggressive (prone to attacking)
2) shy, retiring, and seemingly traumatized (apparently yours)
if I had to choose I'd choose a shy dog over an aggressive dog any day, but it is still a pity to have an insecure dog
I would just always provide firm but loving discipline, and make sure he gets a lot of exercise. In particular, especially if he's NOT aggressive, I would start by taking him on walks outside, then buiding up to going to a dog park (especially maybe the small dogs section only at first)
once he gets better at socialising with dogs it should make it easier to socialise with people
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
We have construction going on in front of our house. My puppy wasn't afraid of it until one morning she woke and jumped in bed with me and has been scared to death since.
She won't go outside and she would always go outside no problem! She paces back and forth. I try to comfort her. It only works for a minute. What to do? Help please!Try a thunder shirt. They are made for animals who are afraid in storms. They are very effective. You can find them online mostly
The worst thing you can do is try to comfort the dog. Things like petting her and cooing "Now, now, it's okay" are only going to reinforce her fear response. Why? Because she thinks you are praising it.
So I adopted a 2 month old Pit Bull puppy about 6 months ago. And when I got him he seemed to be fine with the other puppies in the shelter. When I took him home it took around 2 days for him to get comfortable with me. Because I had to wait until all of his vaccinations had been finished he was staying at home and in the back yard for about a month.
And after he got all three shots I tried to walk him on a leash out of the house, but he just never would go an inch away from the door. I took him back inside, but I tired every couple of hours again and again. Finally he went out and actually goes on leash very good. I gave him treats every hundred meters. So everything was good.
After a couple weeks I took him to the dog park and he was scared of every dog that came near him. I tried to tell him it was okay and I pet the other dogs and tried to tell him it was fine. I tried like this again and again and he finally gets along with dogs that are good to him. But if he finds dogs that are not good to him he just runs back to me or lays down to let them bite him. So I don't really let him go near aggressive dogs now only with the good dogs. And they play really nice.
I took him for a car ride, but he was also scared of car rides. He just never lifted up his head and didn't even move anywhere. He was just frozen, very tense and very nervous. He didn't even look at me even if I called his name. It felt like things were just getting better, but suddenly they are getting really worse. I felt like I just finished one problem and another came up right after.
And now he is almost 8 month old. He is okay with a leash walk, but only around the small streets. He is a bit okay with a car ride too, but when I accelerate the car he will still lay down on the seat and never lift up his head. When I stop at the red light he will look up through the window. Just yesterday I took him downtown. We live a bit far from downtown so he never went there before.
After he got out of car he was doing his things again. He was scared of every single thing around him. He didn't even want to walk. He just pulled me back and wanted to try to find a hole or place under cover and just stay there. So I ignored his fear and took him the way he wanted to go. We were almost to place I wanted to go, but he didn't even go an inch. He just kept pulling me back. There was a bunch of people waiting to get into the restaurant so I thought he was afraid of them as well. So I took him to the back alley and went that way to go around them.
Every time I took him to try new things that's what he was showing me. But I didn't give up. And I know he loves me and I love him too. I think I need some help. I did everything I could to change him. I can't say it didn't help. It does, but every new thing giving me new problems.
He is eating really good. I'm giving him K9 Protein with chicken breast so he is really muscular, but he is just scared of everything and people laughed at me and him on the streets every time he didn't want it to go. He has bad dreams every day when he is sleeping so I slowly wake him up and pet him a bit and then he will sleep alright for a while. Now it's been 6 months and every night I hear him barking or yawning or crying in his sleep. I would appreciate you guys' help.
All dogs have a basic personality and way of seeing the world. This is a part of them and really doesnt change a lot. Your dog is not comfortable in new situations. You have done exactly what you should do to get him comfortable in a new situation. You have been loving and confident and patient while he gets over his concern.
Definitely take him on a lot of walks, exercise can help with insecurities. Additionally there's an interesting technique of making sure his head is held up straight and his tail is in the air, even pushing it up if you have to. Just the change in physiology can make him more confident.
the thing to remember about this breed is it is a very smart dog and a very energetic dog, and if he is not physically and mentally challenged, he can become neurotic and then prone to aggression. So make sure tht he gets a good run in everyday and hopefully go to obedience school or learn tricks.
I took on a friend's female Bishon who is 2 years old. They bred dogs and she was one of their breeding dogs, but they had not bred her yet. They were getting older and need to get rid of the animals.
She had very little human contact so they were not able to sell her. They were going to take her to the pound so I asked if I could have her. The first week was a nightmare. She wouldn't come near me and hid in the bushes, rain, shine, or cold. Little by little I got her to come in the house. It has been about six months and she stays in the house most of the time. She won't let me touch her except when she is in her bed and I can pet her. She will run up to me, but never closer than arms length. When she is outside she runs around in circles. She will stand in the living room growling for no reason at all. I was able to pick her up when some friends were here (I had to get her in the bedroom in her bed before I could pick her up).
I took her into where they were and was going to show my friend how she was licking her self raw on her bottom. Well she did everything she could to get down and she pooped she was so scared and I let her down because she was way too strong for me. To get her to come into the house or a room I have to step away and then close the door after her. She will run around for hours.
We took her out with my friend's other dogs to run in the pasture and she stayed up by the fence and ran up and down it and never came to be with the other dogs. In the car she is terrified. I had her clipped and they said she was scared, but other than that she was OK. My friend took her for a walk with her other dogs, all on a leash, and at first Daisy was fine and then out of the blue she went wild. She wasn't sure what to do, but try and calm her down and Daisy bit her. So she just kept walking and she felt the lead getting strange and looked and she was dragging Daisy so she picked her up and carried her the rest of the way.
My friend keeps saying she is mentally damaged. I have been giving her magnesium, but it only makes her sleepy in the day and freaky at night. Can anyone tell me if they have ever heard of this before and is there hope for my Daisy?
By Karen MC
Hate to say this but it sounds like your friend was running a puppy mill. I don't understand how this Bishon had no human contact. Your friend may have been hitting and punishing this poor dog. Bishons are extremely friendly and excellent family dogs so things are not adding up.
Please give this poor dog time to start trusting humans again. It sounds like you are making progress but do not expect it to happen over night. It sounds like they may have hit her if she is afraid of your hands. Show her the back of your hands not your fingers. This helps to reassure a dog you are not going to hurt her. Her bed is her safe zone. She is licking herself raw because she is extremely stress out. Give her time to come to you.
If we were being abused, we would have a hard time trusting again. Trust has to come on the dog's time not ours.
You will need a lot of time and patience but once this poor dog starts to trust you, you will see her/him blossom.
Did the groomer clean the dogs anal glands? If not, then please take the dog to vet to see if that's the problem with the licking. If you live in a hot weather area she can also be having some hot spots and the vet can give her a shot to help with the itching. She can also be reacting to something on your carpeting.
She should be spayed asap. If she was crated by the breeders then try bringing a crate into the house (take off the door), try adding one of your shirts or a nightgown with your scent on it for her to sleep on.
Don't hold her, that is against her will and she might be scared of being abused. Be very careful about giving her supplements since you don't know if you might be causing damage to her liver or kidneys.
Most of all, be patient, don't force yourself on her. Be calm around her, keep kids away. Try Petsmart or Petco and ask them about their all natural tranquilizers.
Should a Pit Bull puppy fear his owner? Should he be yelping out as if his owner is seriously hurting him? Should he be shaking in his owner's presence and hold his head low?
This dog has been abused. Extra care and attention will be needed to bring him back. We have adopted many dogs and have seen this in 1 or 2. He will come around if loved hard, but may become a 1 person dog if you aren't careful. Pitbulls are not really bad agressive dogs, the owners create this trait. The sweetest dog I have ever owned was a Pit, I just put her down last year at 17 years old and still really miss her.
Bob
I have a Belgian Malanois-Whippet mix. Since I rescued him he is still afraid to let me help him. My dog is still uncertain of me. He looks afraid when I go to pet him sometimes. He is a character. He hates dog food and makes me give him my food or he pouts, literally. He dictates where we walk. I don't mind that though it's his walk.
But his frightened disposition when there's no threat is sad. And he wants to kill the mailman. He has been massed 3x for this same aggressive behavior only to certain aggressive type people. He bosses me by using his tail and stepping on my toes. Ugh. He is is close to 12.
He has been abused for many years. It may be very hard for him to trust. When you try to pet him, he may think you are going to hit him. You might want to consider a professional trainer.
This is so sad. The poor dog was so abused by his previous owners he isn't really sure what to do or think right now. As for the mailman this one could be dangerous. If he sees a person in a uniform this could trigger his memories of his previous owner. You're going to have to be patient with him and just keep talking with him. It will be hard and at times you'll be frustrated, but you have to think about the dog and how badly he was treated before he came to live with you.
I adopted a shy dog on August 7, 2004. Unlike most shy dogs, her shyness happened, I am assuming, from being dumped. She began showing up at the church where I worked during the day and night. She slept at the church every night for almost six weeks.
Hi Betty,
It sounds like you have been doing the all right things. Thank you for taking such good care of Faith. It sounds like she had a rough start. It just takes time and lots of love which you have been giving her. Just keep trying to stretch her safety net by little bits and you should do fine.
Our dog Maggie was found tied to an animal shelter. She was super shy at first and over time has trusted us more and more. She is still very shy around strangers, but I don't really see that as a bad thing because she is plenty friendly with the family.
As with Maggie, it's so hard to know exactly what Faith went through before you got her. Her injuries may have been from abuse or possibly getting hit by a car. It just takes lots of time and understanding for her to trust that you won't abandon her or hurt her. Because she is making progress, just keep doing what you are doing.
Susan from ThriftyFun
You are an angel to Faith! Thank goodness you took her in and made her part of your life.
Everything you're doing sounds good. But take it a little slower. Instead of ten minutes at the park, try just driving near the park for a few days with Faith in the car. If she tolerates that, stop, open the car door, and pet her calmly while she looks around. Next time, take her out of the car for thirty seconds. Etc. Tiny steps.
As for school in August, it's a great idea, but only if you truly think she's ready. If she needs obedience and leash training, you can do it in your home. Get info from a trainer or a website, and have short training sessions. It sounds like walking on a leash will be one of the important lessons!
Socialization may have to come very, very slowly. She sounds like such a wonderful dog. But she has been traumatized. You seem to have a very good sense of what she needs, and I know you'll do a great job. Go by your own standards -- not what other people think, or what other dogs do.
Thank you again, and again, for rescuing this lady who needs you so desperately.
zballoongirl
We have both a Beagle and a Jack Russell. The Jack Russell has always gone after anything and everything, big or small. That is part of their nature. Mine is a very affectionate lap dog, but very hard to train to behave in public, too. I think he is just very smart and easily distracted. He gets very clingy at the slightest strange noise (cell phone beeping) and frantically tries to make me hold him. He needs a LOT of reassurance and I have had him for over 4 years -- he was dumped, too, and he wouldn't go two feet from me for months after I got him. He loves to run and play and has a lot of energy. He always runs on walks and always pulls on his leash. I have tried "don't pull", but he obeys selectively. He has a very one-track mind, but if I get his attention and he looks at me, he will listen. He is finally learning "no barking" when we encounter a neighbor. He actually has a very large vocabulary to the point that we have to spell things. The beagle is another story...slow, into food, obeys very well, very shy (hides behind me when we meet people), but took 1 1/2 years to learn to "sit". All this to say that your dog sounds normal for a dumped Jack Russell and it may take more than a few months for her to relax.
hello
thank you to all of you for your suggestions. They have been wonderful.we have gone to slow mode with Faith. I forgot to mention that she has brothers and sisters who love her dearly. They love to play with one another. I will post pictures later of her and her sibs.
take care
i have one just like faith. her name is ally. tho i got her at the spca. very shy but with time, persistence and patience she is much better. we have been to a behaviorist. when we first went to the park very frightened but now she loves to run and bark. just keep loving her.
Not all dogs that have suffered extensive abuse can be re-socialized. Dogs have the mental accuity of a 2 year old child. They have no way of understanding who may or may not harm them. Since dogs have no sense of time, they are sometimes unable to "recover". With a dog that reacts to a situation with abject terror, it is more humane to remove them from the situation. A terrorized dog cannot be de-sensitized. Just keep them close and love them.
c.j.cox
My Cookie Jack Russell Terrier Was left alone for
about 2WEEKS in an empty apt. She is SHY and is not typical CRAZY Jack RT and is loving. She does
not bark once when the doorbell rang on tv she barked shot up and cried. We did what you did at park lots of love, treats and talking mine is still
shy of the ducks .She follows me around room to room and when i go to restroom she lays outside door.She is a lap dog 15 ounds but curls up into ball on my hubby or me. Lil girl across street said 50cents to walk dog and she takes her daily now
Cookie loves her and goes to her house and plays with her reebone dog. Dec to now she rarely shakes. Just be strong when doggie shakes, reassure, but talk to them firm so they know its ok...This is bEST dog we ever had. They are quick learners. Ours sits in crate in car and during day kennel is on floor open and when she wants nap she pops in there
but she does love to snuggle on us in bed and who are we to say no to that? She is finally getting more secure just the other day I got up away from couch and she stayed on couch sleeping-A FIRST- while I refilled my water glass she has followed me to frig door and waited fom to refill and then back to couch. Time, love, paitence which seems you have will make the difference.
My 6.5 month old German Shepherd is scared of cartoons and other dogs. If someone comes into our house she will bark, but if that guy is clothed she will be run and bark from far:-( What can I do? I want to train her to attack and bite.
By Raz from Netherland
I adopted a Pom mix dog from a former co-worker about 7 months ago. My former co-worker doesn't run me as the abusive type, she speaks very gently and has a new born baby in her home, but I can't speak for everyone around her. 
I adopted Olive to be my 2 year old Pom-Chi's companion since my husband and I weren't home for 5 hours a day. Daisy, my 2 year old dog, right off the bat loved Olive, but Olive from the moment she was put into my arms seemed a bit off. She's extremely timid and hard to potty train. She is very loving and all that, but if you raise your voice by laughing she pees on herself and hides. I need help since I am so in love with her I can't let her go because of this. I want to help her in any way I can. Please help!
I have a 6 month old Jack Russell who I bought from Gumtree 4 weeks ago. He is very nervous and growls at people when they come into my house. He is eventually coming around to me and my husband, but not my daughters and son. When they try to stroke him he wees a large amount and cowers on the floor or if we are sittting down he will jump onto our knee and not move.
I don't know if he has been abused or if he is just a nervous dog. Is there anywhere I can take him to get him some help or a link on the internet I could look at. Thank you.I have 4 month old Rottweiler. A few days back he was under attack by a dog. After that he never comes in front of any dog, he hides behind me and starts running.
If a dog is far away then he stands confidentially, but when the dog comes near, even a 2 month puppy, he starts shaking. What should I do?I have a 2 year old English Mastiff that out of nowhere has developed a fear of floors. How can I get him past this fear?
By Ann S from Langhorne, PA
I have a 6 month old female hound mix puppy. She is becoming more afraid of everything. She acts like she needs constant attention and wants to sit up under someone constantly all day. She can't stand to be at least 3 feet away from someone. It seems like its getting worst.
By Jennifer M.
Most of the time my dog's a great dog. He's awesome with people, other animals, kids, and almost everything. The only problem is he's afraid when things go over his head. He will run and slink down. I don't really have anyone to help me, so what can I do to help him overcome this fear?
By Brian
My 3 year old Malamute is scared of men and cars, men are the worst. She can't pass men on the street. I think the previous owner was a bad person and she got badly beaten. She is so lovely and my family loves her to bits. She finally got a good home, but it's difficult to watch when she is so scared.
By peter
I have this dog and have had her for years. She's very very skittish of everything. I'm going out of my mind with her. We moved to a new apartment in February (it's July) and she's great in the apartment, but once she goes outside she's terrified of any kind of noise. At the dog park she's more confident and she only goes there once or twice a week. She goes outside here at least 3 times a day if not more.
We just bought her a self feeding water bowl and she's terrified of it when it bubbles so she won't even go near it. We put down a regular water bowl and now she's scared of it too thinking it will bubble. I'm at a loss with her.
By Crystal from Tallahassee, FL
