How do you help a formerly abused dog?

Question

I've recently "adopted" a very young dog (maybe black lab mix?) that was severly abused and dumped. She's now pretty healthy, but she's scared of everything and always cowers. My initial strategy was to consistantly love on her and keep her food bowl full to try to give her a sense of safety and security. She seems better, but still scaredy and pitiful, for example you can NOT put a leash on her, she's scared of being in inclosed spaces and she still cowers and crawls when near people (that's not as bad as it was at first). Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated, she deserves the best.

She's only been at my house for almost 2 weeks. She is more comforatable with me and a few other people now, but still cowers and crawls like she still expects us to turn on her. Also, we can not use food like treats for encouragement or any other reason, she cowers and becomes frightened like she expects us to trick her or hit her. Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions so far.

Answer 1

Be sure to have a crate so she has her own safety zone. Mine still uses hers at times. When people come over but she is great with us and fine outside?? The house became her safety zone and when people come in they are invading her space. She then goes to her crate that no one is allowed to go to except us.

Put the leash on her and let her wear it around the house so she knows it won't hurt her. I had a foster dog once that I still see and she can not wear a leash at all. We could put one on her and she would not move for hours - until we took it off. She was already an adult and had a few litters of pups out in the wild and had no Idea how to function with a leash

Answer 2

Since she's a young dog, she should be able to recover with time and patience IF she had a stable temperament to begin with. How is she with you? Does she cower when you come near her or other people? If she's fine with you, you need to slowly and gently start to bring her out of herself.

Try going out in the back yard with her and put her leash on there. She must have some level of comfort in the yard by now. Take a handful of treats with you, and just encourage her to walk. Call her, pat your leg, walk backwards, do whatever to get her to take a couple of steps and give her over-the-top praise for trying. Any progress is good - if she'll start to walk, just go wherever she wants. When she can do that, take her out for a walk at a time of day that's quiet and keep encouraging her.

Try doing a little obedience with her (just at home), teach her sit, down, stay, come. Be very calm and patient. Dogs usually gain confidence by succeeding at something, so this may help her, too.

If she's scared of enclosed spaces, you need to be very careful not to make her feel trapped - never corner her so she feels she can't get away. Dogs who are this scared can easily turn into fear biters and they're the most dangerous kind.

Good luck with her!

Answer 3

Lots and lots and LOTS of love and patience! There are some very good answers here. Once she gets to the point that she will wear a leash, a puppy obedience class would be helpful. She is going to need a lot of socialization. I've had a great number of abused dogs over the years, which is why I went into rescue work, and they have turned out to be the very best dogs of all.

Answer 4

More of encouragement than an answer... I too had adopted an abused pup. I did exactly what you're currently doing. It took a good long while, but she eventually did turn completely around and learn to trust me -- and what a GREAT feeling that is. She's AWESOME!

Best of luck to you and your new baby pup!

Answer 5

granted canines are classicly conditioned. ie childrens=undesirable. canines actual pass on. continuously stroll sideways in direction of a canines. this suggests you cant attack and you arent scared. get small, crouch. small issues arent as frightening if this works pass to the backside, if not then examine on. once you do this you'll possibly desire to pay no interest to the canines. the canines needless to say doesnt opt for it. despite if this suggests sitting in a room crouched for ten mins. the canines will ultimately be curious and stroll over and sniff you. do not something. you doing not something is a reward. the canines opt for you to do not something. when I say pay no interest i recommend activate a television and wait. dont go searching, dont pass. the canines might desire to then sniff then stroll away. at this element arise, stroll around wait a litttle bit, devour some thing, then crouch lower back. do not call the canines over. if the canines will pay no interest, then pass to the subsequent step. if the canines continues to be curious/fearful, pass slightly, ajust your wait, pass your hands. this makes you slightly extra menacing yet nevertheless curious. might desire to get sniffed lower back, then that is going to stroll away. if its nevertheless scared i wouldnt sugest attempting anymore. this time stroll sideways in direction of the canines with self assurance, that is going to sniff dont inspect it, you're effectual it for being curious by not paying interest. (what it needs) if all is going stable take an prolonged spoil. you dont opt for to overwork the canines. then you definately might desire to be okay to stroll it. you have a baseline of have confidence. this might recommend only putting a leash on the canines and jogging around the abode earlier each thing

Answer 6

She is still learning about things and will be frightened of what she doesn't know. You have and right strategy with love and affection. She needs to learn she can trust you to keep her safe and fed. Approach everything slow with her and be constant, don't rush her she is scared. She needs to develop trust along with knowing she is loved.