My son and I adopted a beautiful unique mix from a Program out in Vegas called "Adopt a Rescue Pet." She looks to have some chow, but her face looks like a Golden retreiver.. Anyway, we fell in love, and brought her home. She has had all over her vaccinations, and has been dewormed, spayed, and microchiped. She is 3 years old, and was abandoned along with her life long companion doggy, that was also adopted out yesterday. Once her "friend" was taken out of his kennel, I was told that she stayed in the corner, and looked depressed. She is now extremely nervous, looks just so sad. She hides as much as she cans, and didn't eat or drink anything after bringing her home yesterday. She did go out for a walk today, and finally drank something. But she doesn't seem to want anything to do with us. She doesn't run away from us, but she just looks completely bummed. Does anyone have any suggestions. I know shes been through a lot, I just want to do the best we can to help!! Thanks!
2007-09-16 18:06:31 · 14 answers · asked by Christine O 2 in Pets ➔ Dogs
Speaking softly, or humming, rub her face, over her eyes, around her mouth, and act as if you were her mom washing her face when she was an infant. This will assure her that you are her nurturer, and she will feel safe more quickly.
She will pull away a bit, when you do this, just as she would pull back from mom..but gently continue.
2007-09-16 18:20:47 · answer #1 · answered by Chetco 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It will take some time for her to adjust. Think about it from her point of view - she's been in a noisy shelter situation, her companion was taken away, and now she's in this completely new environment where all the smells and sounds are different. Who knows if it's only temporary or permanent? Where is my friend? Will these strange people hurt me? Will they dump me back at the shelter? Can I trust them?
How old is your son? Make sure that he understands that until the dog gets settled in and more confident in her surroundings, that he shouldn't make sudden movements or sounds near her. He shouldn't chase her around or bother her if she's trying to rest / hide / eat. He should do his best not to startle her.
She will gain confidence, and probably within the next couple of weeks (unless she was abused at her previous home, in which case getting her to trust people again may take longer). At that point you should see a change in her personality for the better.
In the meantime, try sitting quietly on the floor with some treats, talk soothingly to her (quietly, low-pitched, soothing tones... the words don't matter quite as much as the tone, volume, and feeling), and see if you can get her to eventually come over to you and take some treats (if not from your hand, then at least from the floor about an arms-length away). Again - no fast movements, no sharp noises. And don't reach out and try to pet or grab her right away - let her feel safe within arms-length of you, let her realize that you're not going to hurt her, give her a chance to understand that she's not going to be abandoned again.
2007-09-16 18:19:30 · answer #2 · answered by Nandina (Bunny Slipper Goddess) 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
This is something that I deal with constantly, as the dogs I rescue are usual roadside rescues, and many of them are scared of everything. Fortunately this is treatable with patience, encouragement, and acting normal. Chances are this dog is the insecure one of the two who "borrowed" her self confidence from the other dog, and followed her lead in new situations.
Most dogs come out of this pretty quickly. I've had two that took a while.
When it's a new item,situation, loud noise, etc. act normally, perhaps even ignore her . If she gets a lot of "reward" for being afraid of things she will continue to be fearful.
Introduce her to the thing she afraid of by letting her smell it and getting near to it to see that it's no threat. This very useful in introducing a dog to a Bicycle and it's rider.
One dog I rescued got to the point, when meeting a new person, she would look at me first then after I said to her it's ok she would walk up to them to be petted.
Contact me for more specifics.
2007-09-19 07:55:55 · answer #3 · answered by eg 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just let her be, I have a dog who came like that, she was 9 months old, from the shelter, brought up to Mass, she is a feist/southern black mouth cur. She did not know what a leash was, being in a home, I suspect she d id not cut it for hunting.
It took well over a year, she was not aggressive, but, let her find her way, do not overwhelm her, do not allow others to prompt her, put a harness on her and interact with her. She will get rid of her do dependency on the other dog.
She has to learn to trust, explore her new world.
Sandi
Trainer
Dachshund Rescue
Shelter Volunteer, Mass
2007-09-17 08:36:55 · answer #4 · answered by sandi r 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Please just be patient with her. Get her some kind of yummy treat. If she will not eat it out of your hand, place it on the floor. Every day place it a little bit closer to you until she comes to you on her own. Try sitting on the floor or even laying down so that you are on her level. If this does not work, you might want to consider getting her a doggie friend. You might even want to check back with the rescue that you got her from and tell them if her pal comes back that you would be interested in adopting her too. She has been through a lot.
2007-09-17 06:50:16 · answer #5 · answered by jaz 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We got a dog from the Humane Society locally. He was on "death row" as he had been there for so long waiting for a home.
He took a long time to like us. He was very depressed. We have had him for years now and he is one of the family. Your dog misses the other dog as well as people. She'll get over it. Just be kind and consistent. Give her some space and start looking into training right away so you all speak the same language. She's a lucky girl to have home!
2007-09-16 18:33:32 · answer #6 · answered by Susan M 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Dear Nervous,
Congratulations for rescuing a dog! Your new addition will be very shy and down-right scared (wouldn't you be if you were abandoned and suddenly put into another home?) She is just as frightened by her new environment as she is with her new family. Give her space and acknowledge her with lots of loving praises. (Some of my dogs were so scared that they couldn't leave my sight for the first few weeks.) It might take a little time, but I'm sure you'll win her over with your love patience. Keep up the good work!
Hugs,
C
C
2007-09-16 18:29:09 · answer #7 · answered by Chow owner 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I highly recommend a book called "Cautious Canine" by Patricia McConnell. This thin little volume is packed with information on how to make your shy or nervous dog become more comfortable in your home and in other places.
It is normal for a newly rescued dog to not eat for a few days. Give her time and keep offering her food and she will eat. And, as she gets more used to you and your son, she will soon come out of her depression. Try adding some cooked chicken, tuna fish or yogurt to her dog food to entice her to eat. Give her a quiet place by herself where she can relax and feel comfortable.
One of my foster dogs, a very scared sheltie, took awhile to come out from under the bed. With time, patience, the book I recommend and lots of treats, you'll soon have a less shy dog!
Good luck!
2007-09-17 06:42:01 · answer #8 · answered by Stephani M 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Time and patience. Of course she's nervous. And probably also frightened. She's having to adjust to two big events, the loss of her companion and the move to a new home.
Keep things as quiet and low-key as you can. Talk to her softly and touch her gently. Reassure her. Let her know that she is safe and loved. Patience, patience, patience.
She probably will come around, but it takes some of them a longer time than others. Most importantly, don't give up on her. Good Luck!
2007-09-16 18:35:40 · answer #9 · answered by * 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps you can find out who adopted her companion,so they could visit.Poor things,it's just like separating siblings.They don't know what's happened.If you can't find the other dog,then just be patient and loving with her,and she should come around.She'll always miss the other dog,though.I hope you can find it so they can be reunited and see each other now and then.You might make some new friends as well!
2007-09-16 18:48:08 · answer #10 · answered by Dances With Woofs! 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lots and lots of patience. She just lost her best friend and is very sad and upset. Just continue to be kind to her, show her lots of love and attention. She will soon warm up to you. Don't force her to do anything she doesn't want to. She will eventually get curious and begin to feel more at home once she knows she is going to be there and not going to be shipped out to another different place. She's scared and needs your love and patience to get her through it. Good luck.
2007-09-16 18:26:25 · answer #11 · answered by Bonzie12 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋