How do I calm my dog that is terrified of everything during our walks?

Question

We adopted another dog a few months ago, a young lab, and he is very skiddish. Around the house, I am able to comfort him, remove objects he's scared of (oven mitts, bananas, b-day cards... you name it) or leave the object on the floor for him to investigate when he gets confidence.

Walking is completely different...He's a quick learner, and is pretty good on the leash. But he flips out over a lot of things (walking on asphalt, leaves on the ground, windchimes, people, etc.) He will start twisting and jerking (trying to run, cowering,) urinating on himself, etc. Yesterday, a road cone scared him so bad that he broke the clip on his leash and ran terrifed into the road.

I've been walking him on the same route (one with as few "scary" things I can find) since we adopted him. I've tried treats, stopping to calm him, touching the objects that scare him, etc. And we are very loving and patient...never abusive or mean.

How else can I calm him so he enjoys his walks?

Answer 1

Do you have a long leash? If yes, try just taking him out into the front yard with you. You sit on the porch/steps and let him roam outside and get used to the noises, movements, etc. so he can get used to the front outside things like traffic, people walking by, leaves rustling, etc. that he will encounter on a walk. With you sitting out there with him he will know that he has a safe place to go if something scares him. Once he seems comfortable with the whole front yard take him for a short walk even if that means you have to take 2 walks (1 for the older dog and 1 for the newer one). You can expand his territory a little bit at a time in order to give him confidence. It sounds like he "may" have been mistreated before and that may be the problem. You are doing the right thing by trying to let him comfortable with things. Just keep up the patience and thank you for giving him a caring home.

Answer 2

Buy a much stronger collar and leash. You were lucky once, you may not be so lucky next time.

Your dog lacks confidence in himself. You can build tons of confidence with obedience training. And you solve other problems before they happen. It really works. Find a good obedience class and enroll. All the other people and dogs in class will eventually help your dog to build confidence in himself. Not all obedience classes are equal; be sure you check references. You want one that can actually help you with your problem dog.

You didn't say how old your dog is but I'm going to recommend two books. For dogs under six months, buy The Art of Raising A Puppy by the Monks of New Skete. Over six months, you want The Koehler Method of Dog Training by William R. Koehler. Actually, Koehler has a web site: www.koehlerdogtraining.com
You might want to check it out, they may be able to refer you to a trainer in your area. Get going and good luck.

Answer 3

This heightened anxiety could be behavioural but I would highly recommend that this be discussed with your vet to rule out any medical cause. This ancy fear of almost anything and everything is not normal, even for an adopted dog, He is still young and labs have a lot of energy. What you describe could be a "sensory" problems, possibly related to vision or hearing.

If all that checks out fine then ask about a calming drug for him, short term as he works through these issues. There is one actually USDA approved for use in anxious dogs. I worked and rehabbed a dog using the drug short term. It made the process easier and safer for both of us while socializing him. Normally, I am not one for drugging dogs but this case sounds extreme and he may only become worse as he is so fearful. The way you are handling his walks sounds fine. He may just need some help. There are also herbal meds such as Pet Calm that may help.

But please consult the vet first about this extreme anxiety and make sure nothing medical is cause.

Answer 4

All the contributors answers are fanatstic.
Try them.
There is also a natural remedy you can give for skittish dogs.
It is Bach's essence rescue remedy.Put 5 drops into the gums 3 -4 times a day.
This helps to calm the animal down and makes them more open to changes.
Of course there are other Bach's remedies that that useful, but I cannot recommned any without having further information. So try rescue remedy. You can get it from your local health store.

Answer 5

Every time you comfort your dog when it is scared, your dog will continue that habit. Force your dog to walk with you and let your dog know that you are in the lead and are confident. Put it on a tight leash and make it walk beside you.

Watch the Dog Whisperer. He gives some great tips on how to walk your dog.

Answer 6

Let him investigate those"weird' things don't remove them allow him to get used to these things so you aren't removing everything from your home.
Continue to walk him make sure you have a sturdy collar or harness and leash and let him figure out that he won't be killed. Do this very calmly as if nothing is happening. Do not pet him or pamper him when he does this you don't want to reinforce his behavior.

Answer 7

use a calm soothing voice, to call him. Don't acknowledge that he's afraid. Just keep on walking, without looking at him, and the object. He'll see you, His Alpha/Pack Leader, and he'll become more confident that things are fine, since you see it as fine.