topic Re: Any Experience With a Fearful Dog? in Pet Lovers

Any Experience With a Fearful Dog?

Catty2 — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 15:32:38 GMT

Last Friday I went to the local Humane Society to see a dog that I have been interested in. This is the first dog I've met in person since my dog passed away a year ago. Reyna, the shelter dog, was rescued from a hoarding situation in July with 30 other dogs. She was expecting puppies so she was at the shelter maternity area until she had her puppies. After they were old enough to be adopted, she went into a foster home to recover and be spayed. Just last Thursday she was finally up for adoption at the shelter. I spent about a 1/2 hour with her talking softly and saying nice things. She is very shy. Towards the end she did come a little closer to lean against the wall and looked at me closely a few times. I think she knew I wasn't there to harm her. The volunteer who brought her to me said she may need more time to decompress after everything she has been through. I can't get her out of my mind and emailed the shelter to ask how she is doing. As of right now, she is still available for adoption. Anyone have any experience with a dog like this? TIA.

Re: Any Experience With a Fearful Dog?

elated — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 15:45:53 GMT

IMHO, the dog has trust issues. She has been through very tough times and it will take time. Can you bring treats or a toy? If you have the time and patience, you may have found a wonderful dog. She needs time to heal.

Re: Any Experience With a Fearful Dog?

millieshops — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 15:47:35 GMT

@Catty2 I don't but a nephew and his wife adopted a dog that had been abused. She's been with them about a year and a half. She has gotten somewhat better with wife, but not with either my nephew or his father who is a weekly dinner guest in their house.

What I don't know are the larger statistics - one animal in one home might not say much for another dog in another home setting.

Wish you luck doing a shelter adoption.- so many needy animals.

Re: Any Experience With a Fearful Dog?

spumoni99 — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 15:56:34 GMT

Years ago when my kids were preteens we decided we wanted a dog. We went to the shelter and one dog caught our attention so we were allowed to take her into the play area, she was very shy and scared. We decided to look at another shelter but I couldn't get her out of my mind.

That same day we went and rescued her, the first few days I had to carry her to potty outside and she wasn't exactly a small dog! She slowly came around, once we adopted another small dog that really brought her out of her shell! She had been dumped for not getting along with their other dog supposedly but we took her to dog parks to socialize her before getting another dog and she always brightened up and even barked when she never barked at home.

All situations are different but i sounds like you could give her the love she needs.

Re: Any Experience With a Fearful Dog?

pupwhipped — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 16:21:25 GMT

@Catty2, will the shelter let you contact the foster home who had her and find out more about her interactions in their home? That would be the place to start....to see how she does out of the shelter.

Re: Any Experience With a Fearful Dog?

Caaareful Shopper — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 16:26:42 GMT

It sounds like it has only been about 2 months since she was rescued from the hoarding nightmare. Then she spent time adjusting to nursing her babies. Do they have an estimate how old she is? It could be that everything is so new to her that she is taking her time to know what love is. Two months is not very long.

She sounds like an absolute sweetie. Good luck, whatever your decision!.

Re: Any Experience With a Fearful Dog?

BlueFinch — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 16:26:59 GMT

@Catty2 If you're really interested, maybe you could ask to foster the dog with option to adopt if you're a good fit with one another.

Many dogs with baggage of poor treatment bounce back quite well, but it does take time. However, some may always have behavioral issues. Some we can work around and deal with though and still have a good fit.

My rescue was a street jockey. If he was a Disney character, he would have been the cigar smoking dog wanting to beat up everyone else on the street. Lots of dominance issues. No training.

There were times I thought we'd never make it. It was six months until he finally sensed he was staying with me and decided he'd take on some of the training I was attempting, instead of throwing gang signs my way.

Now this 92lb charmer is one of the smartest, most obedient dogs I have ever had. He's a canine greeting ambassador known throughout my neighborhood. He has a fan club.

Who knew that could happen? It did help that I had experience with obedience training in the past. Once we bonded some and I could really read him, we sailed through.

He's getting up in age now and I fear the day he will leave me. He has made my life complete after losing my DH.

Re: Any Experience With a Fearful Dog?

Fressa — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 16:29:30 GMT

I've had experience with a puppy with trust issues,etc. We rescued an English Shepherd puppy who had many issues including trust. Over the years we learned that he was trapped outside in a severe storm, almost stepped on by a horse and was harmed by either a farm hand or spouse. He just reqauireed patience and baby steps to get him to trust that Ihe was finally in a safe space. He loved being held (regardless of how big he was) I would talk softly to him all the time. I would make a little trail of chow close to his bowls to encourage him to eat. I put small blankets in areas of rooms where he seemed to like so he could nap/sleep where he felt safe. Patience and understanding what this poor creature had survived and loss. So much trarma for one dog.

The fact that she is on your mind tells me that you have the patience and caring for this creature. All you need is time and lots of love and understanding. Once the dog learns that it never has to fear again it will grow to trust and respond . Ours grew into sucj a good dog that always remains in our hearts .

Good Luck to the both of you.

Re: Any Experience With a Fearful Dog?

cindyNC — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 17:45:52 GMT

I have no advice to give you, but please keep updates coming about your decision.

Re: Any Experience With a Fearful Dog?

Catty2 — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 18:24:24 GMT

@elated

The shelter volunteer who worked with me did bring a few toys and treats but Reyna wasn't interested. I wish I could have spent a few hours with her. I think it would have made a difference but they only have so much time to give to each potential adopter. She is 5 and I'm pretty sure she is a chi-weenie.

to toRe: Any Experience With a Fearful Dog?

Catty2 — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 21:22:38 GMT

Well, I just checked the shelter's website again and she has been adopted. I called them to verify. I hope she found a wonderful home but I am sad for me because I kind of fell in love with her when I saw her. I have checked many other rescues and there are other dogs I have inquired about. Will just keep checking.

Re: to toRe: Any Experience With a Fearful Dog?

Fressa — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 16:57:21 GMT

Will this shelter put you on a stand by list just in case this adoption doesn't work out? Some of our shelters offer that option with harder to place dogs. Good Luck!!

Re: to toRe: Any Experience With a Fearful Dog?

Catty2 — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 00:00:41 GMT

@Fressa

I don't think they do that but I have seen dogs show back up for adoption after they've been off the site for awhile. I check it several times a day. Although I was sad that she found a home other than mine, I figure there is a dog out there who needs me more than she did.

Re: Any Experience With a Fearful Dog?

SilleeMee — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 01:29:40 GMT

Four months ago I rescued a 5yo golden from a very abusive home environment. We are still having trust issues. Whenever the doorbell rings she runs and hides. Whenever someone comes to visit she runs and hides. She cannot focus on ME b/c she's fearful of what she hears outside.

Feeding and treat time is a work in progress. I keep a pocketful of small treats to give her as encouragement for being a 'good dog'. I cannot make any sudden moves b/c she goes running. She won't go outside by herself. I have to go with her and she is still fearful of the outdoors. Taking walks is out of the question. We are far from that in our journey.

I'm working with a professional dog handler/trainer who has helped me quite a bit. Just small things that I didn't realize were BIG things for the dog. We have a long ways to go.

I'm patient and I have the time to do this. You need patience and time...that's my advice.

Re: Any Experience With a Fearful Dog?

SilleeMee — Wed, 05 Oct 2022 15:04:34 GMT

One important thing I forgot to say in my previous post above is that there is the real possibility of ever regaining a 'normal' dog. The stark reality may be just what I'm experiencing with the fear in her, with some improvements, going into the future but I'm committed to giving this dog her forever home. It's what I want to do for her and I'm willing and able to do so.

Re: Any Experience With a Fearful Dog?

Wahoogaz — Sat, 08 Oct 2022 00:48:38 GMT

I saw your post that said Reyna has been adopted by someone else, but still wanted to respond to your original post since you said you were continuing your search.

I have been adopting shelter/rescue dogs for many years and the shelter dogs often act the way this dog acted with you. She'd obviously been through a lot and dogs often will not show their true selves until they're in a secure home situation for several weeks. You can search online for 'The Rule of 3s for Adopted Dogs' and that will show generally how long it takes dogs to decompress from what they've been through to learning to trust and love their new family.

Most of the dogs I've adopted have shown very little personality because in addition to having gone through whatever they've gone through to end up in the shelter ... the shelter environment itself is extremely stressful. I have learned over the years to just trust my instincts.

My favorite dog ever was a Neapolitan Mastiff I adopted from a local shelter. When I went to visit him, the staff member walked him over to me on a leash and he just stood there - he wouldn't even look at me - but his tail wagged the entire visit. He was covered in poop and scabs and wouldn't acknowledge my presence, but I just had a good feeling about him so I adopted him. I don't know if anyone else had visited with him, but I can see how a lot of people would have passed him by because of the condition he was in and his lack of interaction. Thank goodness I trusted my instincts because he was the sweetest most loving dog ever ... loved everybody and everything. He was definitely my heart dog.

The only advice I can give you is trust your instincts when you meet dogs. Good luck in your search.

Re: Any Experience With a Fearful Dog?

SilleeMee — Wed, 12 Oct 2022 16:02:41 GMT

My 'fearful dog' is somethin' else. She won't eat a meal if I'm not right there next to her while she eats out of her bowl. The second I step away she leaves the food and follows me. She will not take treats from a stranger, only from me and the trainer.

I've had many dogs in my lifetime but never one like her. She is very different from any dog I've ever had.

Re: Any Experience With a Fearful Dog?

gardenman — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 12:42:49 GMT

Many, many years ago we had a golden that was insanely fearful. At any strange sound, she'd crawl behind the sofa and hide. We got her as a young puppy and she was that way her whole life. She'd never been abused or mistreated, but she just had a mental health issue of some sort.