A little frustrated

[Sasha2008]

Here is our story,

3 months ago we brought home a 2.5 year old kennel dog. She was attacked by her pack a couple times. The breeder had to put her in a run in the compound by her self. She would only go out when the owner was out with the pack.

We were looking adopt a dog to be a mate for Bogart, and we felt Sasha-Girl would be a good fit.

The first week she wouldn't do much. after a couple weeks, her tail started wagging, we were very happy. She sleeps at the foot of the bed with Bogart. We use NILF with Bogart and with Sasha. She sits before going out, before she eats, and before we let her out of her outdoor run.

Here is were i am getting frustrated..... when we walk by her in the house, she gets up and moves away from us in a nervous way, she won't come to us outside. She does play off leash, and will come to the back door to come in the house when we all go inside.

I know we have to work with her, but she learned so quick to sit with patients. She watches Bogart and learns from him, but the skidishnes is driving me crazy.

I know we have to be patient, but if anybody has had experiences with what i described, any advice good or bad would be appreciated.

Bogart and Sasha's Dad

[Castlemaid]

THANK you for giving this girl a second chance!!! Looks like she has already come a long way and is adjusting well to her new home. Three months isn't very long for her - I'm pretty sure she will come around for you guys, but please be patient. She probably feels your frustration and it makes her more nervous.

Other than just giving her more time, here are couple of other things I would do to help her feel more comfortable around you:

Carry treats in your pockets, toss her treats everytime you walk towards her, or walk by her. Treats could be just regular kibble - something she likes. Soon she will associate your approach with good things and will perk up at your proximity instead of running away. Do the throwing treats consistently, for weeks, months - she will need time.

Learn about calming signals, and use them to help her feel more secure. A good book to learn from, and to learn how to use calming signals:

http://www.dogwise.com/itemdetails.cfm?ID=DTB527

An excellent little book with great pictures to guide you through dog-language. To show Sacha that you mean no harm, avert your gaze when you approach her, move towards her sideways instead of head-on. Ignore her, and have others ignore her, let her come to you guys at her own pace, when she is ready.

I'm sure others that have dealt with shy/fearful dogs will have some other tips to help you out.

[WayneMeganGSD]

When you approach her and she shys away, would it help to approach her a little softer, and reassure the dog that everything is okay with gentle petting, and a calm quiet voice?

[SunCzarina]

No that's only going to teach a nervous dog that it's okay to be nervous. Never coddle a german shepherd.

Sashagirl was an adult when you took her in. It's going to take time love and patience. If she doesn't want to do something, don't push her.

Bogart has that twinkle in his eyes, I bet he's great at getting her to run and play with him.

Someone once said to me, you'll see in a year, she'll blossom. And that dog did, grew up to be the most loyal dog I've ever had and nope she's not afraid of anything now.

[Jax08]

Look how far Sasha has come though!! I would imagine it will take alot of time and work to build her confidence. She's had 3 years to be beat down and that can't be fixed overnight.

Have you talked to a behaviorist to eval her and give you some advice based on a face to face meeting? It's very possible that an expert would see something that you are missing or that you can't describe here.

[Jax08]

Originally Posted By: The SergeantWhen you approach her and she shys away, would it help to approach her a little softer, and reassure the dog that everything is okay with gentle petting, and a calm quiet voice?

You don't ever, ever tell a dog it's Ok when they are scared. They'll think it's ok to shy away and be nervous!

[onyx'girl]

Have you done any classes with her yet? That will help with the bonding, confidence. I think agility is a great confidence booster, and will work her mind, take it off being afraid.

I fostered a dog for 9 weeks and the first week, we had to toss treats just to get him to come inside. He was picked up as a stray, I don't think he'd ever been in a house.
By the end of 9 weeks I had a very strong bond with him, he was velcro w/ me.
Kacie, my abandonement rescue took almost 6 months to know that she was going to stay forever with us. She acted shy, too. No eye contact and would only engage with Onyx. She had to learn that she wasn't going to be passed around again(she lived w/ 5 different homes before she reached 1.5yrs) I still can't take her pic, she hightails it...must think she is wanted somewhere.

[Sasha2008]

Hi, I wanted to add to DH's post that, Sasha Girl seems to have bonded to him more than me. I'm wondering if it's because she is used to men more than women. She still will shy away sometimes when he walks by her, but she gives him more tail wags then me, and gets jealous when he pets Bogart and will come to join in the petting. I do the majority of the feeding and potty breaks but for the most part she acts as if I'm invisible lol. She even seems to be warming up to to my 17 year old step daughter who lives here only part time, by this I mean sitting in front of her in the livingroom for petting. It has kind of become a joke how , she will go see the two of them but walk right by me unless it's potty time, lol, and I'm the patient soft spoken one of the bunch lol. I guess it just frustrates us when in certain ways we see progress but other times you walk by her and she runs away like she's terrified.
She enjoys being with the pack though, she chooses to stay in the same room where we all gather, but if somebody happens to walk by her on the way to the kitchen she quite often bolts , and then returns right away.
She also is quite a barker when she's in her outdoor run, which is a whole other post lol.

Bogart and Sasha Girl's Mom

[StGeorgeK9]

I will agree with the posts here for sure. But one tip for you, dont feel bad about her behavior, dont feel like she is afraid of you for some reason other than just bad history. I know it is frustrating when a dog behaves in a skittish manner, but this isnt your fault, you didnt create this fear and you are trying to help her, thank you. I also know what Sun says is true, when you say things like, its okay, come on girl, or try to cajole her etc.... it kind of confirms that she had something to be afraid of in the first place. When dealing with people, it makes sense to comfort them when they are afraid, with dogs, you must demonstrate fear isnt needed in the first place. To do that, the suggestions here are very good, what you are doing by tossing treats as you approach is counter conditioning her to associate approaching people as a good thing, to coming close to you as a good thing etc........

Where is that post where that woman took in the extremely fearful pregnant GSD? Does anyone remember her and the puppies? How frighted she was and the things she did to help calm the mother? I think reading through that post would help understand some of the drivers of a frightened dog.

[Kayos and Havoc]

Tincture of time....

She is 2 years old, it may take her another 6 months or more before she is more comfortable. One day you will wake up and notice she is relaxed with you guys.

Thanks for taking her!