Rescue dogs tend to be timid in one way or another. Most have recently experienced an upheaval in their environments which can make a dog proceed in a cautious manner and rightly so! Many, but not all, have had some form of abuse that can also make a dog feel out of balance and act timid.
As a Dog Trainer and a former Foster Volunteer with a NYC Rescue Group, I have had a wide array of Dogs who have come into my home helping them make the transition and make them more "adoptable" to their new family. I begin my Rehabilitation Program with some very dedicated & disciplined approaches which I call REBUILDING CONFIDENCE.
The biggest mistake that most people make is to FEEL SORRY FOR THE RESCUE DOG. I say this because that ATTITUDE is not helpful to the Dog, in fact, that energy you wind up sending to the Dog inadvertently deters him from coming out of his shell. It only serves to REINFORCE the inner stress and neurosis they are feeling. Meaning, when you talk in baby voice tones and give the Dog too much affection at first, you are only signaling to him that being uptight and stressed out is Okay..... i.e. "It's OKAY to feel scared and uptight right now..." Why? Because Dogs do not understand the human verbal language or the words you are speaking. (until you begin to teach them) They do understand touch and tone of voice, so it's important to WAIT to give them affection while in a timid state or they will misinterpret this as telling them it's GOOD to be timid, it's GOOD to be stressed out. REMEMBER: The Dog is in a GOOD PLACE now!
Here are some BASIC PROTOCOLS that might be helpful in helping that Dog find his Confidence again so that he can begin a new life again!
1. GIVE THE DOG SOME SPACE: Both physical & emotional. Just let him be for awhile so he gets a chance to observe his new surroundings without being provoked to do anything. Let him settle and rest. Provide a quiet safe zone in your home. A crate is best with the door open when you are home. This should also be his Private Space where he is not disturbed and off limits to children. Dogs can often feel a bit cornered when someone is moving towards them and blocking an escape route. This can lead to a Fear Bite even if the dog is NOT aggressive. So just let him be so he can relax and unwind.
2. ESTABLISH A GOOD ROUTINE & FEEDING SCHEDULE: Keeping things consistent and predictable truly help a Dog become less fearful and timid. Dogs quickly pick up on patterns and if you do things consistently, they begin to relax more. Don't worry if they don't eat at first, often nerves can be a deterrent so that is why it's best to get them to relax first. Offer the food and don't hover around the bowl. Give them 15 minutes to eat and if they don't, pick up the bowl and try again on the second feed. DO NOT OFFER a continual source of food. Trust me, they won't "nibble" when you're not looking and a Dog will bond with you more readily if they respect the fact that you are a major source of their survival. They will begin to trust you more readily. When they trust you, they will look to you for direction.
3. DON'T OVERTALK HIM: Too much verbal interaction can cause stress because they don't really know what you are saying nor expect of them. Keep your words simple and your tone kind and even. Be verbally quiet around them at first.
4. QUIET THE ENVIRONMENT: If you have a chaotic household with TV's on in every room, kids running around and being kids, try to be mindful of toning it all down for awhile as the Dog acclimates to his new environment. I always have soothing Classical Music on a radio playing softly as this is very relaxing for Dogs (and people!) and also minimizes outdoor noise. 5. KEEP LEASH WALKS SHORT & POSITIVE: Many rescues are not familiar with a leash as well as a timid Dog can quickly become overwhelmed with too much outside stimulus. So quietly take them out so they can relieve themselves and keep it brief. Unless they are showing signs of loving it out there (sniffing, curiosity, etc.) don't make it a long drawn out affair. Let them slowly adjust. Not everydog is in great physical shape yet for a good long walk anyway. Build up to it slowly.
6. DON'T TRY TO INTERACT WITH THEM: Again, just let them be for awhile. Don't force them to do anything particularly. Even though your intentions of a nice body hug or lots of petting are good ones, physical contact can sometimes feel a bit threatening at first until they begin to trust you. Often, we have no idea the Dog's history and it's always best to assume the worst and go from there. If they show signs of coming to you and relaxing with a pet or physical affection, great! but just don't do it until they ask you to.
7. HAVE PATIENCE: Every rescue truly has their own timeline of coming out of their shells. There are no rules. If you simply go about your household activities consistently and act confident yourself, the Dog will pick up on this energy and begin to trust you more. Sometimes the above suggestions take only a day or two and sometimes, weeks to much longer! But what's the hurry?
So before you start training or begin to expect too much from your timid rescue dog, know that you need to give him time to acclimate himself to his new home and routines. If you are calm, kind and patient without feeling sorry for him, you will soon begin to see a brand new loving dog emerge from that timid shell. Nothing can be more rewarding knowing that you have helped this dog begin his first steps of learning to be a happy, well balanced dog for the remainder of his life! Instilling confidence is the very first step!