by Nan Demers

Created on: December 01, 2008

To help any rescue dog, but in particular one who is timid, the first thing to keep in mind is that you're going to have to spend a lot of time gaining the dog's trust. The circumstances are different with every dog. Sometimes the dog had to be relinquished because the family was no longer able to keep it. The dog may have been abandoned and was fortunate enough to be found by someone willing to give it a second chance with a rescue group. Sadly, many times the dog was a victim of a cruel and abusive owner, and if it doesn't find a permanent home, will be put down simply because of something that wasn't its fault. Two words of advice; love and patience. You'll need a lot of both to help the dog to overcome his fear. When you bring your dog home, allow the dog to become familiar with new surroundings gradually. Confinement to a small area at first is a good idea since the dog will have to interact with you, but won't be exposed to a lot of outside stimulation which could make the situation worse. If the dog is extremely fearful, encourage the dog to come to you by offering a treat. Soft words of encouragement and a loving touch can help a timid dog to overcome fear when it realizes that it's not going to be abused.

Always be careful not to raise your voice. Even if it isn't directed at the dog, the dog doesn't realize it and that will scare him even more. Loud noises can also cause a fearful animal to go into a panic and bolt under the nearest table or bed, then refuse to come out. After becoming acclimated to your home, the dog will realize that certain noises aren't anything to be afraid of. Gradually introduce different sounds to the dog, and praise them when they learn not to react. Something like a hair dryer can be frightening for a timid dog, but providing you work with them, they'll soon overcome their fear. When introducing your dog to other people, make sure they know the circumstances, and act accordingly toward the dog. Don't force a dog to meet someone that it's not comfortable around. Have the person slowly offer his hand and let the dog sniff. When the dog realizes that it's a friend, it will feel comfortable enough to be touched and petted.

My most recent experience with a timid rescue dog was with Ginger, my Australian Cattledog. She had been abandoned as a puppy, and found in a cardboard box outside a store. The person who took her in was a hoarder and was abusive toward her dogs. Ginger spent the first eight years of her life in a training crate,

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>