Helping a Scared Dog, Rescued From a Puppy Farm

RE: Helping a Scared Dog Post By (Guest Post) (06/03/2008) I have a Maltese Terrier who is now over a year old. We bought him from a private sale. We saw both parents as well as his siblings, he seemed to be a playful Pup. When we brought him home, he was playful as well, though a incident occurred and he has never been the same since. When he was approx 8 weeks old, my 3 year nephew left him hanging from the couch hand rest. it wasn't for long as my mum saw him and quickly picked him up. He hasn't been the same since. He hides behind me and sometimes even from me. He doesn't really go to the other family members, Just when he wants to. He is scared from all other dogs. We bought a Rabbit not long ago and that seems to be the only thing he isn't scared of as he chases the rabbit around and plays with it. My cousin's cat attacked him from inside his cage and my dogs heart started to pound. I feel greatly for him as I have had other dogs in the past which have not been like him and feel really helpless. I don't know what to do. We give him all the attention and play with him. He is sometimes ok with me and my brother and mum & dad, but not with any other family or friends. He sometimes even hides from us. I've read a lot about abused dogs, but he doesn't fit into this caliber. Could that few seconds hanging off the couch done this to him? I don't know how to make him feel better and safe. I just want him to be a brave dog. I want him to feel safe, secure and loved. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Helping a Scared Dog, Rescued From a Puppy Farm Post By dj (Guest Post) (12/04/2007) Please visit this site for information about helping scared dogs www.fearfuldogs.com Report Spam or Abuse RE: Helping a Scared Dog, Rescued From a Puppy Farm Post By Nicole (Guest Post) (01/20/2007) I just adopted a lab puppy and she is very scared of me and my fiancee, she will not eat and every time that one of us tries to pick her up she runs from us. I don't know what to do with her and we are getting aggravated because we wanted a playful, fun loving water dog. What should we do? Editor's Note: Dogs from puppy farms quite often are not used to humans. They've basically been locked up and not cared for well. Let her come to you and please have patience. She has had a rough start and it will take a while. She needs to learn that you are her friends and family. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Helping a Scared Dog, Rescued From a Puppy Farm Post by TrpklCoconut (1) | (01/16/2007) Profile | Contact I commend you for adopting a dog that obviously needed a loving home. I find that I am in a similar situation as you: In December, I adopted a chihuahua/beagle mix named Cooper. He is scared of everyone and everything - especially the sound of paper and ANY unexpected noise. We have had him a month, and the main improvement we've seen is that he now ventures downstairs - when for the first three weeks, we had to carry him everywhere. I will tell you what I keep telling myself: these dogs have had a lifetime of bad treatment, and only a few weeks or months of being loved. Hopefully for both of us, it will just take some time and patience. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Helping a Scared Dog, Rescued From a Puppy Farm Post By Matt from Manville, NJ (Guest Post) (09/15/2006) I have a 3 year old beagle that we just adopted 3 weeks age from a shelter. I was told she lived in a cage outside her whole life with her sisters and the owners never named her. She will not even come close to me. Is there any advise out there as to getting her to come to me? Editor's Note: I think it would be wise to get her a crate, leaving the door open but letting her retreat to it. She might even feel safer with the door shut. Give her treats through the door and let her know that you won't hurt her. It will take some kindness and understanding. She really hasn't had much of a life and once she feels safe, she should come around but expect it may take several months. Susan from ThriftyFun Report Spam or Abuse RE: Helping a Scared Dog, Rescued From a Puppy Farm Post By sue (Guest Post) (04/14/2006) I too have just found 2 abondonded puppies. They are currently 12 weeks old and are brothers. My situation is that the younger brother is completely dependent on the other. Reno, the dominant dog is beginning to come around, although is not yet consistent when I approach him. He is house trained and very smart. Cameron, on the other hand is a mess. He pees everytime I approach, and shakes all over when I hold him (which we do everynight for 1/2 hour). I do not want to seperate them because they managed to survive on their own for weeks, but I am not sure what to do. Please help Report Spam or Abuse Abused Dog will not gain trust Post By Olivia (Guest Post) (08/05/2005) My aunt and her friend that lives with her, adopted a female mix (poodle with a terrier) They adopted her 2 months ago in June. She was abused for 2 years by her last owner. When ever anyone goes near her, she runs and scampers under my aunts friends bed (they live togther) Now, My aunt's friend was the one who held her on the way home from adopting her. Maggie (the dog) will always run to her, and no one else. She will stay by my aunts friend's side. ALWAYS. And sleeps under her bed or with her on top on the bed. When she is gone out Maggie stays under the bed. And will not come out for food when my aunt or I are in the kitchen. My aunt's friend is going away soon and I am worried because Maggie will not come out expect Gert (aunt's friend) what should she do to make the dog more used to her and other people. ( shes tried hand feeding her and petting her) nothing helps!! Report Spam or Abuse RE: Helping a Scared Dog, Rescued From a Puppy Farm Post By margaret from swansea (Guest Post) (04/17/2005) thank you all for your advice given. I am using the rescue remedy and started clicker training which surprisingly due to his noise aversion, he is quite comfortable with. He is giving us trouble with housebreaking as he is used to using his living area for doing puddles but he is getting better. We took him for a walk yesterday with our other lab and his tail went up and he enjoyed himself. hates going into the van though as he has an aversion to vehicles and/or noise. We have noticed a big change in only one month and we start puppy classes next week so thanks everyone once again Report Spam or Abuse RE: Helping a Scared Dog, Rescued From a Puppy Farm Post by darween (56) | (03/29/2005) Profile | Blog! | Contact Most scared dogs don't like to be touched and even some normal happy hyper dogs too. Wait till they are just about to go to sleep and very quietly, gently, sweetly caress them, lightly stroking them all over. It's relaxing for them & very bonding. ( this works with people too :) Report Spam or Abuse RE: Helping a Scared Dog, Rescued From a Puppy Farm Post By (Guest Post) (03/29/2005) Do a web search on "clicker training" for dogs. This method is used very successfully to rahabilitate traumetized horses. I am sure there is someone doing it with dogs too. It is totally based on positive reinforcement and anyone can do it. Rene Report Spam or Abuse RE: Helping a Scared Dog, Rescued From a Puppy Farm Post By windfeather (Guest Post) (03/29/2005) We also got a dog that had spent the first part of his life in a crate. He also was not socialized. After the first few months I despaired of keeping him. I had been unable to housebreak him, he was destructive of any loose object, and most ominously would never look us in the eye. If his head were held, he would roll his eyes back in his head to avoid eye contact. The thing that ultimately helped time along a little was the (I felt) drastic and draconian measure of wearing a belt and attaching a 3 to 5 foot length of rope to my belt and his collar. But I was at my wits end. It actually had a very calming effect on him. He was essentially housebroken in 2 days, but I did this for a couple of weeks, and being actually with me, he did start to make eye contact. It might calm an agoraphobic dog as it will assure him you cannot get lost from him. Our dog had been in this situation for almost a year-2 years will probably take more time. He's very gentle with family members. The neighbors think he's vicious as he's so protective. I bought the biggest wire crate I could find so he could move around and see out. He's never taken to it as a "safe" den as some dogs will as he was kept in one for so long without relief, but he tolerates it very nicely when we have company. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Helping a Scared Dog, Rescued From a Puppy Farm Post by ThriftyFun (3746) | (03/29/2005) Profile | Blog! | Contact Hi Susan in Oregon, Susan from Washington State here. I adopted Maggie who is a Chow Mix through the PNW Chow Rescue. She came from Oregon. Maggie was very, very shy and withdrawn at first but after a few months of lots of love and care she became just like a pup. We had to train her just like a puppy because except for house training, she really didn't have any training for coming when called, sitting, lying down or any of the basic commands. She's now very comfortable with everyone in the family and checks to make sure all of her "people" are accounted for. It just takes lots of time and patience with rescue pets but they are well worth it. Susan from ThriftyFun Report Spam or Abuse RE: Helping a Scared Dog, Rescued From a Puppy Farm Post by cj1617 (8) | (03/29/2005) Contact I found this Web site with some information on Bach Flower remedies. http://www.bachcentre.com/centre/remedies.htm Report Spam or Abuse RE: Helping a Scared Dog, Rescued From a Puppy Farm Post by cj1617 (8) | (03/29/2005) Contact Find your local health food or organic store and get something called Rescue Remedy. I would also purchase from the same line (BACH Flower) Aspen and Mimulus. You can add all these to his water or give directly by mouth. You also might want to try some Valerian Root. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Helping a Scared Dog, Rescued From a Puppy Farm Post By Susan in Oregon (Guest Post) (03/29/2005) Hi I am not a dog expert but I have had many abused animals over the years. Recently, I have adopted four dogs from a chow rescue. Two have come from puppy mills/farms. One is similar to what you have described with your dog. My experience with traumatized animals is that they need lots of time to heal and learn to trust. Food and hand feeding is a good way to build trust. To socialize, take him on short walks, very short to start with, and keep extending them until he becomes comfortable. This will take a long time because you only want to advance at the dogs pace (when the dog is ready). Go with him outside and spend time talking to him. Eventually, you will see a changed animal but it takes lots of loving time. I wish you the best and the world needs more loving people like you to take in abused/traumatized animals. He will learn to love you and you will not find a more devoted pet. Susan in Oregon, USA Report Spam or Abuse RE: Helping a Scared Dog, Rescued From a Puppy Farm Post By Patty (Guest Post) (03/29/2005) Bless you for adopting a dog that really needed a home! Many people have no idea of the conditions these innocent creatures must endure so someone can make a buck. All the advice given so far has been excellent. This poor dog will require all the love and patience you can muster. Take it very slowly, reward every positive step with praise and treats, and give lots of love. Be consistent and predictable. You might also want to contact the national rescue group for that particular breed. Go to this webpage: http://www.akc.org/breeds/rescue.cfm There you'll find a list of rescue groups by breed. Many have their own web groups, where you can ask questions and get lots of advice and support. Good luck. Patti Report Spam or Abuse RE: Helping a Scared Dog, Rescued From a Puppy Farm Post By guet (Guest Post) (03/29/2005) I agree. All he needs is a lot of love and patience. My dog came from an abusive situation and it took her a year to wag her tail and play with us. She was afraid for me to touch her when I first got her and still 3 years later is wary when I have any object in my hand even if it is a plastic bag or something silly. Food was a great way to get her to trust us. I just talked to her and petted her gently on her terms and spent a lot of time with her and gave her treats. We allowed her to have her own space at the top of the stairs where she felt safe. She actually took to my husband first and she started walking around with her tail up instead of tucked under. It was heartbreaking to see her so sad and her spirit broken. Then I got her to play ball a year after we got her and we were ecstatic. Now she is very sweet and loves for us to pet her, but hides behind me when around other people. Let him open up on his own time. I'm sure he is incredibly grateful to have a wonderful home now and will be a sweet and affectionate companion with time. Report Spam or Abuse RE: Helping a Scared Dog, Rescued From a Puppy Farm Post by jaywing (3) | (03/29/2005) Contact we have a bulldog that would NOT go downstairs for the longest time. He weighs about 60 lbs.. but everyday, i'd spend at least 30 minutes playing with him and stuff, and one day, i walked downstairs, and he just looked at the steps.. So i nudged him down a little bit, then carried him down to the stairs. now, he comes down the stairs ALL the time. I think most of it is just time and praise. He'll get there, with time. Report Spam or Abuse