New Rescue Dog with Anxiety- Please HELP!!

Training, Training, Training. We have a similar dog (going on 7 years now) and training made a world of difference. She probably won't ever be super social but happy outside is important!

It's just going to take time. You have to replace those negative associations with positive associations. Treats, nice talking, etc etc. We had a very nervous rescue and she _would not_ go near my husband in the kitchen when we got her. On the sofa, fine. Me in the kitchen, fine. He just learned to go about his business in the kitchen and pretty much ignore her there and she learned that it was going to be okay.

Do you think that you can get him outside more? Not to pee, but just every time you go out? Short rides in the car, etc. The more you do it the more commonplace it will become, and I think it would help if it wasn't always "about him." When he does pee outside, lots of praise and a treat.

Good luck.

My totally non-abused Lab was terrified of stairs. Apparently, it's a common thing with some labradors. Stairs just freak them out.

We "got over" the worst of it (he still doesn't like them at age 3) by placing bites of food down every step... then every other step... then every 3rd step... etc. Took awhile, but got him used to going down them. ((He's never had a problem going UP, but like a cat in a tree, down freaks him out. Same token he HATES jumping into the car. Sometimes I think his depth perception is off.))

WARNING: My lab, and about half a dozen other I know who have had stair issues, when they decide to be brave RUN down the stairs (to get off of them as quickly as possible?) Make sure that you have an extending leash OR a very strong person at the end of your fixed leash so you don't go tumbling down after him while you teach him to walk slower.

I am not a dog expert but I know that with my dog, he will do anything for treats. I would suggest having a bunch of training treats in your pocket and give them to him incrementally, once as you approach the door leading outside with a big "good boy!" and a pat on the back or a scratch behind the ears, and then a number of other times as you are walking outside just to give him the reassurance that he is doing the right thing and you are there with him. Keep your trips outside short initially but maybe take him out a little bit more frequently than you normally would. Try to keep to the same route until he gets more comfortable with your outings. This will help him feel more in control and know what to expect when you go outside. Once he feels more sure of himself on your walks, you can start introducing new territory.

But I think that, just like with humans, a lot of praise and yummy treats can do wonders for the psyche.

Hope this helps.

I second the treats idea! Also, you can submit your question on the "Dog Whisperer" website - maybe get a response from a professional dog trainer? http://www.cesarsway.com/

i bet it would help a lot if you could get him to play outside with your daughter. of course the weather will have to be nice but hopefully a nice day is coming up where you are. even if it's cold, take them outside for a nice romp. take some treats, a ball...it may not be an overnight fix but if you can associate going outside with something positive she WILL learn that it's a good thing to go outside. just take some patience.

He will have to become comfortable with all his new surrounding and new situations that are facing him. Slowly desensitize him to face his fears. You can get excited when it is time for potty, and say let’s go for a walk-soft toned voice. Take his leash a put it on him, go out the door. Slowly go up and down a few steps, if he is scared-tiny cut up pieces of fat free hot dogs work great. This will take a lot of tries before he is ready. When your husband comes home, have him take the kids outside with him and play-even if cold outside-have the dog view this from inside the doorway-again use hot dogs. He will see that it is fun to be outside and want to join them. Have patience, this will take time. Once they learn that things and people will not hurt them, they open up.

we have a abused rescue out of the city of Detroit (he was shot.) He was afraid of everything and everyone, even people’s hands. We had to carry ours in (he refused to come in he was so scared) this took two weeks. He was even afraid of the door. I took the leash and slowly lead him to the door, I did this for two weeks and he finally was able to come in on his own, but he found his safe spot being in the house, and would not go outside. He wanted to come in so bad, he torn every window screen, and door screen, tried to break the glass windows (all in 20 minutes-I was taking a shower-$300 worth of damage.) He was house trained when we brought him home, but he would only go outside for a few seconds (now only if it is quiet he will want to stay outside-wintertime mostly-been almost 3 years.) I slowly started taking him for walks. He only went a few blocks, as he was so scared. So I left him in the yard day by day, and I walked up and down the street by myself (we live on a corner.) He realized, hey I want to go and visit my neighbors too! We had to desensitize him with all sounds, cars, trucks, people, etc. This took a year. Now we are up to 1 ½ hours of walking a day (4 miles) -even in the winter-he does not want to come home!! We still have a lot of issues; he is scared of men, but loves women, children, and is now a 157 pound cautious gently giant...

Is he balking at being on a leash or about going outside? A lot of dogs have issues with leash training at first. If it's possibly the leash, spend 10 minutes a day walking him around the apt on the leash with treats and praise. If it's going outside, then sort of the same thing - lots of praise when he goes out the door, when he goes down the steps, etc. If you think it might be the steps - just work on the steps alone, sound very confident and happy about what you are doing and give him a lot of treats. Take him out sometimes just for fun, not just potty trips. Don't mix the two, if you want him to go potty, it shouldn't be playtime. But sometimes take him out for a walk and say it, too, Let's go for a walk! I would also recommend a training class because training gives a dog confidence. When we first got our dog, he was extremely timid. Training gave him confidence and socialization.

Hi, thats so bad, there is medications for dogs that have fear and aniexty. And also some natural herbs. Check with your local vet. for medications and search the web for homeremedies for dogs with aniexty. Pray that you will soon find an solution that will work.

Sherry

Don't have a lot of advice just wanted to say CONGRATS on RESCUING a dog!!!!!!! Everyone should be adopting..
We rescued our timid dog 3 years ago. It just took time and for her to trust her surroundings and us. She still gets timid when a "guy" she doesn't know comes in our house (we think she was abused by a male)...
What about playing with her on the 3rd floor for about 10 minutes and gradually move your way down the floors (overtime)...
congrats again!

Our dog was also a rescue and we know she was abused before she came to us. She was afraid to cross threshholds. We used treats and praise to help her with it. She was about 3-4 months old when she came to us but since your dog is older, it might be harder. It took time and we had to be patient. Sometimes we would get her to cross just for the treat without there being any other reason. She was afraid to go through doorways, and even afraid of switching the kind of flooring under her. She was fine on the carpet or hardwood, but afraid of the transition. We know that she was weaned using an electric fence so we have a good idea of why, but it still is heartbreaking.

Have you tried taking a favorite toy or blanket outside for him? Maybe his blanket and a book for you? Just sitting together enjoying the time without there being a reason for being outside? Retraining him to enjoy time outside and reassuring him that he's safe with you?

Oh, just remembered!!! Our dog LOVES cheese. We would get a string cheese and let her get her teeth into it just a little and then we would slowly and gently pull it towards us. She would step forward but already have the cheese in her mouth a little so then we would let her really have the bite with lots of love and praise. We could often get her to take 3-4 bites and be where we wanted her to be without her trying to back up. If the cheese was going forward, so was she.

So sad! First of all, my dog goes potty only twice a day... morning and night. So, he goes 12 hours in between pottying. 15 isn't a huge deal.

For the fear, I'd start by getting a treat... something really good, not a dog bone; chicken, peanut butter, etc. Go just outside onto your porch and lure him out with the treat. When he comes, love all over him, telling him what a good boy he is, give him the treat, and go back inside. Repeat every couple hours. When hestarts coming easily without hesitation, move a bit farther. Eventually onto the stairs and down the stairs. Since you live on the third floor, this may take a couple days to get him all the way to the bottom. After doing this, he should happily walk down the stairs with you as long as hecan see you are bringing a treat too. This training will help him relace the association he has with outside and fear with a new association of outside being great. You may have to continue to bring treats for a week or two, and then can move to just loves. When it gets warm out, consider staying outside longer to play with him.

You might watch a show called "Dog Whisperer" with Cesear. He is really good and give good tips on how to help your dog.

N.

quit carrying him get a leash and pull him down stairs. you are the master and please dont take this as mean I have had abused dogs before. my lab was afraid of the thunder. if it was thundering forget going outside. now I had a chiuahua sp? who had been abused he hid for 3 weeks before we lured him out. I am guessing your dog has abandonment issues. ex outside with no water and food or attention. so my advice is put a leash on him get him to go to the stairs and reward with a treat. human food or dog treats whichever he reacts better to. drag him down stairs I dont mean harshly I mean sternly (this is kinda like dealing with a 2 yr old having a temper tantrum you dont beat them down the stairs or throw them you gently tug the leash and keep pulling him against his will ) now when he gets down stairs lots of good boy petting and a reward. the whole time you are walking him to do his business you tell him good boy and pat him and when he is done make a big issue of it. just like you would a 2 yr old who does something new. lots of praise and love. it will take him a couple of weeks to realize he is not going to be abandoned. PATIENTS I know it is hard but you can do this. do not punish him for his behavior or you will never break him. now if you have more than one dog take both out together. use jealousy to your advantage. I had to do this with my chiuahua that was abused. I loved and petted and praised the other 2 dogs in front of her. left her in her hiding spot and took her her water and food. I left her there never made her come to me but used jealousy to lure her and when she come out to inspect I woud pet her and let her run back to her hiding spot. and I left her there till the next day the first time I picked her up she jumped out of my arms and hid. I left her there and waited till the next day it was a week before she let me pick her up again. I picked her up petted her and put her down she started following me at this point. it also may be while she was left outside someone was abusing her ex throwing rocks and stuff. I train all of my dogs with lots of praise and petting. dont use a choke collar on her. I do train most dogs with choke collars but in this case she may choke herself to much and become numb to it. just a regular collar and pull no tugging. pull. LOTS OF TIME AND PATIENTS AND SHE WILL BE A GREAT AND VERY LOYAL DOG

i second the dog whisperer recommendation. he also has a few books out too. you have to be calm and confident and become the 'pack leader' and slowly get him out the door, inch by inch, letting him calm down in between. cesar's used food but mostly just to get dogs moving. watch the show and you'll get the idea. the mystery part to me is how he turns nervous, hesitant people into the pack leader so quickly. oftentimes, his show is more training the human who is holding the dog back.

about holding pee, it can't be good for any animal to do that. in the meantime, you can help them to go to the bathroom by squeezing in the right places. my friend had to do this for his dog who had surgery. http://handicappedpets.com/www/index.php/pet-care-article...

Pheromone ball! They have them at pet stores. You plug them into an outlet and they emit the pheromones of a nursing female dog. My old male rescue dog loved that thing; he'd hang out and just sniff it. Very relaxing for him. I had to carry him up and down stairs for a month or so, until his confidence and trust built up. Keep at it!