The most vital skill of all when you’re training a timid rescue dog is patience. Be Patient When Training a Timid Rescue Dog. We want to help dog owners to form a life-long bond with their dogs, have a good understanding of the behaviour of their dog and avoid the common pitfalls that can lead to problem behaviours. One of the most challenging issues an owner can face is training a dog that is fearful. You Can Help Your Dog Through The Decompression Process Even if a dog comes from a great shelter and enters a loving home, there’s a lot of stress associated with so much change. The tips in this article can help a dog with a mild problem. The key to success in working with this kind of dog is to take your time and keep your dog safe and to consult a professional if you have questions. By Elizabeth Buff. But if you let your new pet get comfortable around you at their own pace and you make the necessary preparations to help them feel at home, you’ll likely find a new friend for life. After all, you’ve just taken him away from the world that he knows. The sooner you accept the fact that socializing an adult rescue dog will take longer and require more effort than it would with a puppy, the better off you’ll both be. Step number one for helping dogs who are fearful, shy, anxious or reactive is to figure out how to help them feel safe in their world. The only way I can get him to come out is to trick him and tell him he’s going outside. The most common kinds of shyness in dogs are: Social shyness, where the dog is fearful of unfamiliar people or certain kinds of people. A structured learning environment can help your dog to progress much more quickly than if you were trying to train them by yourself. In fact, rescue pets manifest emotional challenges as physical issues. Rescue Remedy Pet is a natural anti anxiety tincture made from the flowers of wild plants, trees and bushes. This means not allowing strangers to approach your pet while he's against a wall, forcing him to remain outside during a thunderstorm, or allowing any other behavior that makes him feel exposed to his fear. This helps develop their behavior AND training. If you can’t even start training confidence building because your dog is too shy, nervous, timid or fearful, then you may consider enlisting the help of a dog behaviorist. In many human cultures, it’s polite to meet someone’s eyes. If you’re prepared to be understanding and patient, this can help your dog to settle in and can lay the foundation for a rewarding relationship. People who adopt shy dogs or cats must be especially careful about the possibility of escape, since a timid pet who gets away from his person can be very difficult to catch. No matter the reason they landed in the shelter, with a little time, patience and training, shelter dogs can become happy, well-adjusted family members. This advice will help you serve those needs. Just like babies, rescue dogs have to feel that you are there for them. It’s been written by one of our guest writers who adopted a rescue dog from a shelter and had to go through the same challenges of getting them properly socialized. Many sounds, places and things may trigger worry and anxiety in your pet. How to Help Your Shy or Nervous Dog. If you just adopted a dog from a shelter, rescue group, or other organization, congratulations! They’ve grown to be wary of the world. He is my challenge and boy does he need help. Whether you came by your timid dog through a shelter, rescue, breeder, Craig’s list, or rescued a frightened homeless dog off the street yourself – or are still contemplating such an adoption – rest assured that in all but the most extreme cases, you can help your dog have a reasonably normal life. When introducing a new member of the pack to your family, it is crucial to plan ahead and have the knowledge of how to navigate issues as they present themselves. Some adult rescue dogs have also grown out of that puppy stage when they’re most open to new things. If he hears anything strange he freaks out. Adopting a Rescue Dog: How to Help Them Adjust to the First 3 Days in a New Home. Introduce Them To New Experiences Gradually . This may mean not: going to the dog park; for walks around the neighborhood; being left alone; letting children or strangers try to pet them. More than I know what to do with. Dogs adopted from a dog shelter or animal rescue can make wonderful pets. Step 5. Or your once outgoing puppy is suddenly terrified to cross the threshold. Timid dogs have an even greater need for leadership, and they take a lot of their cues for how to behave and feel from the other dogs and people around them. 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