When we got home, she acted as if we had hit her all the ride home. She was SO afraid of us. Her mate adjusted to his new home right away. But Elly, still to this day avoids people. She loves the security of the yard and the cage we pen her in at night.
But we didn't always want her to avoid us. Elly is a sweet dog. I searched online for help and tips on how to help her overcome her fear. I have made some progress, but there is still a long way to go.
These are two things I did to help Elly with her fear:
- Hand fed her for a couple days
- I don't go to her to pet her anymore; she has to come to me to be petted.
I also read that approaching a fearful dog to pet it rewards their cowering fearful behavior. Instead, be near and wait for the dog to come to you for attention. With Elly, I can tell she wants to be petted. She just doesn't' have the confidence to just come up to me for a petting.
Other important things to remember when dealing with fearful dogs:
- NEVER hit the dog
- Speak in a gentle voice
- Don't force the dog to do things unless it is necessary
With time and lots of patience, a fearful dog can be rehabilitated.
Resources:
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