We adopted Phoebe around Easter when she was a puppy. She’s now about 10 months old and is the most fearful dog I’ve ever had. We found her and her brother abandoned in a ditch in North Carolina. Phoebe panics at the slightest sound, even the delivery box on the porch. She knows a few commands, like ‘sit’ and ‘stay,’ and can even fetch a toy (but never wants to give it back lol). But housebreaking is a nightmare—she knows she’s not supposed to poop in the house but does it anyway when no one’s watching. My wife gets scratched and bitten when Phoebe jumps on her. I’m 78 years old and have had dogs for decades, but I’m honestly at a loss. Any advice or similar experiences would be super helpful.
Sounds like Phoebe’s got some serious anxiety. My dog used to freak out over little things too. Have you tried training her with the ‘leave it’ command? It helped my dog a lot with jumping on people.
Lyana said:
Sounds like Phoebe’s got some serious anxiety. My dog used to freak out over little things too. Have you tried training her with the ‘leave it’ command? It helped my dog a lot with jumping on people.
IDK, I’ve tried a few things but she seems scared of new commands. I can’t even get her to step on the training platform we bought for her.
@Tsu
Oh yeah, that’s a common issue with fearful dogs. You might want to try training in smaller steps—like starting with something less intimidating before introducing the platform again.
I get what you’re going through. My dog was also afraid of everything at first. It’s tough, but consistency is key. Have you tried creating a safe space for Phoebe where she feels secure?
malcolmblack said:
I get what you’re going through. My dog was also afraid of everything at first. It’s tough, but consistency is key. Have you tried creating a safe space for Phoebe where she feels secure?
Yeah, I’ve been keeping her in her crate for a while, but I’m worried it’s not enough. I have an electric fence set up too, but she’s still scared of going outside alone.
@Tsu
That’s rough. Maybe try taking her outside with you at first to reassure her? Little by little she might start to feel more comfortable going out alone.
Poor Phoebe! Have you thought about using noise-canceling headphones? It helped my dog with sound sensitivity. Maybe it would calm her down when she gets too scared.
Mia said:
Poor Phoebe! Have you thought about using noise-canceling headphones? It helped my dog with sound sensitivity. Maybe it would calm her down when she gets too scared.
I didn’t think of that! Does it really work? I might try it if she’s having a hard time with noises.
@Tsu
Definitely worth a shot! It might take a bit for her to get used to them, but it could help with her fear of sounds. You can find some on Amazon pretty easily.
I had a similar problem with housebreaking. We started using a bell by the door, and it worked surprisingly well. You could try ringing it every time you go outside with Phoebe.
Elijah said:
I had a similar problem with housebreaking. We started using a bell by the door, and it worked surprisingly well. You could try ringing it every time you go outside with Phoebe.
That’s a cool idea! I haven’t tried the bell thing yet, but I’ll give it a go. Hopefully, it helps with her potty training.
@Tsu
Yeah, the bell can be a game-changer! Just keep it consistent, and Phoebe should catch on eventually.
Sounds like Phoebe needs more time to adjust to new things. Have you tried Behavior Adjustment Training? It can really help with fear-based issues.
EdwardLiam3 said:
Sounds like Phoebe needs more time to adjust to new things. Have you tried Behavior Adjustment Training? It can really help with fear-based issues.
I’ve heard of that! I’ll check it out. Do you think it could help with her fear of people, too?
@Tsu
Yeah, absolutely! It’s designed to help with all kinds of fear, including fear of people. Just be patient and consistent with the training.