Hi everyone,
I adopted a nervous dog six weeks ago who only wants to walk in the morning or late evening, making it hard to take him out during the day. We rely on the garden for toileting, but he won’t always go there.
We’re receiving support from a charity organization, but I’m seeking advice. He’s also scared of getting into cars, especially when the trunk is open. We’ve tried various strategies to help him, but results have been mixed. Has anyone experienced similar issues?
Have you thought about anxiety medication? It could help her relax and realize that the world isn’t so frightening when she’s with her trusted person. As she gets more accustomed to the scary sounds and movements around her, you might be able to gradually reduce her medication.
I’ve thought about them and believe they might be my next step. I’m hoping to get a referral tomorrow, which will help since things are a bit complicated. It’s difficult to understand some of his behaviors; some days he walks out the door easily, while other days it feels like a struggle.
Now that’s the joy and challenge of having a rescue dog. They often don’t know how to be a dog! Their behaviors may seem random to us because we don’t know their past experiences.
This dog has had a difficult life, spending about two years on the street with a homeless person and another dog (his brother). He’s been in a rescue since May of last year and is now with us. I consider myself an experienced dog owner with a solid understanding of behavior, but this situation has been truly exhausting. I love the dog, and both my partner and I are committed to doing whatever it takes for him.
I understand. All of my dogs have been rescues, most from the streets. One of my current dogs has chosen not to jump off the couch for the past six weeks, and we can’t figure out why. I’ve spent hours working with her, and now she only jumps down about 50% of the time. We’ve had her for almost a year, and it’s truly puzzling.
Do you mind sharing what breed she is? Sounds like a wolf behavior.
I know right… This dog definitely has some wolf in him. I recommend you should hire a professional trainer to assist you. I love wolf dogs, but for both of your sakes, make sure he gets plenty of exercise to let him run off-leash when possible (if you can manage to get him out the door)!
Yeah right… those behaviors described sound more wolfy than doggy.