Fearful Rescue Dogs

[joannelekas]

Hi,

I've been working with a number of new Rescue adoptees who are fearful and not socialized. I know the typical rule of thumb - go slow, let them approach first, reward them for progress, have new visitors ignore them initially, etc.

Any other tips to help a new owner socialize an older rescue dog?

Joanne in MA

[Angie]

Yes - keep your own attitude upbeat and perky. Dogs take their cues from you, so if you seem calm and knowledgeable (even if inwardly you're tearing your hair out and wondering what to do next) they'll emulate your own behavior.
Give each dog a special place to chill out or hide in when the rest of the world gets too much - and somewhere they can be sent to for "time out" in case of bad behavior.
Keep things routine as much as possible, as this will help them settle in and give them a sense of security.
Exercise as much as humanly possible (depending on the individual dog's health, fitness, and age of course). Tired dogs are happy, relaxed dogs.
You might want to keep toys out of the mix at first, unless you're using them for active play sessions. If there's more than one dog in the house, the presence of toys can exacerbate feelings of jealousy or insecurity.
Thanks,
Angie

[joannelekas]

Thanks Angie, very helpful tips. Joanne