My new dog won't let me touch him. How can I help him adjust?

Hi there! I'm so sorry to hear about Smokey's troubles. It can be difficult when we adopt pets from shelters, because we don't know their history, or what happened to them before they came home with us. It is important to be patient and work with Smokey daily. A great idea would be to call his veterinarian, and get some recommendations for a veterinary behaviorist in the area. Veterinary behaviorists are veterinary doctors who are board certified in behavior. They could evaluate Smokey, and give you the best advice as to how to work with him. If a veterinary behaviorist isn't available, your veterinarian may know of some good trainers in the area, who are skilled in working with fearful dogs. In general, I would not push Smokey, let him come to you. Let him get acclimated to his new home. 3 weeks isn't very long in a dog's mind. He still needs to settle in. As long as he isn't showing any signs of aggression, you can try some natural calming supplements like zylkene or canine compsure. They can help him relax and get to feeling more comfortable more quickly. If he is showing any signs of aggression, like biting, nipping, or growling when you get close to his personal space, dog bowl, or toys, then I would avoid the supplements, and call your veterinarian right away. Giving calming agents can sometimes make aggression worse. I hope you find this answer helpful! Best of luck!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. He may just be scared and needs time to get used to people petting him on the head. I would associate treats with being pet on the head so that he enjoys it rather than fears it. I hope this helps!

Congratulations on your new addition! I'm glad to hear that Champ is very well-behaved. It's never a big surprise when a new pet refuses to eat or drink well when they're first brought to a new home. This change can be quite stressful and intimidating to them, and can evoke a bit of anxiety, leading to this refusal to eat or drink. First of all, try to give Champ as much space as he wants. You can offer him a bland diet of boiled white meat chicken and white rice for a few days to try to tempt him to eat, then gradually mix in his regular dog food. When you offer him food, try to do so in a quiet, calm environment where he can eat undisturbed by people or other pets. Initially, he'll probably be more willing to eat and drink when he's alone. My guess is that he's drinking some water when you aren't watching - particularly if he's urinating normally. Try to work on giving Champ a safe space where he can always go if he wants to be alone, such as a crate or a bed in the corner of a quiet room, and respect his boundaries by always leaving him alone if he's in that space. Building up on this safe space can help a dog feel more comfortable and confident in their surroundings, which in turn will likely facilitate normal behaviors, including eating and drinking. Best of luck with everything!

Hello. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I recently raised a litter of puppies from a dog I adopted, & at about the same age, 1 of the puppies became very shy & scared. If you picked her up, she would sometimes scream like she was being murdered. With extra attention, over the next 4 weeks, she became much calmer & less anxious. She was never as assured as her litter mates, and all I can hope is she continues to mature & do well. All animals have different personalities, & at this young age, you cannot say how one will turn out. Give him as much of your attention as possible, & when it comes time to place him ( if you decide to ), it might be best to find someone with some experience raising dogs ( not a first-time dog owner ), & is possibly willing to put a little extra time in to train & socialize this pup. Take care.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I'm sorry you are so frustrated. If Chewbacca is still active and drinking and not having vomiting or diarrhea, I would give him more time. Movin can be stressful and it isn't necessary for dogs to eat every day. I know you want him to eat but he may need to acclimate to the new place before he decides to eat. If he is acting ill, I recommend taking him to a vet to make sure nothing else is going on. I would also visit PetCo for Adaptil, a pheromone to help calm pets in stressful situtation. Talk to your vet about other behavior supplements like Composure or Zylkene. I hope this helps. Try to relax about the appetite. He knows you are stressed. He will eat when he's hungry as long as he's healthy. Good luck and kisses to Chewbacca!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is not uncommon for a dog to not eat great at first when in a new environment. However, this should subside and should not last very long. I would entice her appetite by adding things like boiled chicken, dog grade gravy, lean meats, among others. If she is still not eating after a few days, check in with a veterinarian to make sure there is not a medical reason for her to not be eating. Good luck and have a great day!

Thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach with your question about Mickey. Yes, this will be fear. Moving into a new home is stressful for him. If he won't come out from the couch, leave him be for now. Leave food and water out, and he likely will come out to eat and drink while you are sleeping tonight. Should he come out when you are there, quietly praise him and give him treats. Each time he comes out, do this and it will encourage him to come out more. Give it some time, he should adjust. I hope this helps!