My rescue dog is scared of my daughter. How can I help him adjust?

Give him some time to acclimate. A pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar or DAP plug in diffuser, may decrease any anxiety. Consider short visits to a dog park or short walks to get him further acclimated. Praise and reward him as he progresses, but correct any negative behavior immediately. If you need help, consider an obedience or socialization program. The local Petco may offer one or both.

Consider a pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar, to help decrease any anxiety. Next, expose her to a "new" person forever increasing periods of time. Praise and reward her as she progresses. It will take time and consistency, so keep at it but don't force her to move on if she gets too worked up.

I recommend he take over the walking and give her treats so she looks forward to being with him. Don’t have him be too pushy, have him sit with a treat and let her come to him. You may also want to try an anti anxiety supplement like Solliquin. It helped my rescue dog relax in the new household. This may take several months to improve, give them time and as they both grow and mature this behavior should improve. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Kona.

In situations such as these, time is your friend, as well as patience. 4 years living solely outside is a long time for a dog, and that's a lot of years of work to reverse. You may want to treat Perseus as if he were a puppy, starting with a similar routine for feeding, potty training, etc to get him used to being around people and in/out of a house. Getting him used to you can take time. Always approach by talking calmly and gently and tossing a treat toward him. Not directly facing him and/or crouching down can also make you less intimidating and scary. Let him approach you first rather than you approach him, and be sure to quietly praise or offer treats any time he does. As he gets more used to you, you can then treat only when he allows petting or approaches you and accepts gentle handling. This can take a lot of time, so patience and always maintain a calm presence can help. It is also a good idea to speak with a trainer or behaviorist in your area who can come to the home and offer more tailored advice for how to help Perseus. They can help formulate a training plan as in the case of a behaviorist may also be able to recommend medications to help keep him stress free and relaxed as he learns how to be a dog.

Speak softly and move slowly around Athena. Consider a socialization class for puppies. You can find them offered at most larger pet stores and some veterinary clinics. Use praise and rewards when interacting with her so she associates "good feelings" with you and the family. A pheromone product such as the Adaptil collar or DAP diffuser may decrease any anxiety.

Not all dogs are used to brushing and it may make them nervous. You can try making it a positive experience by giving her high value treats while she is being brushed- have someone feed them to her during brushing, or put peanut butter on a spoon they can hold for her to lick off, or if you are home you can put peanut butter spread on a plate she can lick. I would also consider Adaptil spray placed on a bandana prior to grooming (available online).

What a lucky little dog to have been adopted by a loving family such as yours!! Little dogs can find almost everything about the world quite scary. If Princess Skylar is most comfortable in her kennel then I would allow her to stay in there as needed. Put her kennel in a central part of the house (eg the living area) so that she is still ‘with’ the family. And encourage your children to sit quietly on the floor and offer her treats. It is very important to let her adjust to her new surrounds, and also for the children to hnderstand that she is scared and needs to be treated very gently and quietly. Be sure to leave the kennel door propped open for her so she has ready access and can come and go as needed to feel safe. She is a very sweet looking dog and I am sure will assimilate into your family very quickly!