How can I socialize my fearful rescue lurcher with other dogs?

Hello, poor Fiddle! He seems to be very scared by other dogs. I think the best way to approach this is by introducing him to dogs that are not overtly playful and pushy in a neutral environment. That is, you may meet with a dog you know is calm and low energy in a park just to have the other dog be around Fiddle to see if he tolerates this. Obviously, avoid any situation which makes Fiddle scared or nervous and don't encourage his fearful behavior with any rewards such as talking to him, carrying him, or petting him as this may equivocally teach him that it is ok to be afraid of other pets. Ultimately, if you're having a really hard time with Fiddle, you may need to have him evaluated by a behaviorist as it is never too late to work with them on improving a behavior. Hope this helps.

Introduce her, gradually, to one dog then another and another. Do this in a neutral area, such as a dog park or field. Correct negative behavior/responses immediately and praise/reward good behavior. Use a pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar, to help decrease any anxiety.Given her age, get her enrolled in an obedience class and puppy socialization classes.

It would be a good idea to enroll her in an obedience class (even if she is older). There she can learn to interact with people and other dogs in a controlled environment, and there will be an instructor there to help you with any particular issues you're having.

Maisy may not have been properly socialized around other dogs, and if she isn't a confident dog, she will react with fear around other dogs. Unfortunately, fear in dogs can come out as aggression, so it would be a good idea to start socializing her now to prevent this from happening. You can speak to your vet about getting her enrolled with a behavioral expert to work on this behavior. The expert can introduce her to other dogs in a safe situation, working on socialization skills, and teaching her that she does not have to be afraid of them.

Poor Merlin! It sounds like he gets very upset around other dogs, which can be a challenging problem to work on in some cases. You will need to take things very slowly when introducing him to the new puppy - this will be hard for both of them, so be patient and stay positive. For now, I would recommend keeping them separated unless you are actively working on training with them - this will help to prevent any setbacks that may occur if they get into a fight. I would try to do several short training sessions each day if you can, no more than 5-10 minutes each. You will need another person to help you, and both dogs should be on-leash. Start with them on opposite sides of the room, and give treats for calm behavior while they are in the same room together. Over the next few days, if things are going well, you can gradually start to allow them to be closer together, still giving treats for calm behavior - if either dog becomes upset and starts to bark or growl, just move them further apart again. It may take several days or even weeks before they can safely be loose together, depending on how severe Merlin's problem is. If you are not seeing any improvement within the first week of starting this plan, I would strongly recommend getting in touch with a good reward-based trainer who can work with you in person. You can search for a qualified trainer in your area here: www.ccpdt.org

Romi is quite a handsome boy! He may be more timid than most other dogs, and this is ok. If he is anxious and nervous around other dogs, you can try and socialize him more and get him into training classes to see if these help more. I hope this guides you in the right direction. Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

The best place to get Lana used to new people and dogs in a controlled environment is at a dog obedience class, There will be an instructor to observe her interactions and help her work out her behavior issues, building confidence as the classes progress. (By the way, I have your National Dog . . . the Finnish Spitz!)