Adopting a shy shelter dog: How to transport an untouchable dog?

It will probably take some time to adjust to his new environment. You could try an Adaptil collar and Solliquin chews to see if that helps relieve some of the anxiety and stress he may be experiencing. https://www.adaptil.com/us#redirected http://www.solliquin.com/

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!

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.

The best thing to do is to give her a lot of TLC. I would try to keep things quiet for a little while in the home. I would not force her into any uncomfortable situations like a lot of visitors. I would make sure you give her treats for positive behaviors like going outside or coming to you when called. She will learn that you are her new “person” before long but just be patient with her. I hope this helps!

I'm sorry to hear of their predicament. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find shelters willing to take on additional dogs. They may have better luck finding breed specific rescues willing to take on Chihuahuas. They may need to search outside of the proximity they have been considering, and start looking significantly further if they are intent on relocating the dog to a safe and happy home. In terms of treatment for anxiety and separation, I think the first thing they need to do is try to make Uki feel as comfortable as possible. If the dog isn't crate-trained, they need to get this done as soon as possible. Giving Uki his own space that he can make his den will give him a comfort zone that he may find as a nice area to settle down. Once this exists, this will be where he needs to stay during times when he is alone. In terms of treatment for separation, there are several natural and several pharmaceutical methods to deal with it. I usually recommend more natural methods first before jumping to pharmaceutical intervention. I would recommend trying things like the Adaptil Collar as well as the Thunder-Shirt. If neither of these seem to be successful, use of drugs such as Trazodone, Fluoxetine, and/or Alprazolam are all options for treatment. Hope this helps!

A pheromone product, such as the Adaptil collar or DAP plug in diffuser, may help to decrease any anxiety. Do not attempt to pick him up if it causes stress. A leash and collar should be enough to walk him in, out and anywhere else. You may need to reinforce crate training. Provide a crate that is just big enough for him to stand, turn around and lay down. He should be in the crate or on a leash attached to your hip when indoors. Monitor for signs that he needs to go outside. This may include whining, circling or sniffing about. When it is time for him to go outside, take him to a designated area and wait. As soon as he starts to go, say "go potty", "do your business" or any other phrase of your choosing. Praise and reward him every time he goes outside. You can take him for a short walk afterwards as well. Once inside again, he goes in the crate or stays with you on the leash. If you see him preparing to go, take him back out. Thoroughly clean soiled areas using an enzymatic cleaner such as Nature's Miracle.

I would make sure that you take your time with Sabo and do not approach him too quickly. Let him come to you and reward him when he does come to you. A good way to do this is to sit down and call him over to you. When he comes, reward him with petting him and giving him a treat. You can also you things like an Adaptil collar to help make him feel calm and at ease. You can find this product at your local Petco or online. Time and patience will lead to him trusting you more. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.