fearful dogs are often literally "born that way" - people often assume that any dog who is timid,
runs from men or barks at them, hides under furniture or behind any visual barrier, etc,
must have been abused; it's simply not so. timidity is a spectrum, dogs like people can be bold,
calm but not foolhardy, a bit anxious, right down to extremely-shy.
shy is a specific term in behavior - it just means fear of the new or novel, whether that's a place,
a person, a sound, a smell - anything that can be perceived, that has not been experienced before.

FearfulDogs.com has been my favorite place to send owners in need of help, and the site has been
entirely redesigned - the owner has published a book [in paper and e-book versions], and the website
has been changed to reflect it. triggers and thresholds, my favorite page, has become
What you need to know to help a fearful dog | Fearful Dogs

the Yahoo-groups list shy-k9s is still an excellent resource, with links, archives, files,
and members who discuss their progress, setbacks, helpful tips, disasters and ongoing B-Mod.
shy-k9s : shy-k9s
the severity of symptoms is one clue as to how far the dog can go - the more shut-down the dog,
the longer and generally less-successful B-mod will be, and for many shy-dogs, B-mod is lifelong.
this doesn't mean they are miserable forever - it means they are improving forever.

there is the question of quality of life; some dogs, especially feral or severely-shy dogs, are in agony
and truly terrified much of the time; dogs who freeze solid are among the worst, i have worked with
feral-dogs who became garden-gnomes when U got too-close or touched them - some can be posed,
like jointed-dolls. Dakota was one such dog, if i picked up his foot he stood 3-legged,
waiting in a panic to see what he was supposed to do - he would stand there until he began to sway
with his own heartbeat; i would have to put his foot down 'for' him, poor thing!
but despite his feral beginnings, he made good progress and was adopted by a nice couple -
he is still easily-rattled but looks apparently normal, unless something unusual occurs.

what do U do to help Ur fearful dog?
are there bigger challenges - the vet, the car, new people?
when is Ur fearful-dog at their best - early-AM, quiet evenings at home, sunny days with little wind?

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terry pride, APDT-Aus, apdt#1827, CVA, TDF
*wolves R wolves, dogs R dogs, + primates R us.*
tmp, sept-2007

So is that saying that dogs and humans or any other animal for that fact is pretty much born fearful? They are not the blank canvasses we would expect?

Of course there are natural inbuilt responses but I was always under the impression that a lot of how the offspring views and reacts tot he world is down to the parent's teachings.

If I was to take a new born pup straight from mother and hand rear it despite how hard that would be etc, does it mean that despite spending all but 2mins of it's life with me (in theory) it would still stand a chance of being fearful of me?

I have read several articles recently on how to select a puppy from a litter and all articles said pay close attention to the Mother before even seeing the pups as fearfullness is very hereditory..................and from this I would guess a large portion of their personality comes from their genes.

I can relate to that. My daughter's little ckc was bought by her at 8 weeks; I wasn't with her, so didn't see the mother, but that little dog has been scared of everyone and everything all his life. He was always afraid of men, and has bitten several who have tried to make friends (not a good idea). He is now living quite happily with her ex-boyfriend and his three bichons, but still tries to bite anyone he doesn't know.

Nothing has ever been done to that dog to make him like this.

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Will always miss you, my little Joshie Woshie xx

If you want real love, buy a dog

If you wouldn't use it on a child, don't use it on a dog

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I don't believe that puppies or any young animals are ever 'blank canvasses'. Genetics have as powerful an effect on physiological health as on behavioural health.

But, just because behaviour has a genetic basis does not mean that it can't be modified.
Once the genes are in place there is not a whole lot we can do about them. But with the right assessment of individual puppies and strategic socialisation plans from day 1 of life can help to minimise fearfulness.

But unfortunatley this is what is missing....

Lack of socialisation and early exposure physically damages the brain. It prevents the development of the brain, therefore making those parts less likely to be available for use/development later in life when needed.

I love Debbie Jacobs and the work she does with fearfuldogs.com and I am still going through the new site

__________________
Anne, owned by Rufus & Tripod

Pet Central site & blog
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"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts." - John Steinbeck

"If you don't want your dog to bite you, don't be an a**hole to him." ~ Dr. Ian Dunbar

I have been battling with my nervy dog, got him at 5 months he is almost 3 now. He can get a freight and that is it, takes months to get over things and tonnes of work. I knew he was undersocialized, as he was stuck at the rescue centre until he was 4 months, but still.. Our behaviourist suggested genes, I went back to the rescue place I got him from as I was wondering how the two littermates had turned out.. They said they where fine, but when they looked at his file closely they also noticed that Ray was the only one labeled shy from first assessment when the three pups where handed in. Eureka, I stopped feeling like a failure and just know that he will always be a case of management and being patient, took preventative steps for new situations, etc.

I totally agree about genes playing a big part, you can use as much nurture as you like, but nature is nature. I am glad he is with us, can be frustrating at times but it is an amazing life experience.

Will check the website for more ideas and support, thanks for posting.

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What a pity the notes on your baby weren't heeded to and some work could have been put in that most likely would have made a massive difference.

Something like 'shy' or 'takes time to warm up' regarding a puppy should be a massive, huge, gigantic red flag....and then for him to spend months in a kennel environment - all I can say is that he is lucky he found you

You are doing wonderful work with him - def check out that link from Terry - it will change the way you work with your dog.

__________________
Anne, owned by Rufus & Tripod

Pet Central site & blog
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"I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts." - John Steinbeck

"If you don't want your dog to bite you, don't be an a**hole to him." ~ Dr. Ian Dunbar

Absolutely I think the rescue centre totally let him down, made his life extra harder by not making sure he met the first available foster home instead of letting the "easier" siblings go out first and leaving him all alone in a kennel, and also by not vetting us properly. Ray needed a much more experienced household, needed to be placed in an environment with other dogs to learn and seek refuge and support from, and most of all he needed a house with a nice safe garden for "those days that he cannot handle the walk on the busy London road" and not a raised ground flat without outside space in a Victorian conversion with neighbours coming and going. So at every single level he was let down. When I went back and gave an update on Ray, included that he also has elbow displasya (something else the siblings didn't develop) she said given the circumstances he is lucky we didn't bring him back as he would have no hope for re-adoption (being a bull breed on top of it). Little they know that when he is comfortable he is the best dog to be around, when he likes dogs he loves them and has the patience of a saint.

He is also amazing with fear aggressive dogs, I find what they lack in confidence they can make up in empathy.
On all in all living with a fearful dogs teaches you so much.

I have bookmarked the site, I am aware of her and read about Sonny before so I might have come across articles before, it all makes perfect sense to me and I am sure I will find loads more tips.

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aw, what a shame they did not act *then!* but yes, i agree he is so lucky he landed with U.
shy dogs can be so frustrating, but seeing them blossom [even when there are inevitable setbacks]
is so rewarding. they are incredible teachers.

Hi Terry Thanks for posting this, I often worry What Ozzy has experienced before he came to live with us, especially with the way he is around men.

Ozzy is doing so much better now, all your advice was spot on and getting him neutered was the best thing we ever done. He regressed very badly after for some weeks but is now much less reactive and not at all aggressive anymore. He is still very hard work in many situations and becomes crippled with fear, despite all our efforts the vets is still a nightmare that I dread. The children have been great with him and very understanding, Oz is now never happier than when with his kids. Like many people told me helping Oz has been the most rewarding experience and I’m so pleased we found him.

Dodigna it sounds like ray is very lucky to have you!!! If the rescue had found him an experienced owner with the perfect home they may not have done as good a job with him as you have or even kept him. You are his perfect owner and he sounds like a very special dog!!!