Well done, keep at it. Youre so kind and brave to take her on.

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Whale eye, scroll down and it's above the green dog.

Body Language in Dogs: how to read what your dog is saying, from Stacy's Wag'N'Train

Thank you for that Petersdad, I did wonder.... She is doing okay... is now getting out of her basket to look who is coming down stairs or through the door... but not approaching. In the mornings she is trying to come out for her lead to go on, she knows she wants to, but can't bring herslef to do it!

Around other dogs she is happy and her tail has wagged when greeting other dogs... not wagged for humans yet.

She does while we are out walking constantly look at me, glances at me... Is this reassurance or is it an agitation I should be looking at.... when we stop walking she immediately goes behind me and sits at my knee (this body language is scared..., but getting better)

I would say in time she will come on... whether she will ever play and be like my other dog I am not sure... time will tell x

Just take things steady, lttle baby steps is the key.
I have a nervy BC too, i try not to take her out of her comfort zone, so she still feels able to cope with life, and doesnt get stressed, giving her confidence by keeping her happy means we can progress little by little, although still more reactive than the avergage doglet she is getting there slowly.
Puts a smile on your face when they start to come good though, welldone, keep up the good work
xx

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Sarah xxx

What a pretty girl she is... well done for helping her

I would say looking at you might be looking for reasurence from you, BUT i am no expert i know bear will look for me in situations hes nervous in (hes just naturally shy and quiet) i tend not to say anything except come on then in a positive voice

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Foxy ~ my tabby cat baby
levi and cookie ~ the boa's

Tia~ My gorgeous girl taken early on the 5.4.10 miss you everyday baby girl

and two little monkey children

Well we have had Nell just over a week.... a very stressful week for her, and an odd one for me.

Of all the weeks to settle a nervous dog who's never had human contact, or at least not much as far as I know. I told the shelter it wasn't a good week but... hey ho....

Nell has been clean, only one accident, and that might have been cos I had my high vis trousers on... so I will excuse that.

She has been to two of my friends houses, and been what appears to be quite responsive to them, wandering around, sniffing and in one house just lay down and went to sleep with my friend stroking her... somebody said dogs were two faced!

At our house Nell is still withdrawn to her basket, it is her safe place.... She has gradually come closer and closer to me to put her lead on, but I still have to go to her, she's never quite close enough.

Today we had a good point, she ventured upstairs, and then panicked... She had a little wander and then after eating the sausage I tossed at her feet, she ran back to her safe zone! Our kitchen and my office where I work is up stairs, and the room she is in is not our lounge, she won't go into the lounge unless on the lead - and then once off the lead she's back to her safe spot... So not forcing the issue, but today was progress she came up stairs.

She still won't come to me, or explore her surroundings (and yet she did at my friends house - any explanations).... I am not pushing her, just leaving her alone, although I sit with her to have my tea (her in her basket, and me in mine lol), the only time I am really hands on with her is to put on her lead and take her out... she is very happy to be led on the lead... will go anywhere.

She is still always looking at me, glancing at me on our walks, all the time. The minute we stop she goes behind me and sits right on the back of my leg.

I know it's early days, still.... But I do feel a little disheartened that she seemed so sociable at my friend's house - or did I misread the situation and she was more stressed hence the wandering around looking for safe place perhaps, but then she relaxed and went to sleep in my friends lounge? I don't know.

Will keep you posted - C x

Well done, it sounds like she is settling in a little!
It's hard to say what the looking at you means without seeing the rest of the body language, but could it be that she's looking at your reaction to 'scary' things and trying to take your lead? Sort of 'Is that scary? How about that? Are you worried?'. If that is what she's doing I think it's good news, because that means she is developing faith in you as her leader-and-protector.

To help develop a bond with her, you could think about doing some clicker games - you don't necessarily have to be super close to her for lots of them (put an object for her to interact with in the room, sit 1-2 metres away and toss the treats to her). Games like '101 things to do with a box' are completely on her initiative - she can leave any moment she wants - and they teach her that investigating and interact with 'strange' things can be fun and rewarding, which will probably help to build up confidence with new things.

I also think this might be useful: Boulder Dog » Blog Archive » Magic “Touch” for Fearful Dogs

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It's not easy for a monkey to think like a dog