I have a problem - I fell in love! I have on foster a traumatised collie... apparently no human contact other than a woman once a day for food due to a farmer dying (that was the story anyway). Chained with 15 other dogs of 2 years - her whole life in other words.

She was taken to the Rescue with some of the other dogs, and was unresponsive and withdrawn and wee'd herself when approached, she also bit the volunteers twice I was told...., but eventually would let them handle her enough to walk her. Then she was rehomed to an elderly couple (70's) who thought they could handle her and she escaped twice, the second time resulting in the elderly man being bitten badly on the hand. She was returned to the rescue.

This rescue but they were at a loss what to do, and for some reason when I read the heart felt blog my heart strings were tugged.... I went to see her on Saturday and that was it... I was sold. Any way after about an hour of sitting there with her the rescue said I could probably do more for her in a home than at the kennel so to take her for foster and see how she got on (they know me quite well).

So... I have Nell, along with Meg, my other collie (who isn't a happy bunny!).

She is clean in the house for now (probably too scared), hasn't really bonded with my other dog who is quite dominant, but Nell is so submissive, she just rolls straight over .... She stays in her basket and just looks around.

After 2 days she is acknowledging the lead and knows where the door is. She comes for walks quite willingly but I have to go to her to put the lead on. The world is a big scary place for her at the moment, but I believe she is coming along really well. She met my friend and her 2 dogs today, which was very scary as we had to walk along the main road to get there, so she's had a hard day, but then my friend came to my house afterwards and she allowed her to stroke her and sniffed her hand. It is early days I know... but even in that short time I can stroke her all over (although body language tells me scared).

Any advice would be appreciated - I wonder if she will ever stop being so scared of me... and become the lovely dog that I am sure she has the potential to be.

C x

Attached Images

	DSCF2078.jpg (150.5 KB, 52 views)
	DSCF2079.jpg (95.3 KB, 56 views)
	DSCF2089.jpg (96.5 KB, 54 views)
	DSCF2091.jpg (76.7 KB, 54 views)

Well done for helping her - what a sad life she has led so far. She is gorgeous...

I don't have any advice I am afraid...It sounds like you are doing great and as you said, its early days, so give it some time and see how you get on...

Good luck, hope you can help this poor girl...and let us all know progress updates on how you are getting on!

__________________

shes a gorgeous collie...sound like ur doing a good job x x

Please please please check out fearfuldogs.com as this is very similar to the situation that inspired Debbie Jacobs' fabulous work.

I also think there is a shydogs Yahoo! list for extra support.

Its going to take some time and lots of patience - Click to Calm is also a great resource as is Nicole Wilde's Help for your Fearful Dog. These are available from dogwise.com or amazon.co.uk

Make sure she has a safe den that she can retreat to and stay in if she so chooses.

Start with lots and lots and lots of targeting work. You may be way off that yet so just start slowly getting her happy in your presence. She can literally earn all of her meals this way.
Establish her safe distance - how close can you get before she exhibits distance increasing signalling e.g. whale eye, lip licks, yawns etc. Sit side on and toss food gently to her one piece at a time. Toss the food straight to so that she doesn't have to move or compromise to get it.
Don't lure her to approach with food but have it go to her.

Also use negative reinforcement to teach her how to control scary situations so that she can develop some confidence.
If you approach and she shows appeasement gestures, stop and move away - reward her with what she wants i.e. distance
This teaches her that polite, subtle signalling is all that is needed to get distance - she doesn't need to escalate to more active avoidance or escalated distance increasing signalling e.g. growling.
Check out Turid Rugaas' work for more on signalling and the sticky thread in this forum.

Teaching her to move away from scary things is also important - if she moves away don't pursue her,let her increase distance (once its safe to do so).

I wouldn't feel that going for walks to big noisy, new and active places is urgent right now. I would work on improving her confidence around the house and garden right now and getting rock solid with that.
Plenty of short training sessions built into everyday life are sufficient mental exercise for her.

Does she have any interest in toys, or have you any idea? Start with quiet toys e.g. just rolling a ball across the floor - click and treat if she tracks its movement. Teaching an interest in toys can be a great way of motivating and confidence boosting in fearful dogs. Start slow.

The main thing is to move at her pace - not yours and not your expectations. If she is as undersocialised as her history suggests this will be a long road and may never by 'perfect' but you can certainly give her coping mechanisms so she can deal with the world.

Lots of special time with your other dog too In time they may bond and the other dog may be a great booster to the fearful one.

Well done for taking her on - best of luck

__________________
Anne, owned by Rufus & Tripod

Pet Central site & blog
Join us on FaceBook & Follow us on twitter

"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

thanks for that.... I did put her in the cage on her first night, but at 4am she barked and didn't stop.... so I let her out... she found her safe place in the corner of the room, as in the picture (behind the table where she thinks she can't be seen). I have now put a bed there for her and she sleeps in that quite happily...

what's whale eye?

Treats, tried with a few tings, but got the best reaction with a cherry scone!!! So she's got a sweet tooth.

She seems to like the walks - I try to do the same walks every day - tried a different one today which she was fine with, but I couldn't avoid going ot my friends house today, but she responded to my friends quite well... it was the scones I think!

No she does not play... too soon for that I think.... But I play with my other dog around her, throwing the ball and stuff, so she can see what needs to be done.

She really is still very scared and I tend to leave her be most of the time but walk her twice a day... when I go into the room she's in I acknowledge her and say hello etc.... today was the first day she got up and stood up when I came in... so I think that's progress.

Will look at the sites you say... but still think it's early days... Once I get her to bond with me then I can start training her... but I use all the signals with my other dog around her, so may be she will cotton on...

Time is a great healer so here's hoping.

C x

Well done u. Lucky, lucky dog finding u.

I have 3 rescues. 2 were street dogs in Greece an were badly treated by people and not at all socialised.

My collie x was the must timid, nervous little girl. It took them 3 months to come into the living room with us! Two years on, she is a little bit better. She is absolutely fine with the family. But still as nervous of the outside world. I have accepted her limitations.

All I would say is give it time an lots of it. Allow her to come to u and don't have high expectations. The dogs wil sort out their own heirachy. I would try te crate again, but don't close the door. I discovered them about 6 months ago and my dogs love them. Although I never shut their doors. It gives them their own "den", which I think really helps with nervous dogs.

The previous post gave some great advice. Just one other thing to bare in mind I'd there is a fine line between giving the dog comfort and rewarding the behaviour.

Best of luck x

__________________


Lilly, Max, Henry and Sammy. The joys of my life!

www.rescueremedies.co.uk
www.staffierescue.co.uk

GOOD ON YOU for helping this poor little mite,
The only thing I would advise, and it does work...is time and consistancy. Fizz came to me very nervous and withdrawn. she didn't come out from under my computer chair for days only to use the loo and eat...and now after 7 years of having her she is still a nervous and submissive dog...but in time your dog will see that you wont let anything harm her...she will see that you are consistant in food/walks/afection and love and all the oher things she has mybe missed out on,
Time really is a wonderful healer.
Keep us posted wont you
Clare xx

__________________
Mum to 4 Great kids

Staffy x Lab almost 10...Fizz
Ginger Tom 2 1/2...Tilly
Giant yellow Continental Rabbit...Dolly 2 1/2 years
Bichon x King charles spanel 1 yr 10 months
Latest addition Tex the black shep 11 1/2 years foster pooch
How can I forget my fish..i have 13 tropical fish too...err...2 cats 2 neon and one lemon tetra...2 err...will have to go look and get back on that one i can't remember the names lol
My Dogs are the centre of my world

She nearly came to me this morning for me to put the lead on...nearly, but not quite.... I sat down on my seat as I do.... and she was circling around as if to say I want to, but I can't!

I also had my hat on to go out, and I think that worried her a bit... So that came off...

So a little progress this morning.

I only have one crate, and my other dog has taken residence in that, due to her having toileting issues... I tried Nell in the crate, and I think she was more fearful of it than anything.... She is happy in her bed in the corner. She can see every angle there, and thinks she can't be seen.

Today is a quiet day, no visitors or going places, so just walks and time to chill for her.... (I do need to hoover though, so that could be interesting!)

Have a good day all x

C x

She's lovely I can see why you fell for her. Basically my only advise is give her time. We rehome quiet a few ex-working sheps and it's all just a matter of leaving them to figure it out for themselves, they need to learn the new place they are is safe and unpressured and pretty much the rest will fall into place when it happens. She's enjoying her walks and that's a huge plus because many freak out completely when faced with a simple walk down the road!! Hard to do but you just have to be there and not force anything and it will all come good. Sounds like the previous accidents of her biting were by people being in her face and expecting too much, you having a much more relaxed and quiet manner and she'll soon be chilled out and happy. Well done for taking her and giving her a chance.

To work with dogs, especially shy and fearful ones a knowledge and understanding of canine dog language is essential - you cannot interpret her intentions, mood, satisfaction, or fear of a situation without it.

Check out this thread right here on PF: dog body-language - and why it matters so much...

Take it slow with this girl and take all cues from her.

__________________
Anne, owned by Rufus & Tripod

Pet Central site & blog
Join us on FaceBook & Follow us on twitter

"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