Nervous Dog

[Sayly]

A friend has recently gotten a young adult purebred from a breeder. The bitch is a show bitch so isn't desexed. She's recently come out of a phantom season (not particularly full blown phantom though). My friend has had the same breed before and adores the breed and understands their needs, but isn't especially dog savvy (yet, but she's learning very, very quickly)!

The bitch is nervous around her Dad (she lives at home with her parents as she's studying) and literally cowers from him and runs away. He's never done anything to her that he could think of that could scare her.

She paces around and around the yard to the point she's worn a track in the grass and she's only been there a couple of weeks. She also drools while doing this. She is relatively happy inside with my friend and her mum but stresses and runs away if close to her dad. She usually runs to her 'safe' places like her crate, my friend's bed or her basket.

If my friend goes outside when the bitch is outside the bitch usually comes and sits with her and seems happier but my friend had some friends over Friday night and since then the pacing has gotten worse and it's harder to distract her from it.

She isn't as nervous of strange people on walks and out and about compared to in the house/yard.

She is an only dog and has come from kennels where she is often with another dog.

I know this bitch pretty well and know the breeder and my friend and can honestly say I dont think anyone in her life has ever mistreated her. She's always been a more nervous bitch than normal for the breed but it seems worse after changing homes, which is understandable.

So my questions are, how do they get her happier with being with her Dad? I suggested he feeds her and when the father is around the mum and friend don't pay her any attention.

What can be done about her obvious stress when outside?

She has plenty of toys and I suggested she starts rotating them so she doesn't get sick of them, but she doesn't play with toys much. She gets regular walks and happily eats her dinner (first few nights she didn't but is now eating everything, but won't eat with someone watching).

My friend is willing to do almost anything to get her happy and settled, she's worried about the amount of stress the bitch is under.

[Erny]

This dog may need to be seen to be able to understand the true essence of her anxiety, but perhaps it is a matter of a combination of being weak on nerve and not having been socialised much in/around men.

Regardless, I'd start with just a couple of basics - just to begin with and until things lighten up just a little.

Firstly, I'd have Dad ignore her. Don't even have Dad try to make her like him. Let her do this in her own time. Even when she starts that hesitant approach that dogs can do when fear begins to reduce enough to allow them to be a bit curious, he should ignore her. People sometimes make the mistake of reaching out to the dog at that point, but that only reaffirms their thoughts and reinstates fear behaviour.

Secondly, no molly-coddling. Leadership all the way. NILIF; TOT; Obedience training; House rules/boundaries. Not harshness, just boundaries and consistency.

Thirdly, when the dog is looking, occasionally have your friend shake her Dad's hand, be next to him - let the dog learn by observation there's nothing to be concerned about. Don't be looking at the dog when they are doing this - pretend the dog is not there.

Fourthly, when dog and Dad are around, always make sure the dog has an escape route. This doesn't have to be way out to the yard, but just enough distance where the dog doesn't feel trapped and without the choice of flight.

Fifthly, ignore her fear behaviour.

If Dad is the one who needs to feed her, just have him put the food bowl on the ground and leave her to eat in peace. (ie don't work TOT). But otherwise ask Dad to just go about his business as though she wasn't there. And tell Dad not to be hurt about this dog not taking to him straight away. It's not him. It's just that the dog has this 'thing' for some unknown reason (perhaps the one I hypothesised above) and she needs time to work it out.

Give it one to two weeks with this and let the dog settle in and see what happens. There are other things that can be done beyond that if necessary but I'm a bit loath in suggesting them without seeing/knowing the dog and if things haven't improved, engaging a professional to help out might be the way to go.

Edited May 9, 2010 by Erny

[Sayly]

If dad is within 5 to 10m the bitch will move away. If she's in her basket or bed she won't move and is usually better than when she isn't in these places.

She used to live with a male and female couple who shared the dog-looking-after between them, and she adored both of them. She doesn't like my friend's boyfriend but he's not really doggy and I don't think he's overly interested in her.

Will pass along you suggestions, thank you!

ETA: My friend says thank you too.

Edited May 9, 2010 by Lyndsay

[SkySoaringMagpie]

Erny's advice is excellent. I guess I'm concerned that your friend has been sold this bitch as a show prospect. The bitch will have to be examined by a range of male judges - some smokers, some who will wear a wide brimmed hat and sunnies, some with bad hips etc. And if judges can't get their hands on her she will be refused.

Based on what you have written here, I would be sending the bitch back unless I also had room for her permanently as a companion to work on her issues. There are all sorts of excuses "she's been in season, she had a fright in the ring during a fear period, etc etc". However a dog with a solid temperament isn't phased by these things.

[corvus]

Nervous animals thrive on predictability. I have rituals for everything I do with my hare. Same words, same tone, same walk, same sequence of behaviours, same speed. He can relax if he can predict what's going to happen next, even if it will be something that will make him want to run away. If he's touchy today I slow it down and talk more softly. Thankfully, even horribly shy dogs are a lot less nervous than a bold hare.

The other thing nervous animals (any animal, for that matter) love is a sense of control. This IMO is why NILIF is so good for them. It gives them the sense that they can control the things that happen to them. Obviously that's not all it does, but I reckon they like that.

All the other stuff Erny said is gold. Eyes and "regard" are intense for a lot of animals. Not watching them and ignoring them is always a great place to start, but sometimes it's also a good idea to be a teensy bit sensitive and not make any sudden movements or big noises while you're ignoring your fearful animal.

[Monah]

What Erny said, and Corvus re stick to a routine etc. so she knows what is going on.

We rescued a very badly treated swf (in my signature) and he was terrified of my OH, it took a few years, about 2 or 3 for him to relax completely and be happy around OH, but we did just what erny said. I don't think you can rush it or expect miracles, slow and steady with no shocks or surprises for the dog, until eventually they will feel comfortable. I know this dog was not mistreated, but I think the methods would be the same. Your friend may have to accept that this could take a while, no quick fix. Build up the dogs confidence by prooving the dad is not a threat in any way by ignoring her.xxxxPoor dog to be so upset. xxx

[dogdayz]

Ive found the person in question sitting on floor or laying on couch removes much of threat. Dont try to get an interaction just treat if they come close of their own accord in their own time. Have found it can take a few evenings of this and a fair bit of cheese but they get there. Dont let the person reach out to them though.

If you can identify what it is with that person it helps. My aussie doesnt like my other half when he is resting dark sunglasses on top of his head...some kind of 4 eye monster threat

[megan_]

If you follow the advice in Erny's post it will work - it may take time but you'll get there. This is what I had to do with my girl. Resist all urges to molly coddle the dog, this will just make them more scared.

[Sayly]

Erny's advice is excellent. I guess I'm concerned that your friend has been sold this bitch as a show prospect. The bitch will have to be examined by a range of male judges - some smokers, some who will wear a wide brimmed hat and sunnies, some with bad hips etc. And if judges can't get their hands on her she will be refused.

Based on what you have written here, I would be sending the bitch back unless I also had room for her permanently as a companion to work on her issues. There are all sorts of excuses "she's been in season, she had a fright in the ring during a fear period, etc etc". However a dog with a solid temperament isn't phased by these things.

Under normal circumstances I would agree 100% with the issues with being a show prospect but the bitch is on loan to fill a hole in my friend's heart while she waits for her own puppy from an upcoming litter (which may well be months away) after tragedy with her previous dog (no one's fault just bad luck ). It's a long story but she does love having the girl there and hasn't been happier since her other dog passed. She is learning how to show while waiting for her pup. I know the breeder didn't expected her to be how she is at all, I've seen the bitch in the show ring before and hasn't had issues with judges of either sex, although she didn't like showing at the royal and the strange ground and atmosphere. The breeder is happy to take her back at any stage and my friend didn't pay anything for her. She's on loan so my friend can learn to show and have a dog around the place. If they clicked and it had all worked I think the bitch would have stayed with my friend, but she thinks a pup would be better for the whole family, as both her parents love having a dog around and her father is finding it a bit upsetting that he can't spend time with the bitch. Which is fair enough too, in her situation I think I would do the same thing.

The bitch is happy inside when the father isn't around. She adored the man who looked after her before moving in with my friend, and while he's generally quiet his voice is pretty deep and gruff.

She's been a shyer bitch than I have met in the breed before, even since she was a pup but at her breeder's there was alot of regularity and predictability and I wouldn't have said she was timid, but shy and not out going. Like you said corvus, my friend also picked up that the change in predictability is likely to be very upsetting for her.

Thank you so much for all the help, it's very much appreciated.

[persephone]

whislt it may be helping your friend - I honestly think that is being unfair to this dog From what you have written she sounds most unsettled /unhappy ...The dog doesn't know she is 'on loan' ... all she knows is that she is stressed . A dog who paces,drools and actively 'escapes' from the presence of the male ? poor ,poor dog. Why put her through it?

[Sayly]

I think they expect her to settle more, she is pacing less and less but the father issue hasn't improved, but I think he's been trying too hard (if that makes sense) but my friend has told him what Erny suggested. My friend has thought about sending her back and it is on the cards.

[persephone]

My friend has thought about sending her back

This could be the best option for the dog...back to familiar routines , and I hope your friend can soon find a puppy to help her heal

[Sayly]

I think she wants to try and make her happier first, if it doesn't improve she will send her back.

[Jed]

Agree with Erny and Corvus, and agree with Pers. I think the dog is fretting big time. Pacing and drooling is a really bad sign. She is uncomfortable and unhappy. She misses her previous home, and is sad and anxious.

She will probably improve with time, and they shouldn't have too high expectations so early. She will probably need a few months to return to her "real" self.

[Sayly]

Thanks Jed. I don't think they expect her to be perfect within a couple of weeks but want to do what they can to help improve her life with them and do what they can to make her happier.