Please Help Jake...

[hollymh]

This is Jake, my rescue dog, he is amazing and we

him to pieces... However, the poor guy was beat and abused as a puppy and he still hasn't let go, he is the most gentle loving and trusting dog with us, but he still cowers if you walk by him too fast or while he is eating, in fact he won't even eat in front of us if we so much as look at him he stops eating and walks away with his head down...

Poor guy, anyhow I took him in at 8 weeks, he was emaciated and covered in fleas and full of worms, he is in perfect physical health now. I was wondering if anyone had any tips on making the poor guy less stressed and afraid, he is great with us like I mentioned above, but around other people he tucks his tail and runs under my or my husband’s legs, sometimes behind my two-yr-old

? So any suggestions on how to make him feel better all around, we have had him almost a year, I thought for sure he would have recovered by now?

 

[Opa]

My mother moved in with me a year a half ago and she has a bichon that apparently had been abused. Only recently has she stopped cowering when I got near and comes to me wanting to play. The only thing I know of that helps is time and patience.

 

[BorderKelpie]

He needs his confidence built back up. Has he been through odedience training? Sometimes, just giving his mind something else (beside fear) to dwell on will help. Obedience training will also give him some skills on handling stressful situations by showing him how to act appropriatly. Sometimes, we mistakenly encourage the fearful behavior be accidently rewarding it. Coddling him when he acts frightend makes him think he is being rewarded for acting that way, so, he continues to do it. Every little bit of improvement needs to be rewarded right now. Every 'cowardly' behavior should be ignored. Guide him into more appropriate behavior, sit for greeting (instead of hiding behind someone...) Never force, just guide him along. Don't beg, plead, get angry or coddle. Just be matter of fact with him. Your ability to play confident leader will help him feel better.
I would also not feed him in a 'crowded' area. Allow him to eat in a crate or a little corner by himself. I have seen shy/scared dogs all of a sudden decide to guard their food and you have a little one running around.
Also, be careful and alert - frightened dogs bite faster than aggressive dogs.
Best wishes! He is a beautiful dog, BTW.
ETD: His name makes me think of that C&W song - If I die before I wake - feed Jake, he's been a good dog.......

 

[Opa]

Yep, the Pirates of the Mississippi did such a good job with that song I will be naming my next dog Jake.

 

[hollymh]

Quote:
Yay! lol Jake has been such a good dog too, when we have big earthquakes here my husbands job is to get our daughter and mine is to get Jake

 

[dutchhollow]

Since you got him at 8 weeks, chances are good he was not abused (since he was thin and not taken care of he was surely neglected and not socialized). The major fear periods do not come until later, and most dogs can still socialize normally as long as they bond with humans before 16 weeks.
He probably is just genetically engineered to be fearful, which is the case with many dogs that people think have been abused.
Of course responsible breeders don't breed dogs that are not mentally stable, but with toy dogs lot of people are just breeding 'pets' and for some reason don't worry about temperment issues.
Keep an eye on him when your kids have freinds over, lot of these dogs become fear biters. I doubt you will change him, just love him for what he is and keep others safe.
Whenever looking at pups, don't take one home that is fearful, it is usually the first sign things are not right upstairs.

 

[Love my Critters!]

I agree with "dutchhollow" for the most part other than I think you can try to improve the behavior a little. The main thing is when he acts afraid like that, do not reach down and pet him or talk sweet to him. That will only encourage this behavior. He needs to be rewarded when he stops acting that way, even if it is only for a minute. If he cowards down, put him down or move away from him. Try not to "tip-toe" around him either, Jake needs to get used to how the real world works. He will learn that you do not want a fearful dog in your pack. It is very common for people to assume abuse, but he was too young. His problem was neglect and not being socialized properly.
Good luck, I hope Jake can improve because he will be so much happier when he can be confident.

 

[griffin45]

We had the same exact problem last year with a stray puppie. He couldn't even sleep soundly. All it took was time, I guess it was several months. Our guy was not abused phsically, he was dumped in the country and managed to stay alive for a good while sleeping in pastures with livestock. He was not socialized at all and his fear stemmed from just trying to stay alive (Our Theory anyway). One of the danger points with a dog like this is once he decides you are the protector and the Alpha he may guard you with his life... agianst any and all other animals he sees as a threat to him or you. And his perception of a threat is already skewed. Give him time I am certain he will come around.

Chris