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Comment by Vicky Hay on November 4, 2015 at 10:54pm

 Engage extreme patience. ;-) In my experience (greyhound) it can take a year or so for a dog to adapt to a new home and become fully comfortable.

Comment by Linda on October 31, 2015 at 9:38am

I increased her dog day care days because of my work schedule that just changed and she does not like to take her hike in the dark. There are a few people that take their dogs out at 6am with headlights before work.  I did try to do that with Allie but she did not want any part of that hike.  So I sent her to day care four half days in the past two weeks instead of two half days. She has two BFFs a pug and a basset hound and she is so excited when I drop her off.    I have watched her play with Chloe the pug and they really get along.   

Comment by Anna Morelli on October 30, 2015 at 7:57pm

I find that puzzling, that she would give you the cold shoulder when you pick her up from daycare. Your original post says the exact opposite. Have you had a chance to observe her behavior there, rather than go on what the person in charge says?  How often does she go there and for how long?  What you are calling "the cold shoulder", could it be just that the pup is overtired? I see that as a red flag.

Comment by Linda on October 30, 2015 at 6:19pm

Thanks for the help, sometimes I question myself about how I am treating her.  I do not

want to baby her.  Sometimes I feel that she is mad at me after I pick her up from day care, she 

gives me the cold shoulder(just like my daughter once upon did) even though the person in charge

said she had a fantastic time playing with her pack friends.  So I just let her do her thing until she wants to 

come over to me and lets me pet her.  It is so hard to do but I have to. Time routine and patients is the key I have to keep reminding myself of this. 

Comment by Anna Morelli on October 30, 2015 at 2:52pm

Holly makes a good point about  "babying" a fearful dog, as it will actually reinforce the fearful behavior.  Your calm behavior will tell the dog YOU are not worried and, as trust between you keeps building, that calmness on your part will carry a lot of weight. 

Comment by Holly on October 30, 2015 at 2:47pm

I apologize for the typos in the previous post. Not sure what happened to the edit feature. For the record though, my dog was much more relaxed about after a year after I adopter her but know three years later, she is totally relaxed! So calm I keep wondering if she slipped into a coma.

Comment by Holly on October 30, 2015 at 2:42pm

I got some great advise from Anna and others on this site, as well as an animal behavioral student at a college where we live. Well meaning friends and family who have no experience
With rescues do not always understand the time, patience, and gentle guidance required to help a rescue animal adjust to a new home, often after abuse, neglect, or many placements. A dog that freaks out over the sound of a telephone ringing seems odd, even annoying to someone that does not understand the terror behind it. As Anna said, you are doing the right things, time will do the rest. This sight can offer support if you find others suggesting you need to handle him more firmly or offer advice based on dogs that have not come from a rescue situation. I do think babying rescue dogs can add to the fear, but a clam simple voice seems to work wonders when introducing them to new sights and sounds. It does sound like you and you new buddy are a great match!!!

Comment by Anna Morelli on October 30, 2015 at 8:36am

Yes it's normal and yes you are doing everything right.  The dog's fear reactions are a combination of her past experiences and her own unique personality.  As her experience now keeps reinforcing confidence, trust, love  and well being, she can only improve, but how long it will take and how much she will improve is a story best told from the end....

I adopted a dog who was around 7 months old from a situation where she also had developed fears and little confidence.  She too was afraid of doorways, or anyone coming close to her with their feet.  It took a year before she would go in or out if my husband was the one opening the door.  She has lived a happy life, traveled everywhere with us and is now 17 yrs. old.  Her personality is very submissive and she is still very sensitive to touch, over reacting and crying out at times if she thinks you may be doing something to her she does not want.

Keep up the good work. Two steps forward and one step backwards is normal. The trick in confidence building is to push a little against the dog's limiting fears, making sure the experience is positive.  If asking her too much, it will cause her to revert instead.  I am not a fan of the off leash situation, as you never quite know what can come up, nor fully predict what she may do, but people have various comfort levels about that.  I prefer not to take any chances with my own dogs.... 

My adopted Corgi was afraid of just about everything when we got him at 10 months of age.  He is now a very happy and self confident fellow, OK with almost everything, but still worried about strange things in someone's hands.  From his behavior when he first came to us, I know things were thrown at him, probably to send him away as he was used to roaming....  Best wishes.