How to help nervous dog?

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Laura2408

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Hi everyone,

Just musing this really.

I have had my dog for 3 years. I aquired him at 6 months emaciated, beaten (broken ribs), scarred from cigarette burns and terrified of everything. He had spent his first few months chained outside with no human contact. He has many deep rooted issues, most of which I ignore and just manage with!

Years of work later he is so so much better and is a fantastic dog however I always feel like he is waiting to be told off. He will cower if I so much as look at him the wrong way or if I tell off him or another dog he automatically cowers/shakes/wees himself and is petrified. I have never hit or shouted at him but you wouldn't think it if I walk him and he has done something wrong (he drops to the floor and squeezes his eyes closed-embarrasing and heartbreaking at once!!) most of the time I am not even telling him off (rather delinquent shepherd but he thinks it is him!)
I spend my day walking on eggshells so as not to upset him too much!

Anyway I'm not bothered if this is just him however I would love to find ways to stop him being constantly worried!! He plays with me, I can cuddle him, I spend every moment with him as he comes to work but obviously I need to tell him off sometimes ( like when he runs towards dogs and won't recall or gets rough with my other dog) but he won't speak to me for weeks after!!
I never shout, just quietly correct then praise for the right behaviour but this is enough to traumatise him. It makes me feel bad that my own dog thinks I will hurt him! Unfortunately other dog needs almost constant correction as he is huge, bouncy and can be aggressive to strangers and can not be out of control at all.

Maybe my body language is all wrong? However I always play with my dogs, praise them and treat them. They are spoilt rotten and my day revolves around them!

Has anyone else with a dog like this managed to make them 'normal??'

Thanks in advance!
 
Would it help if you considered some clicker training (to build a positive association), then really focused on a sit/down/wait or 'watch me' command to reduce any potential misdemeanours.

I have been told this acts as an incompatible behaviour to unwanted actions (a dog in a really well enforced sit/stay isn't legging it!), and you can reward and praise the good.

I'll let other far more knowledgeable people suggest other things, but it was my solution to getting really good recall from the whippet - I really focused on 'wait' as I figured it was easier than trying to round up the ruddy thing after it had scarpered!
 
Training will help, it builds a bond between you, clicker training is a very good tool for this, look on youtube at kikopups videos, she has several for nervous shy dogs.

I am currently fostering an extremely nervous Manchester Terrier, suspect he has been physically corrected in the past, they are a nervous breed anyway but he has carried it to extremes, its been a very slow process with him as well and I suspect he will always be nervous as indeed I think yours will be as well.

If you think possibley your body language is wrong then find a good training class, go and watch a few beforehand and pick one you feel best suited to you and your dog, explain to the trainer about your dog and she/he will be able to help you both.
 
Thank you both of you!

He is super intelligent however he wants to please too much and this makes it very hard to train him.
For example, if I ask for sit he will do it as long as it's not a big deal and that it is a routine ask but if I treat or praise him for it he becomes hysterical! He jumps, cries and flies around not listening as if he can't stop his excitement at the treat? He can't focus at all and will nip me in excitement while bouncing if there is anything high value involved. Maybe clicker training will help and I will definitely read up on this. He can do sit/down/paw/bow/stay/wait/bed so not too bad but he just gets far too excited to train! He literally can't control himself and all words I say go out of the window! This is what happens with recall, 100% reliable unless there is an exciting friend to play with (not human as he hates them- dog only!)

He is such a sensitive dog which is half the problem. For example he loves the car, but if one thing scares him (bus drives past too loud or sudden breaking) he can refuse to go in the car for weeks. This leads to baby steps for a week or two then he will be fine until the next 'incident'. Obviously the car is an example, this can happen with going to work or even walks (a dog chases him so he won't walk that way any more!)

He is by no means a bad dog- just very worried all the time. Maybe dogs don't forget a bad past that easily?!
 
Laura2408 said:
Hi everyone,

Just musing this really.

.......

I spend my day walking on eggshells so as not to upset him too much!

.......

I never shout, just quietly correct then praise for the right behaviour but this is enough to traumatise him. It makes me feel bad that my own dog thinks I will hurt him! Unfortunately other dog needs almost constant correction as he is huge, bouncy and can be aggressive to strangers and can not be out of control at all.

Maybe my body language is all wrong? However I always play with my dogs, praise them and treat them. They are spoilt rotten and my day revolves around them!

Has anyone else with a dog like this managed to make them 'normal??'

.......!
Click to expand...

I suspect that you may well be sending your dog mixed messages. Would I be right in assuming that when he melts, that you attempt to rebuild his confidence, by making a fuss of him? If that's what you're doing, you may well be sending him mixed messages by rewarding the behaviour which you don't want. With any dog which shows a fear which is specific, but is the dog's problem or of the dog's own making, and it's not mine, then I ignore it. Even if I've got things wrong, and it's my fault, then I never apologise. I change the subject and it's lessons over, for the day.

There are also those dogs which finding relating to humans to be difficult, find the concept of play to be baffling and upsetting. They may well take part, but their body language is very often not that of a confident dog. I never encourage play beyond the age of 5 or 6 months, but that would be dog dependent.

I also think that if you have one boisterous dog which is demanding your time and discipline, then explaining to the "weaker" dog that the bullocking or correction wasn't for him, then again, you're attempting to teach the dog in question, to ignore you, if that makes sense.

Such dogs can be extremely difficult, and I'd suggest that with the dog which needs, as you say, constant correction, presenting a consistent playing field, to the more needy, is going to be near impossible. It's those mixed messages which I suspect may be stalling your progress. I have a very strong and wilful work bred Cocker bitch here, and as your dog, she's under near constant correction. I would NEVER exercise her with young and impressionable pups. Without seeing the dog in question, it would be difficult if not impossible to offer a clear opinion.

I had a collie bitch which I took in as a sort of rescue, and the poor little sod was in such a state when she arrived. Eventually, and when she was alone and with just me, she became really quite useful with a few sheep, but when she went with other dogs, and there were perhaps 1000 ewes to move, there had to be other dogs with us. She was fine until I raised my voice, and above the din of that many sheep, that's what I had to do. At a raised voice, she would return to my side, and shut down for the day.

Regarding training aids, I'd suggest that the best tool which you have is your voice.

In answer to your last sentence, then No, never what you'd call normal, I've had vast improvements, but as the Jesuit will say the child is made by the time that it's 7 years old, then I reckon that the puppy's outlook on life, mostly, is formed by the time that it's 16 weeks.

I've probably been of little use. I apologise!!

Alec.
 
I sympathise - I have 3 nervous dogs, one reacts as yours does. Shuts down, holds her breath, tenses every muscles and stares at the wall. When I first got her she would react in this way just to a touch. But we have done lots of clicker training (Click to Calm is a good book) - and you can find you can teach your dog the appropriate response when rewarded to stop the crazy excitement and happiness (sounds quite cute though!)

many of your dogs reactions will be hardwired to some degree. But you can build his confidence! Pictures of the lovely boy?
 
Hi, have you considered trying any natural supplements to help him feel less nervous? You wouldn't necessarily need to keep him on them longerm but maybe they could help whilst you are trying some training with him? Your vet will be able to advise as often they stock the natural anxiety remedies along with medical ones, just an idea you could consider.
Hope this has been useful and good luck with him!
 
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