nervous, no confidence, low self asteem - what to do with her?

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Wheels

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I recently got a dog from the Dog's Trust - she is lovely natured and a real sweetheart but she is very very nervous.

I am spending as much time with her as possible and she does love to be stroked but sometimes I can't even get near her as she's so scared. She escaped a couple of weeks ago and it took almost 2 hours to catch her, she never went out of sight but we just couldn't get near her to get a hand to her collar!

She won't accept treats from us and so the usual bribery tricks don't work.

When she is in the same room as us she goes to the furthest point and tucks herself away, always tries to hide under the car when outside or behind the sofa inside. I don't want to push her but I want her to know that we aren't going to hurt her which is difficult as she won't come near us!

Any ideas?
 
Call the Dogs Trust - Henry was from there too, and they have behaviourists that will help you for free.

When she is acting in a fearful way I would ignore her, you don't want to reassure her as she will see this as reinforcing that there is really something to be frightened of. Let her get over it in her own time.

However a professional opinion would be helpful and since you can get one easily, I would give them a call. It's in their intersts that this adoption works out so I'm sure thay they will give you lots of support.
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I agree with above.

Get a professional in and don't stroke her or talk to her when she is in a nervous state.

Just get on with things.
If its time to go out, walk confidently and say things confidently like "come on lets go" none of the "aww its ok puppy"
 
Definitely agree with the above. It is normal to want to reassure a nervous or frightened dog but, in this case, it is actually the worst thing you can do. As you go about activities in house/garden/yard etc, do talk to her but don't approach her. Avoid going up to her as much as you can - given a calm atmosphere, a routine and a little time, you will find that she will come to you, at which point you can give hre some fuss. She is feeling insecure and needs to know that she can get used to everything in her own time. Just make her boundaries clear, be consistent and try to avoid letting too many other people come to the house to see the new dog - just for a while. Don't worry - she will be fine in time!
 
Another one who agrees with the above.
My new rehome dog, Skye, was like this and I too was worried that she was unhappy. However, after "ignoring" her when she hid under the bed or wherever, she is now much more confident. Her tail is wagging so much more.
We made a fuss of her when she came to us and at feed times etc. Positive reinforcement, I think it is called.
Do use the experts thouigh and if they give you any brilliant tips, then please pass them on.
 
OH. one more thought that came to me... wehen I took Henry they said it could take up to six months for a dog to really settle! Not sure how long you've had your dog but it could just be a time issue.

If you can't get a hand on her collar and you need to for some reason, you can get houselines, these are short light lines that give you something to take hold of. However when she's scared don't use one to get her out of her hiding place as again this will frighten her. I would definitely seek the advice of a behaviourist on their use in this case.

If I were you, I would be very matter of fact as others have suggested, so if she hides behind the sofa just sit on the sofa and get on with watching TV or whatever. Dogs are naturally curious creatures so eventually she will decide to peep out and see what's going on - again ignore her, just let her get on with it.

One other thing I would suggest is perhaps a crate, this will give her a safe space like a den that she can curl up in when it all gets a bit too much - you can put a blanket over it to make it more den-like.

However - please do call the centre you got her from. They have always been so helpful with Henry, and they will know the dog too so can give much more tailored advice.
 
I'd agree with all of that too. Definitely give her some sort of den and try not to go in it or disturb her in it so she knows it's safe. I'd say it took our two who were both nervous in their own ways a year to fully settle and really really trust us. Bes used to growl if you got too close to her when she was relaxing, she now laps up cuddles and Dom was just generally nervous about everything!
 
Lots of walks because it is the best way to bond, use a slip lead for security and so u dont have to fumble around clipping her lead on, jsut slip lead over her head no fuss or talk or eye contact, as already suggested by hen, no forcing her and approaching her first let her do all the approaching when she is ready..................if u get a crate as suggested, it is a safe place but u can also position it so so can still see u and cannot hide in a hole where u cannot see her, this way she will still have her secure space but will also be seeing whats going on.............in regard to treats it's better to throw them down near the dog with no eye contact and if she takes one, the throw the next one closer so she is gradually making her way closer to recieve her reward.

Believe it or not...........2 hours to catch a nervy dog that u have not had long is very good and a promising sign..........she stuck around you instead of bolting which is what a normal insecure dog would do, so there is potential there.............can u walk her with other dogs/is she confident around other dogs, if so, dogs are a fab way to bring another dog around so may be worth finding her some friends to interact with.
We take rescues in that have been feral and distraught with fear, firstly they are given a crate where they can and do stay in up until atleast the 3 week mark simply leaving only to go to the toilet, we simply leave them to come out in there own time, patience is a virtue in these scenarios.
 
Thanks everyone.

Cayla - yes she is good with other dogs and a lady who lives down the road invited us up to socialise her with their dogs who are all friendly so I am definitely going to take her up on that!

She's very good with other dogs we see out walking, they all seem to like her and she likes them but as soon as she sees their owner it's all over & she wants to run away. Maybe she'd be better if we had another more confident dog?? dunno??

As far as treats go - she won't eat anything when we are around so even throwing treats in and walking away means that the treats are still there the next day! She only really eats out of her bowl at some time during the night when everyone else is in bed out of sight
 
A true fearful dog will usally not take a treat, maybe a long shot but try chicken or cheese, not jsut a boring old dog treat
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Def get her around the other dogs, we usually......not sure if u seen my piccies with 20 odd dogs running around together
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but we sit in the middle and chat and let the dogs play around us, usally when the confident dogs come to sit around the chair for strokes and attention it brings the less confident dogs over too, it's up to them to make first contact but they always do...............we had a very scared neo mastiff bitch in and I was actually worrying we would never rehome her............and sure enough in her own time she came around and she is now in her new home, she is still warey of strangers, but is capable of bonding when familiarised now.
 
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