Hi all. Need some advice and reassurance. We've had our rescue dog nearly 2 months now, and she's around 6 months. When we got her she was extremely anxious and scared of anyone outside the family (she was also quite wary of DH). She was always happy around the DDs. While I knew it would take time for her to settle, I'm beginning to get a bit despondent. We still can't really take her for a walk down the road as she pulls like a train due to anxiety. Walking to heel works OK in the garden with treats, but she is completely uninterested in food once beyond the garden gate. She's still frightened of adult visitors / people in the street, especially men. She also doesn't really focus on us at all when out.
She has many good points - she has never shown the slightest hint of aggression, and is really sweet. She can be left alone without howling the place down, and to my surprise is unbothered by fireworks and thunder. She loves other dogs and is fairly happy travelling in the car. I just really feel for her as her life isn't that enjoyable at the moment. She loves being around us but can't be out and about with us as she is so anxious - she even seems quite anxious around the house much of the time, and has started barking, which is a bit of a pain. She goes to a training class, where the leader is very good at giving advice, and we've tried a Thundershirt (which did nothing). We're taking it very slowly with her and letting her go at her own pace, but I'd really like some reassurance from anyone who's had an anxious pup. Is it likely to get better or will she always be crippled by this anxiety? We don't know her history but don't think she was actively abused.
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Rescue dog - will she become less anxious
19 replies
diplodocus · 13/11/2013 22:18
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