Hand shy dog

[WingsInTheNight]

I have a lovely new friend who came to live with us two days ago. He's 7 so no spring chicken but still very energetic. I was told only a vague history involving multiple rehomings, farms and the eating of ducks.

He turned his back on me when we first met, which didn't worry me too much, and he's apparently decided I'm not so bad. Since a couple of hours after I got him home he's stuck to me like glue.

But hands frighten him. He's okay if he can see that I'm using my hands to do something else - e.g. he sits happily in the garden while I weed around him, and isn't bothered by garden forks doing their thing beside him - but the moment I move my hands quickly or in an unexpected way, of if I reach towards him, he either flinches or runs away. He does voluntarily press his body and nose against me and will (very cautiously) take food from my hand.

I'm not putting any pressure on him. The whole family is under orders not to approach or touch him, but to be friendly if he chooses to approach them. He's fearful of the children when they are moving quickly or making a lot of noise but seems okay with them when they're sitting quietly.

I have two questions. Is his fearfulness and hand shyness an indication of previous abuse? And what can I do to help him get over it?

Almost certainly a sign of abuse.

It sounds as if you're doing really well. When you stroke him come up under his chin and around his ears, not over his head in a traditional stroking movement. Crouch and stay low when you're interacting with him. Don't loom over him, hug him or corner him. Keep the kids away for now and read this

imnotamonster.org/any-dog-can-bite/

It sounds like you're doing great!

I can't fathom why anyone would mistreat him. There's a lovely temperament underneath the fear, if we can just convince him that it's okay to trust us.

I'm reassured by the fact that even when he's terrified he's trying to defuse the situation and withdraw rather than going on the offensive, but yes, I am aware that frightened dogs bite and I've been very clear with the children about appropriate behaviour around him.

He won't eat unless I'm with him

Someone suggested a name change to break associations between his name and past mistreatment. Will that help?

We have had our 9 year old rescue rottie cross for 3 years and she is still hand shy at times as though she knows she is safe but just can't forgot that bit of her life when hands meant pain. You seem to be doing everything right. Good luck.

Name change was the advice we got from the Dogs' Trust when we brought our boy home. For the same reasons - to break any negative associations with their "old" name.

My Scottie is hand shy with everyone except immediate family. He's only nine months old and just not really interested in people or being stroked. I hope no one thinks I hit him 😥

I would try to find a really good PRT trainer to help you work on this. They can teach you how to safely build positive associations with hands. The dog has most likely been hit a lot in the past so I think it would be valuable to have professional input on overcoming that. Glad he's fallen on his feet with you :)

I have seen this many times and it's heartbreaking. You sound like you're doing really well, but it can take time.

Keeping your movements slow when he's around and having treats in your hand will help a lot. I found sitting on the floor with a dog seemed to make them happy ( presumably less threatening). From this position you may eventually be able to slowly move into striking under the chin or behind the ears and guage how he reacts.

Otherwise I think the main thing for frightened dogs is to just 'act normal', don't shower them with attention, and get them in a nice routine for food and walks so they know what to expect.

MsGame I think some breeds are known to be more standoffish with strangers than others. It's not normal for a springer.

I said he has no health issues but he's asleep beside me with a respiratory rate over 100/minute. He doesn't have a cough but now I'm worrying about his heart. And there's some sort of painful lump on one of his legs that looks like it might be a mast cell tumour.