VERY scared dog

[EmmrT]

My neighbour has a rescue dog, 2 years old, with a bad history of abuse. She's had him for 6 months and he is still scared of everything.

She had to go into hospital today, she has no friends or family so of course I agreed to take the dog for her.

The poor thing is shaking in his crate. He's been in there for 5 hours now (the door is open), do I 'force' him out for a mooch around the garden for a wee?? I've tried gently coaxing him out with chicken and sausages. No luck.

Looks like my poor neighbour will be in hospital at least a week.

Any advice gratefully received. If it's better to leave him in there and just clean up the wee/poo then that's fine. Just want him to be OK.

Still sat here in his room (!) after a snooze, he's voluntarily come out his crate, tottled over and had a big stretch next to me, made some growly/whiny noises (perhaps 'where's my chicken?!') and sniffed all along my arm and shoulder.

Of course, he's still invisible so I gave no reaction! I had better get up now and do some dinner for me and DH.

Hopefully more to update soon (apologies if I'm boring everyone though).

What a lucky, lucky dog; to have both you and of course his adoptive mum. Because he's still young thanks to people like you he'll probably be striding off into a confident happy future 😊

What a very lucky dog x

Aww, well done doggo!

When he goes back to to your neighbour, maybe try and go over once a week and keep up the bond with him, so he might not be so scared if he ever needed dog sitting again.

Please don't stop posting! I keep checking back for updates. You sound such a lovely, patient and caring person OP.
If it's not been mentioned, I think dogs sniffing and licking is calming to them. Does your neighbour have a licky mat you could borrow? Smoosh some primula or natural peanut butter on it and leave near the crate.

OooooOOOoooo ok dog whisperers, when can op say 'hello' (gently, but still not move) and not completely ignore him?

You are more than welcome OP!

If he's now leaving his crate and approaching you on his own (and without bribery!) I would maybe start offering your hand for him to sniff - he may lean in for a fuss (in which case, go for it) or retreat, which is fine too. It's probably okay to start making eye contact now as well - he sounds like he's settling and no longer in panic mode.

You could even go and sit with him and offer chicken from your hand and see whether he approaches you for a fuss that way.

Keep up with the updates! And you are very welcome.
Hoping he leans in for some tickles soon 🥰

We need pics op!!!

What a beautiful thread. Well done OP - what a lovely neighbour and human you are!

Please do keep posting so we can find out how he and you are doing

This thread is lovely. He's starting to trust you, you must be giving off a good vibe. I bet he'll be on the sofa next to you by the time your neighbour is home.

Lovely to read this thread-I’m not a dog expert but have learned so much-including people can be wonderful.

Best thread ever

Nothing much to update this evening; he's eaten well and had a couple of wees and #2, thankfully though all outside his crate so much easier so clean up. Utility room is all nice and clean now, and hopefully he's more comfortable for the night.

I've set up a bed just outside the gate to the utility (DH put a baby gate up) so I'm really, really hoping that me being there will mean he won't bark or get stressed enough to go into destruct mode like last night...

I'd love some sleep 😴
Cross your fingers!

That’s so lovely, well done Op 💖

I’ve fostered a lot of ex puppy farm dogs, utterly terrified of humans when they arrive. Some never recover and so live in state of sanctuary so they aren’t expected to interact with humans as would usually expect, but many are rehabbed.

My youngest dog is a failed foster, he was terrified of everything when he arrived. Thankfully my other dog is pretty bomb proof (she goes out to watch fireworks 🙄) and he learnt from her and only a few things now scare him.

it’s such an amazing feeling when they come up for a fuss having been so terrified to start with 😊

I'll definitely try this tomorrow! I think I'd weep if he actually wanted any fuss 😂

Good luck with the sleep for the night. Finding the balance between his two fears of strangers and being alone is quite a challenge!
Maybe tomorrow we could see a picture? ☺️🐾

I am a 100% full on cat person, but I am so happy with this, well not his past but how he is going now I mean

Please keep us updated

Aww, he sounds like he's getting used to you a little, my sister got a rescue dog a few years ago and he's still quite nervous of us, it's heartbreaking to see, but lovely when they start to trust you, you're doing great with him. If he does come close enough for a fuss and you think you may want to, then it's best to go under the chin/chest, rather than over the head, if you hold your hand out palm up and he comes close, try giving him a quick tickle under his chin/neck then stop (don't move your hand just stop touching him), you may find he moves in for some more, so make sure you give him some gentle under your breath praise if he does, give him another tickle/scritch then stop and let him decide to carry on or not.

The only thing I would add about the crate, I'm not sure if it's come up or not or if you're doing it already, but some dogs like to have their crate covered over, if you drape a big blanket over the top and 3 sides at bedtime (big enough to completely cover the 3 sides, leaving the door side open and uncovered, it can help them feel more secure.. and stop any drafts that may come through!

One of our dogs is a rescue and is terrified of fireworks and thunder, so he climbs in the footwell of my desk while it's going on, I think its the fact that the space is almost completely contained which makes him feel more secure.

Well that wasn't a success but not a total failure either.

I was downstairs with him, but he wouldn't settle at all - more toileting in the utility room and barking/whining. I tried talking gently, moving further away, being closer, etc.

By 2am I thought I really, really need some sleep now and me being there didn't seem to provide the intended comfort. He was pacing around the utility so when I got up and he automatically darted back in the crate, for the first time I shut the crate door.

Just to answer - it's covered up with blankets like a den (looks so cosy, I fancied crawling in at one point!) I thought at least I know he'll be safe. Carried on cleaning the utility again as it needed it.

I came up to bed and have got a few hours much needed sleep, and I've just gone down to check him now, he seemed very relaxed. He didn't bark again, I didn't hear anything at all and neither did DH. So I think he must have settled. His crate door is back open now and he's got some fresh water and food.

Going to grab another hour's sleep, I feel brain fogged!

If he's sleeping well with the crate locked I'd try that again tonight. He probably feels safer when he's in a little cave. I expect he needed that sleep too!

@EmmrT
I haven’t got any words of wisdom but just wanted to say, I think you’re doing such a kind thing. Most people wouldn’t consider looking after a difficult rescue dog without the distress he’s currently going through.

You are such a patient person and hopefully this will pay off soon.

Well done you, you’re doing a great job.

Checking for updates, and wondering if a life of dog fostering lies ahead of you :-)

I'll just be glad to make sure this sweet little one is kept alive and well, fostering might be ambitious for me!! I'm clueless!

He seems...somehow more in his shell today. His vibe is...sadder? Reluctant to leave crate, treats aren't doing the trick and he won't take treats from me at all. I've been popping one in his (open) crate and he'll eat it when I'm out of sight.

I have been gently praising so I'll just go back to invisible dog I think?

Hopefully just a set back in his trust so I'll take it right back to what was working yesterday.

This is a rollercoaster for me, so goodness knows how he's feeling!

One very good thing - he's doing all his toileting outside the crate on the floor so he's staying nice and clean.