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.

What a gorgeous update. Whatever you decide you're a fantastic neighbour and dog whisperer now who has won the trust of a traumatised pup. Well done 👏

Greyhounds are the most wonderful dogs! I can't describe enough how much I love mine 😍 He's so chilled out, sleeps a lot, loves a cuddle, walks nicely, he's a perfect beautiful boy.

Loving the Greyhound love on here. OP, I think you've been hijacked by Greyhound lovers. Just get one! You'd be a great mum 😊

You have done such an amazing job! Any greyhound (or other dog)would be so lucky to have you. Your warmth, empathy and patience shine through all your posts. That poor dog must have had a horrendous past to be so terrified but staying with you will have helped him realise that people can be kind too.

I have also got a rescue greyhound and he is the easiest dog ever! I think you’d be going from one extreme to the other in levels of challenge! Mine had had a very strange life and never been in a house. He slotted in like a pro, was perfect in the house and incredibly chilled from day one.

Omg OP
I just love you
You incredible human being ❤️❤️❤️

How's it going @EmmrT? Hope the dog has settled in and your neighbour's recovering well

It's going well! Slow slow progress but he's great overnight, doesn't shake, comes immediately out of his crate when I pop food/water down for him and will push his head into my hand if I offer it to him in his crate (he still won't approach me, and if you walk towards him if he's up, he darts quickly back into the crate).

He's much much more relaxed in the crate though, properly all stretched out and rolled over rather than cowering!

I should hear from his owner today, they are talking about letting her home ASAP. I can't imagine the reunion! 💛

Aw that’s lovely. You will miss him when he goes home

Aw, there’s now 2 people in the world he can trust😁

💚❤️🩶💙💜🩷🖤🧡

Oh god, this got me! So true.

@Letsgoforaskip "I have also got a rescue greyhound and he is the easiest dog ever! I think you’d be going from one extreme to the other in levels of challenge! Mine had had a very strange life and never been in a house. He slotted in like a pro, was perfect in the house and incredibly chilled from day one."

My rescue boy was eight when we got him and had never lived in a house. He definitely didn't slot 'in like a pro' 😐 - it was like moving a champion racehorse from stables into a house. He had no idea what was happening in this new strange world. And he was so scared of everything around him, particularly people. After four-and-a-half years he's still scared by other people, but he trusts us implicitly and that gives me massive satisfaction. He never gives us a moment's worry about showing any signs of aggression; he doesn't even bark unless it's to say, 'My breakfast or tea is a bit late today, get on with it'. We've never seen him bark at another dog or person.

How is it going?

Sorry for the late update, yesterday was so busy - neighbour was discharged from hospital yesterday; I picked her up, suggested we settle her at home first but of course she wanted to see the pooch straight away!

What a reunion, he was beside himself. Little happy yelpy noises, waggy tail, he was just so so happy to see her, and the colour in my neighbours cheeks seemed to immediately return! So he's gone back with her now, I've taken most of his bits back and he's running like a loon in his garden with her.

Thank you so much to every kind poster, I managed to keep the dog alive, safe and relatively relaxed thanks to all your help. Very very grateful here. What a week!

You did such a lovely thing.

what a lovely tail/tale

This is the best thread since Elderly Korean Lady.

what a lovely thread. You did an awesome thing there op. And btw you are defo a dog person, it’s only a matter of time… (get a grey hound or a lurcher, fab dogs)

You’re a star OP ❤️

Thank you for the update

💐👏🏻@EmmrT

Well done you! You did a brilliant job. I’m so glad that the neighbour is home and the dog was so delighted.

Ok this is the best thread I've ever read on Mumsnet. Well done op. So happy scared dog learned you are not scary and happy mum is back home.

You and dhnwpuld make amazing dog parent.

What a lovely update ! OP you are such a lovely person, little dog had the best care possible with you, and that also must have helped your neighbour hugely.