Page 2 | Rescue Dog - Help please

fruitandbarley · 2025-09-26T22:54:03+00:00

Hi, We're currently fostering a rescue dog with a view to possibly adopt. We've only had her a week bit she's absolutely terrified of pretty much everything. To get her outside I have to carry her out then in again. We were told to get her a crate to feel safe in but dragging her out was stressful so We've made her a den with blankets which has worked well. We've taken her to vets who has given her some tablets for anxiety but we've not seen a huge difference. We've actually made quite a lot of progress in a week, she's now happy to be stroked, and she eats out my daughters hand. She's the most beautiful gentle dog with absolutely no signs of aggression, just completely passive. I know its only been a week but I'm looking for any suggestions to getting her to at least walk out the door herself. We're a very outdoor family so really would like a dog that gets the most out of that. We've tried treats but the desire to eat them isn't enough to over ride the fear. She currently would just hide in her bed all day if we didn't carry her out, and when she is she just stiffs a little, goes to toilet (sometimes) then will just sit and wait till I carry her back in. She has no idea about walking on a lead, she dosent follow you, just sirs or stands completely still and obviously we can't drag her along. Any help or even just reassurance would be much appreciated.

DogsandFlowers · 27/09/2025 00:51

Awww she looks lovely 🥰

MusicalCarbuncle · 27/09/2025 00:53

Gorgeous dog. What a lovely face.

AutumnCosy2025 · 27/09/2025 00:55

Aw she's looks lovely. Love & patience is what you need! Just take it even more slowly.

wavingfuriously · 27/09/2025 01:00

MusicalCarbuncle · 27/09/2025 00:29

Is it a UK registered charity OP?

How much was the fee/ donation?

Ask the charity. If they are legit they will be able to give you a proper structured plan.

If they can’t or won’t do that, think really really carefully: you may not ever have the active dog you want and you may see behavioural problems later.

I don’t mean to be discouraging but it is vital to be realistic. My friend has a Romanian dog, who took a lot of effort and careful training in the early days, and who subsequently has needed nearly 8k of vet treatment for a medical condition probably caused by maltreatment, poor nutrition, confinement and lack of daylight early in puppyhood.

Has your potential adoptee been tested for B. Canis? You do not want that in a family pet.

Most reputable breeders of pedigree dogs would happily consider families with children, especially if you are dog savvy already. Having kids is not usually a barrier unless you are after a famously un child friendly, territorial or one-person guard dog type.

Why are you talking about pedigree dogs @MusicalCarbuncle ?! OP is on a brilliant path adopting a rescue dog from Romania that might not have a chance otherwise. And your friend who spent 8k sorting out her rescue , well I'm sure she considers that is money well spent and good on her! no puppy chooses to be born in awful circumstances..

Less of the nay-saying please..

Have a look on Facebook for all the people dedicating their lives to turning around the lives of neglected and abandoned animals.

Original poster

fruitandbarley · 27/09/2025 01:01

Thank you everyone, now I have hope/reassurance its possible to help her I feel better, how long it takes dosent matter so much.
We did have a rescue previously, well stray, she was found on the streets, and found us, vets thought she was a traveller dog been used for hare coursing, she had several issues which over the months/years we sorted and she was the best dog ever, we had her 14 years before she died. I miss her very much.
I appreciate everyone that's commented.
Have a lovely weekend all.x

OP posts:

Enko · 27/09/2025 01:05

chattyness · 27/09/2025 00:39

If you have Instagram go and have a look at. @ simonsits page, Isabel fosters dogs all the time & you could pick up some tips on there for helping your dog settle in. This year she had a dog in who was really shut down & she worked wonders with him. You'll have to scroll back a bit to her posts from April but look for a small dog called Tiki on there . He was an extremely shut down dog and little by little she got him out of his shell in a couple of months then he was happily re-homed to a family with two other dogs and he is doing really great with them. She did daily updates on his progress it was lovely to see him coming back to life.

Second this. Look at Tikitaketwo as well Tikis account at his new home.

Graia · 27/09/2025 01:27

Hi, I adopted a very scared little dog too. This may not be realistic for many people, but i created a total dog bubble for 4-6 weeks: no visitors, tiptoeing around her, treats at every opportunity, speaking very quietly, all movements slow…. I think it really helped her gain confidence that she was in a safe space. We didn’t go beyond the garden for weeks, and when we did it was for very short walks along the same route every time. Two years later, she’s my constant and enthusiastic hiking companion. Patience and time are the keys.

NameChangeForThisQuestionOnly · 27/09/2025 02:08

She’s beautiful! Take it slow, you will get there and she will have a lovely life.

Original poster

fruitandbarley · 27/09/2025 03:01

Graia · 27/09/2025 01:27

Hi, I adopted a very scared little dog too. This may not be realistic for many people, but i created a total dog bubble for 4-6 weeks: no visitors, tiptoeing around her, treats at every opportunity, speaking very quietly, all movements slow…. I think it really helped her gain confidence that she was in a safe space. We didn’t go beyond the garden for weeks, and when we did it was for very short walks along the same route every time. Two years later, she’s my constant and enthusiastic hiking companion. Patience and time are the keys.

This is so lovely to hear. Thank you.

OP posts:

chattyness · 27/09/2025 06:51

fruitandbarley · 27/09/2025 00:49

Thank you so much. I feel better now, with some hope.
I've posted a picture as she's so lovely, I'll try come back at update in a few months.

Show quote history

She is beautiful, thanks for sharing a picture of her 😍. I forgot to add Tiki's new Insta in his new home it's. @ tikiplustwo He's so happy in his new home 😍 I would love to see your future updates as well .

Silverbirchleaf · 27/09/2025 06:54

She’s gorgeous.

Buildingthefuture · 27/09/2025 07:29

She’s lovely op 🥰 And, do try not to worry, we’ve adopted loads of shut down, traumatised dogs and they have all, every single one, come good, with time and patience. And funnily enough the most damaged dogs haven’t been my ones from abroad, they’ve been the UK rescue, mainly ex breeders, who’ve just been kept as money machines so ignore the foreign dog hate!
My two most recent ones had been caged in the dark for 7 years. They arrived with me petrified of everything, literally just pancaked on the ground and wouldn’t move, wouldn’t even look at us. It took a couple of months for them to come out of their crate voluntarily and go in the garden, 6 months before they would eat out of my hand and about a year before they truly settled.
Two years on they are very confident and truly lovely little girls and we are working on walking (they are still terrified of the lead/harness, but we practice every day and they will get there)
Most of mine have gone from being terrified and hiding behind the sofa on arrival, to “normal” dogs, in less than a year. And it’s so worth it to see them blossom and develop and have the life they always should have had ❤️ Good luck xx

I would add, if you have any friends with confident, well balanced dogs, it might be helpful to introduce them. A lot of dogs gain confidence from other dogs x

DogsandFlowers · 27/09/2025 13:14

Buildingthefuture · 27/09/2025 07:29

She’s lovely op 🥰 And, do try not to worry, we’ve adopted loads of shut down, traumatised dogs and they have all, every single one, come good, with time and patience. And funnily enough the most damaged dogs haven’t been my ones from abroad, they’ve been the UK rescue, mainly ex breeders, who’ve just been kept as money machines so ignore the foreign dog hate!
My two most recent ones had been caged in the dark for 7 years. They arrived with me petrified of everything, literally just pancaked on the ground and wouldn’t move, wouldn’t even look at us. It took a couple of months for them to come out of their crate voluntarily and go in the garden, 6 months before they would eat out of my hand and about a year before they truly settled.
Two years on they are very confident and truly lovely little girls and we are working on walking (they are still terrified of the lead/harness, but we practice every day and they will get there)
Most of mine have gone from being terrified and hiding behind the sofa on arrival, to “normal” dogs, in less than a year. And it’s so worth it to see them blossom and develop and have the life they always should have had ❤️ Good luck xx

I would add, if you have any friends with confident, well balanced dogs, it might be helpful to introduce them. A lot of dogs gain confidence from other dogs x

This is lovely 🥰🥰 you have such wonderful patience ❤️❤️

Indeedcorrect · 06/12/2025 17:41

How’s it gone Op? Brought out the dog lovers in us all!

Original poster

fruitandbarley · 06/12/2025 20:55

Ahh thanks for asking, it's going well.
Mainly die to my 12 year old daughter, with lots of patience she got her walking on the lead, I worked out after a few days that if we walked leaving the house she wasn't keen as kept looking back at the house, so we put her in the car and went elsewhere and she loved it!
She now knows when my daughter is about 2 mins away from getting home like she's psychic, jumps up out of bed, tail wagging, will walk with her absolutely anywhere, I me or husband take her on our own we get about 50m she has a wee then stops walking till you turn round and head back!
She's been to woodlands, nature reserves , the beach a few times and today a freedom field so we could let her off.
Her bed is now in the living room with us, only slight irritating thing is she'll be fine with you one minute, then you could get up to put kettle on and when you walk back in shell bark at you, it's all a bit random.
Anyway she's making great progress, and I've signed the adoption forms as a Christmas surprise for my daughter. I'll try add some pictures.

OP posts:

PurpleReindeer2 · 06/12/2025 21:29

Awww OP she is adorable. 🥰 Thank you for adopting her. I hope you have many wonderful times together x