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Originally Posted by star431  When I was a child we adopted a puppy from the pound. He was only 4 months and was abused and afraid of everyone and everything. When we brought him home he would run and hide, shake and bark. When he acted this way we gave him space. Not really ignoring him but let him go off to were he felt safe and just sat in the same area. Then when he would come out we still just waited. We would let him come to us, on his own time. When he did come over we did not try to pet him or raise our arms (if they are abused they may not your trying to show love, they may think you are going to hit them) we would just let him sniff us and around us. Talk to him in a soft gentle voice telling him he is a good boy. This went on for a long time. Slowly he would get more comfortable and we would pet him and give him treats. We had to earn his trust. He was always skidish around new people and anyone wearing a hat but after a long time he came around and become of the the best loving dogs anyone could ask for.
I recommend staying very calm when they start barking and shaking. Sensing that you are anxious may only make it worse. Good luck and I hope this helps. |
I've been trying this technique but since we have 2 floors it's sort of difficult for me to just stay in the living room with her all the time. So what I do is if I go up and she doesn't follow, I leave her to it and don't bother her and just give her space downstairs. The maids do their thing downstairs and just ignore her too. It's depressing to watch her really coz it's like she wants the maids to just acknowledge her so she can go play with them but since everyone is ignoring her she can't play. And when I'm around it's like she doesn't dare go to them to play coz I'm around and i think she feels like I give her the go signal to either play or not play. I don't know if they're that smart but that's how it looks like to me.
I still let her sleep in my room though even though she doesn't want to follow me after I take a bath, coz no one will be able to watch over her if she's downstairs and it's hotter downstairs at night.
Is there something I should be doing differently? I try not to look at her even though i see her watching me. When I'm on the couch though, she'll sometimes jump on the couch and sleep right next to me. It's confusing. she's afraid but she sometimes sleeps next to me and follows me around.