Quote:
Originally Posted by yorkietalkjilly  Providing food to a dog isn't buying affection. If the dog doesn't like you, all the treats in the world won't work to bring about affection. But treating a dog will help speed up her trust in you for your providing what she sees as nutrition and food and if you are a person she can trust, she will come to love you in her own time. Dogs value food in a far different way than we do, most will take it almost anytime - hungry or not - and those that dispense this vital need in their lives become caregivers and providers in their minds and, as such, it is a quicker way to get a dog who is otherwise perhaps uncomfortable around someone to look at them in a different way.
Think of it this way - treats and food are words to dogs. With a person, you can use easy conversation of funny stories, kind words, or flattery to break the ice but with a dog, food is often is used in place of words to communicate your care, consideration and kindness that they understand far better than words. It is a basic concept saying I am helping you stay alive and to a dog, that has far more meaning than talking or even stroking with hands at first when the dog is getting comfortable with you. Once a stand-offish dog decides to like you, then you can use your hands and other ways to communicate with them but early on, providing food is the way to a dog's trust in you. |
Thank you very much for your post and time, I certainly heed your analysis and will persevere with the chicken strips and the nibble treats. She always comes when I shake the jar, so early on, seemingly I've achieved something positive? Tonight the usual sea front walk was thronged with day trippers even at 8pm. She is always nervous on the lead, no matter which of us is in accompaniment, indeed if anything it's easier with me. But within this evening's noisy environment she was apparently terrified, ears down, tail curled right into her legs and quivering badly, pulling on the lead to get back as fast as she could. We don't of course know her background and she's only been with us 18 days. Late this evening at bed time, we put her little box in my room and surprisingly she seemed quite happy to stay with me at first. After half an hour she began getting a bit anxious, so I returned her to the normal place with my wife! Perhaps this little person just needs many, many more weeks of time and love. To be honest, I never stop talking to and loving her, treats etc and was worried in case i'd been spoiling her. For sure we would never give up on her...