[axus]

Hello
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I bought my late wife a Yorkshire Terrier, Susi, 4 years ago. lovely girl, everyone's friend and always wagging her tail.
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About 6 months ago, I decided to get another Yorkie girl to give her a playmate and a friend to grow old together with, etc. I approached a small dog rescue group and asked to be considered for another Yorkie girl, about the same age as Susi and along came Missy.
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I was told she was 4 years old and came from an elderly couple, the man had died and the lady couldn't cope with her, also she was used to playing in a 2 acre field.
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Brought her home, put her down and she ran around in a panic, finally jumping into a chair petrified. Every time I tried to go near her she panicked. After a couple of hours I tried taking her into the garden, large and enclosed with lawn and shrubs. She dashed into the shrubs and curled up in fear. It was the following day before I could get to her. She hates being outside.
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She has clearly been used as a breeding dog and massively ill treated. I have found out from her chip she is 7 years old and was last registered in West Yorkshire but that is all they would tell me.
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6 months on she now plays, loves being stroked though on her terms and wags her tail for England.
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My problem is she has not lost her fear. Any unexpected noise or movement and she panics, her eyes full of fear and tries to crawl away on her stomach. If I go close to her she looks away and tenses up. I love her to pieces and getting desperate to find some way ease her fears.
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Any suggestions will be so helpful, thought of trying a natural sedative but worried it might upset her.
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Keith