[Parker's Mum]

I'm at a total loss of what to do for my poor Parker. He is soooo skittish of everything. It has gotten worse istead of better. Problem is it's just him and me at home. I live alone so he's either at home with me, or at home alone while I work (either 3 or 4 days a week). Whenever we go to a new place he shakes uncontrollably. We went to my Aunt's new house the other day, and she thought he was going to have a heart attack he was so scared and shaking so badly. He's scared of other dogs, bigger or smaller than him. I try to get him out with other dogs, but unfortunately not alot of my friends have dogs and the ones that do, Parker's too scared to play with them anyway, he runs away. If it's a hyper new dog, it'll usually scare the pee or poop right outta him, literally. It's just awful, I don't know what to do!

I was thinking of putting him into an obedience class just to get him out around more dogs, but after seeing him terrified of a 4 pound puppy this week, I don't know if the classes would help or make him worse, if the puppy scared him then 12 other dogs at the same time might be worse.

I was also thinking of getting another puppy to keep him company when I am at work, but like I said this other puppy scared the bejeezus outta him, so I don't know if bringing one home would completely traumatize him.

It's so pitiful, I feel so bad for him, I've never seen a dog like this, I'm sure people probably think I beat him, people try to pet him and he cowers and hides behind my legs. I just don't know what to do for him! And now winter's coming, he'll be a basket case by spring! He's fine at home, playful and has a back-bone, but it's when we go anywhere. Any thoughts or suggestions? please