It's been almost 4 weeks!
 

Hope is doing MUCH better. She stopped barking at every little thing. She knows to pee and poop in the grass. However, she gets so scared occasionally and just wants to come home. She will go to the apartment door, which is frustrating because I need her to go potty. Will she ever stop being so scared so easily? :confused: My patience is running dry...I know I know, she's improved A LOT in 4 weeks (I agree!). She also has stopped snapping at Carmel and Emma too. Just one time last night, which is a HUGE improvement. Emma WANTS to play with her, but she doesn't know how to respond. Emma will go and jump around her and smell her. Emma follows her too...She will smell Emma too and then Emma gets too excited and starts jumping all over the place. It's really cute (will post a picture one of these days). Will Hope ever learn to play with Emma? :confused:

ALSO, she got her dental. She can bite her kibbles now. However, she still swallows...because she learned to just swallow all her life as her teeth were in too much pain. How do I teach her to bite and not swallow? I try to use Kong to feed her instead of standard bowl. She gets SO EXCITED at the sight of food...it's INSANE. How do I train her to stay calm...? She's also getting...fat...so I need to cut down her kibbles (haven't yet)...but every time after she eats...she acts like she's still hungry...:confused:

Lastly, when I hold Hope in my arms to go out to go potty. When I try to give her a kiss, she would yelp. When I put my face near her, she'd pull away and yelp. Then, she'd be scared when we go outside and then she won't go potty. This is so frustrating...I don't know what to do! I feel like she doesn't like me...sometimes it really feels like I'm banging my head against the wall!!! Please help! I once thought about keeping her, but now, I highly doubt it. It feels a little better after my rant. Thanks!

Hi, I am sorry but I have not followed the story or our getting Hope but I hope I can offer some advice and support.

It sounds like before Hope came into your life she may not have had the best care and shown much compassion. I admire you hanging in there with her for a month and I am happy for the progress she has made.

Hopefully she will become more confident and less scared outside as time goes on. Good luck and keep up the good work.

Please be patient she's obviously skittish for a reason and needs time to come around, please please please, stand by here and don't get frustrated

Well, she knows "sit", "stay", "come"...that is good progress in 4 weeks. I'm not used to having to train again...my babies are perfectly trained and I guess I forgot those terrible memories of training when they were young...selective memory...:rolleyes:

Like another poster said....I too haven't followed the story of how you came to have Hope...However if she's frightened when you go in to kiss her....it's most likely because you're invading her space...and clearly she's not comfortable with that situation. You've only had her a month....it does take time....try not to take it personal...obviously she has issues....and trust doesn't come immediately or automatically.

I'm not exactly sure how you teach her to chew her food...I do know they make bowls that force the dog to eat much slower...you might check them out....I think they are called Brake fast bowls.... it sounds like she was starved in her 'old' home.:( Very sad.

It took Honey....my 10 yr. old adoptee well over a month before she even started interacting with my yorkies...just give her time to come around on her own...if you try to force a nervous or anxious little girl...you may only push her further away...

This video gives a couple ideas on how to get your dog to eat slower:

In one month if you are frustrated with her not trusting you and being rehabilitated you need to take pause and realize the reality of the situation. It's all about her time and it seems you are making unbelievable process already in that month. Take a breath an d congratulate both of yourselves.
You cannot force trust, confidence and security it is earned from her.
Frustration will happen...but you have to control it she feels it... are doing great, but stay realistic on this all being her time her progress.
Hows her medical care going? Besides dental?
If she was deprived food she will most likely hoard.
Have you consulted with an experienced rescue yet and or a behaviorist?

She's got her bloodwork and dental. Will be getting her spayed 4/8. she will also be getting microchipped, rabies, dewormed, fecal and heartworm test.

Yes, she's crazy about food. I feed her and she still goes around trying to eat Emma and Carmel's food. She will sniff around for food. I wish my babies would eat more like her...I have started feeding her with a kong to have her eat slower. She can chew now, but she needs to learn to chew.

Yes, I've never rescued on my own before so this is HARD. Hopefully more progress will come during spring break cuz I will have more time to spend with her. I have bought a diaper for her so she can come out of her pen. She's been doing good...just one accident yesterday. I learned her schedule and take her out to go potty. It's a big improvement because she peed A LOT more before. I think she learned that she doesn't get starved so she drinks less water. I guess I just needed to vent....sorry. This really helps me see how much she's improved and it's really rewarding. She also KNOWS her (our) home and she would want to come home when she's outside...which gets frustrating sometimes when I need her to go potty. She gets too excited about going home...she jumps towards the door waiting for you to open the door. I am in the process of teaching her to sit and stay (to wait patiently) until I say okay [I wipe my dogs' paws before they come home].

I have consulted with someone who is experienced with rescue and she said that it takes time and that it's normal the way she is as she's been abused and neglected. I guess I'm just impatient...never dealt with this before. There's always a first time for everything...Well, I will spend more time and work with her. She came into my lap last night and gave me kisses. I learned that it's ONLY when we're outside that she yelps when I put her next to my face...at home, she's perfectly fine. No, I have not consulted a behaviorist, but I will research more about it online when I have time.

Nope, she's getting spayed on 4/8. She just got her dental a week and half ago. It's my first time and I have a new found respect for those who work with rescues like her on a daily basis. This may sound stupid, but I think I'm going to spend some time cuddling with her and talking to her. I was told that they sometimes understand...worth a shot...