I think I know what you mean, but don't try so hard. Relax, be natural, happy, and patient. Dogs feed off our energy, mirror us. I have to keep myself in check when I am out walking the dogs. Sometimes I let anxiety about loose dogs or other things get the best of me. The dogs sense it and it makes them anxious.

dominant yorkie
 

I am so enjoying everyone's participation in my ongoing solution to my Brodie's problems. I have thought so much about why he started acting this way when he was so different when I first adopted him. Since he came from a home (his last one) where the owners were gone all day and also boarded him fairly often, I'm wondering if by showing him so much attention and being with him all day I somehow caused him to withdraw from me. Maybe when he felt at home it allowed him to feel free to do what suited him best which was to withdraw from me.
I decided to leave the bathroom open for him today and he's been in there quite a lot, but has come out from time to time. I don't think I've mentioned that he has a bad itching problem which I wonder might also be related to his extreme anxiety. I have, after trying many things, found a shampoo called Douxo which has helped his skin a lot. No longer has the irritated, red skin and the greasy fur with the bad smell. He still scratches a lot, but the vet said his skin looked really good. I have to bathe him every 5 days and today was his bath day which wasn't a good scene. He was scared to the point of biting (had to wear gloves) and actually pooped in the bath tub. I remained calm and after soaping him down and massaging him a lot he finally calmed down enough for me to finish. I just hate that he feels so threatened, but hopefully time and patience will make things better. He did come and sit with me right after the bath so I guess he realized that I didn't mean any harm. He never used to have a problem with the bath so I know my attempts to make him submit are responsible for the way he's acting. I've tried to ignore him except when he makes the move to be with me so he won't feel pressured to stay with me if he doesn't want to. I've always had the opposite problem with other dogs in that they want to jump in your lap every time you sit down. He's just so very different. BUT I STILL LOVE HIM.

Maybe I am a romantic, but I do believe Love will find a way. It is obvious to me you love him.

You are changing and adapting and your boy will ever so slowly come around.

You have reached out here, and you have been given some very good advice.

I have been involved with a large breed foster with both health and temperament issues. It has been an interesting road we are on.

But he has come a long long way in 4mths. Much love, but also firm love when needed - ie discipline.

Perhaps your other dogs weren't as damaged psychologically as this one is or they were just calmer, more submissive dogs by nature. All doggies are so very different and of course, their past experiences with other homes and those experiences with us and how we handle them do have a direct bearing on how they behave. It sounds like you two are making a new beginning and this one will no doubt forge a wonderful, trusting, close and lasting relationship that holds a ton of love and you will have the heart peace in knowing that you saved this little boy and gave him a wonderful, loving life in your home. Rescue dogs usually are a load of work but ,oh, how worth the time and frustrations are once they are rehabilitated!!! Smile a lot, relax and build a new life together. :)

Do you put him in a tub full of water or give him a shower? Also with showers you can try making the spray weaker... in the tub try a lower water level, and with both a cooler temp may make him more comfortable, especially if his skin is a bit hypersensitive due to his problem. When I first bathed Tinkerbell, she almost bit me a few times, as I used a strong spray in the shower. When I decreased the water pressure, she was more cooperative and friendlier. After a few times I slowly increased the water pressure and she was fine with it.... baby steps, lol.

I put him in the tub, but not full of water. I just wet him down with the hand held spray, then use the Douxo which needs to be on him at least 5 min. so he gets a good massage which is how I got him to calm down. I think he'll be ok once he is sure that nothing bad is going to happen. I thought of bathing him in the kitchen sink, but felt he needed to remain in the tub where he was used to being bathed. Also, when he has gotten really upset he has pooped. Don't want that in my kitchen sink. it will be time for another bath tomorrow so I'm hoping he'll do better. If not, I'll just have to keep wearing gloves because he's drawn blood before. Those hind legs can put a hurting on you too. He always did so good before I started trying to put him in a submissive position so I think he'll be ok after a while. I hate that I've caused this, but as Dr. Phil says when you know better you do better.

What kind of dog are you fostering? You are brave to take on a large dog with temperament problems. This little Yorkie can be a terror when he wants to and I have thought to myself several times that I was glad he wasn't any larger. When I first got him he wouldn't have anything to do with anyone but me and my son said he wasn't likeable. I told him I didn't care because he liked me and that's all that mattered. Now I'm not so sure he likes me.

My other dogs were all rescue dogs and luckily they didn't seem to have any problems. When I first got Brodie (yorkie) I used to pat myself on the back and say I thought he probably had the best home he's ever had, but now I'm kicking myself in the behind for taking the wrong direction in trying to correct his bad behavior. I think he's done a little better this week by not spending quite as much time in the bathroom. He also likes to hide out in the garage when he's outside and I've just left him alone until he comes to the front door and wants in. I think he senses the change because he does a lot of standing around and looking at me and I think he's surprised when I don't attempt to pick him up. He doesn't like to be put in his bed at night and last night I had to get him from the bathroom and he showed teeth and acted like he might want to bite me, but I just reached down and picked him up while telling him "no" and he didn't bite. I've had some people suggest putting a muzzle on him, but I think that would just increase his anxiety level. I'll just continue using gloves at times like his bath until he improves. I don't think I'll even need to do that once I gain his trust. Hopefully soon.

My foster who just went home yesterday to his for-ever home is a Black Russian Terrier. And yes he is a big boy. I do know that patience is key as well as persistence and giving a good regular routine. Fostering large or small has it challenges for sure:)

Awh why do you think he doesn't like you?

aggresive yorkie
 

I just have to brag on my Brodie. Today was his bath day which I had been dreading because that's when he is at his worst with the biting and I've been having to wear gloves. Today I had the gloves at hand but didn't put them on, and he did so good I didn't have to use them. I have to keep him soaped up for 5 min. with the Douxo and he eventually laid down and almost went to sleep while I massaged him. I was thrilled. He's still staying in the bathroom but not nearly as much and a couple of times he's come running to see me when I'd be outside and come in . I'll be gone for a while tommorow so we'll see how he acts when I come home. I have a feeling he's still going to pout and not come see me, but I'll just let him do his thing until he gets over it. I think he's made a lot of progress for such a short period of time.

Oh, I think this is real progress. Keep up whatever you are doing, it's making him feel safe again and he's beginning to see things have changed and starting to heal. He'll get there - it's just that some dogs with troubled histories with humans have been through so much loss of trust, they just are quick to lose all of it all over again in their interactions with humans when things worry or frighten them. All rescues don't have the same history or even react the same to things that happen to them - just like people don't all react to trauma or trouble the same way.

I think you two are on the right track and if he were my dog, I'd keep ignoring him, allowing him to heal and begin to trust again(he got there during his bath!) and start to seek you out once he's more recovered and less anxious. I'd love to have the challenge of this dog and watch him come back to gain a wonderful relationship with humans again and count my successes more in terms of months rather than day-by-day and if he were actively seeking me out in a couple of months, I'd see that as a huge step forward and not worry so much how he's acting today or next week.

It's hard - but I'd take it at the dog's pace he sets - no need to speed things up - and allow him to make all the gestures of approaching and interaction and you will be able to tell when he's hungry for human companionship again and in time, even reward that and he'll begin to see it as a good thing in his life and learn he can fully trust you and humans again. Bless his heart - and yours - you've had a rocky time, but you are hanging in there in spite of being worried about being bitten by a scared and anxious dog and still wanting to help him! I'd say you are exceptional - have the inner desire and determination to hang it all out there for a troubled dog and I so admire that attitude and heart. So many people would have already given up on the dog but you have made it clear, you are going to help him. Thank you for helping these poor rescue dogs!

Hi and thanks for your support. I feel like I know you. Well, yesterday I was gone for about 5 hours and of course Brodie was holed up in the bathroom when I returned. I totally ignored him and the little bugger didn't come out until supper time. He's not going to miss the table treats.lol He did come out two times into the room where I was sitting, looked at me, then ran back to his room. I really do have to laugh at his antics. It's like he's baiting me to see if I'l notice him. A couple of days ago he actually ran with my two other dogs out the front door to bark. I think he's trying to act like a REAL dog. Little things like that that are out of character make my efforts worthwhile. Also acted like he wanted to play when I nudged his mouth with my hand by playfully chewing on my hand. Little things mean a lot when you have such a withdrawn little boy. I really wish I knew what had happened in his other homes. I think the people I got him from really cared about him because they came to visit him after I had had him for a couple of months and he was glad to see them. I just think he was alone so much and they also boarded him fairly often. I can just imagine how that was for the poor boy with his anxieties and fearfulness. I've only gone on trips twice since I had him and I took him and my other two dogs with me. I thought he would cower in a corner and be upset, but he actually seemed pretty relaxed with the situation and interacted with my family much better than I expected.

I would try sitting on the floor, pretty much ignoring him, but hold out a treat when he comes out of hiding. Just hold it out toward him and say, "Treat". The smell should entice him to come a bit closer, maybe not all the way at first. Just keep trying in a casual, quiet way. Sooner or later he should take the treat. I would not try to pet him at all. But after he's coming for the treat, start to hold it a bit closer to you. Gradually decrease the distance between you and the treat, then put it on your leg so he has to take it off you. Always say, "Good boy." softly each time he comes closer. Hopefully each step will build trust and confidence.

haha. Well, we really do know quite a bit about each other and about our caring for dogs and wanting to help them! To me, a frightened, anxious dog is one of the most rewarding - and hardest - rehabilitations - there are. These dogs often turn so fearful, closed down and withdrawn and become hardened cases, often biters and most people just give up on them and they get the needle fairly quickly. To stay with this distrustful and shut-down little guy and hold yourself and your loving ways in check to allow him to heal and rehab for a bit at his own pace is so kind and caring of you.

Hang in there, pat yourself on the back for his having made good progress in several phases and watch him very, very slowly come around - literally and figuratively. Oh, and even after they are significantly better, acting normally for months at a time, there will be set-backs when his old fears return for a hour, a day or a week - at those times you usually think you've lost them when you first start out in dog rehab - but if you hold true to your plan - they somehow sense that nothing really has changed with their life today; and whatever spooked them was transient and their loving leader is still there to protect and care for them and they get back on track again and almost pick up where they left off before the setback.

P. S. When the time is right, an old trick the very doggie-dedicated sometimes do for dogs who are still quite skittish about being near humans is lie down on the bare floor, covered in a few of their favorite treats(wearing old clothes, of course) and just stare at TV, never looking at or touching the dog, while the he eventually comes around and darts in for a few treats that he removes from your pant's leg or sweatshirt. It sends a message that this human is now offering to share food resources with him up close and personal but somehow - unlike most humans - doesn't use that time to try to interact or force his attentions on the anxious dog, respecting the dog's sensibilities to start buddy-time only when he's ready. It builds trust and and can speak volumes to your dog about you and your willingness and ability to trust his choices. haha - as I said - it's for the very doggie-dedicated! :D

You know I've tried giving him treats when he's acting up because he is very food aggressive; but he absolutely refuses to touch it. It was a piece of chicken too. He definitely has some defiance in his attitude and when he's mad it takes a long time for him to get over it. Bless his little stubborn heart!!! The only times I've picked him up in the last week or so is when I had to take him outside, put him to bed and bathe him. Otherwise, I've let him come to me and he doesn't seem quite as prone to skitter away from me.