Is there hope for my shy dog?

Question

Ed,

    I have purchased several of your videos and 4 heating pads, all of which I appreciate.  I am a breeder of Field line Labrador retrievers.  Your site and products are listed on our recommendations we give to new pup owners.

    I have spent quite a bit of time on your site but still have a question about a how to rehab an extremely shy dog.  We have a female, Trixi, that was attacked as a pup by another female which was in season.  After this attack, I found your site from which along with your videos has taught us so much.  We have taken Trixi out weekly since September.  She's OK at parks or parking lots but petrified in pet stores or when a stranger comes to our house.  She literally shakes, pupils dilate, she won't accept food, etc.  My brother who is a dog lover, just visited, laid on the floor for over a half hour rubbing and petting her before she stopped shaking and it took 45 min before she would take food.  This gal has tremendous Field Champion and hunt titled lines and is sweet with us and our children. She's very quick to learn at home and obedience is great at home although I cannot handle her without a prong collar when out and about.  I hate the thought of getting rid of her or not breeding her.  Is there help or hope for her?

    Thank you,
  Jane

Accepted Answer

Dogs like this have an elevated pack drive. They crave and need to have strong leadership. Many people misunderstand their rolls are a pack leader and I am sorry to tell you but you fall into this category.

Pack animals often don’t readily accept new members. A wolf pack is a perfect example. Many times members will kill a single adult wolf that comes into their territory.

In your case your dog was traumatized. Your dog needs you to keep strangers and strange dogs away from you. She needs to believe that you will do this. Right now she does not believe this because you continually put her in a situation where you allow strangers to touch and interact. Read the article I wrote titled WHO PETS MY DOG - My web site has a large number of FREE eBooks that I have written. Go to the main directory for eBooks.

You need to step to the line and stop people and other animals from coming near this dog. You need to let him see you do this. Once she has confidence in the fact that EVERY TIME you will step to the line the dog will begin to relax.

I will guarantee you that if you came to our home and tried to pet Cindy’s 6 month old Mal pup she would warn you once and then show you the door the second time – and he is the toughest little shit I have ever seen.

People confuse “CONTACT” with socializing. Socializing means taking your dog out and letting him experience the world. It doesn’t mean taking him out and letting non-pack members pet him or taking him out to meet and greet other dogs. Dogs don’t need that – they need a strong family pack with rules and limitations.

Now – can some people get by with being shitty pack leaders – absolutely. The character of their dogs carries them through this. Your dog cannot.

Fact is when dogs like this gain confidence in YOU they respond very well to training – especially low level remote collar training. They always want to be in a safe place. They ALWAYS want to do the right thing. So when pack structure is established and understood – and the training is 100% clear and understood they respond.