How do you increase the confidence of a 2 year old female shepherd? She's been a kennel dog and is now living in my house. She's a little skiddish. She's experiencing many new things. We've begun tugging with her and she LOVES it. I notice that her confidence increases after each tugging session but there's got to be more I can do at home for her.
She is still afraid of my "dominant" fiance...she wont eat when he feeds her and she wont go outside for him. She stays by my side. She alerts when she hears the door, etc. but she is really a big scardicat. (I think it might just take time because she's lived in a kennel and not experienced real life situations?) Thanks!!

Try going on long walks with your fiance and your new dog. leave the rules at home. This is a good way to bond with a dog. The other thing that has worked for me is I have an office that I put a new dog in and I sit at the computer and let the dog come around on it's own. Sometimes it might take several sessions, but I find it works really well. When they do come to me I put my hand under their chin and give them a couple soft rubs and then stop. I find that as they get more comfortable they will push into me to get more rubs. I don't use treats at first, they are probably too stressed to eat at this point. More time and patience on his part should do the trick.

You can start by listing to board members who offer sound quality advice. You should read this post before you qualify Jeff’s advice… His signature says it all “My dog is smarter then Me” Take it for what it’s worth.

Please copy and past if the link doesn't work.

http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/showf...rue#Post4161793

Hi Melissa,

As soon as you find out how to accomplish what you're attempting, can you let ME in on your secret? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Seriously- my parents recently rescued a female Sheltie who has so many confidence problems I could alphabetize a four page list. She is very uneasy with the most common household goings-on because she spent her 'previous life' in a kennel. Interestingly enough she has begun to bond with my father- who is a pretty authoritative guy- much faster than with my itty bitty mother. So go figure.

I agree with Jeff's advice that time and patience can work wonders. It has been four weeks with the Sheltie and there has been a bit of progress. It is painfully slow sometimes but she is no longer the little merle mass cowering in the crate that she was.

I have been ever-so-subtly dropping hints to the parentals that EVERYBODY in their situation would benefit from some basic, positive obedience- do you think that this might work for you as well? Maybe just make it 'alone time' for your dog and your fiancee? If done properly it could be a wonderful confidence boost.

Please keep us posted on your progress, and good luck!

Melissa,the advice that Jeff gave is "GOOD ADVISE",I might also add that you have your fiance rub your dog under her chin&chest like Jeff said but not yet on the head because this is a mild form of dominance and I'm sure you already know that she allways wins the tug sessions.

Hey Corey! When you work with kennel dogs like I do, I have found over the 30 years that I have been dealing with this that letting the dog figure out the first step works the best. Approaching the dog tends to get you started the wrong way.

In your parents situation, is it undersocialization? or is the dog nervy? We have a little sheltie that comes to the kennel and she stays in the house. She sleeps in the bosses closet. She has very weak nerves and trying to be nice and approaching her is a disaster. One of the girls decided that she could get her to like her, and the dog got so scared she ran from her the rest of the time she stayed, and everytime since.

I take her and put her in the office, and limit her ability to go to far away and ignore her, like in my first post. She is still initially not so good, but we only see her twice a year. She actually was running and playing on the couch by day two this time. Must be some kind of record.

The other thing I have done in the past when rehabing rescues is they live in my room, and have to come by me to get food. Pain in the butt, lots of work, but it does show good results. Hope you had a good Christmas.

Hey Jeff!

PM'd ya <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Lots of love, affection, attention and being like the dogs cheerleader. I have a dog who lived most of his first 5 months in the pound, minus being adopted out twice and returned twice for behavioral problems. He was a total wreck, shaky and more. Those are the things that worked for me. I praised excitedly for the smallest, most insignificant things and that really helped along with the other things I mentioned. I also didn't put a lot of pressure on him to do anything more than follow the rules. Your fiance may want to ignore him like Jeff said, and also bringing presents (bones, toys, etc.) might help endear the dog to him when he comes over or home. He should drop the gift at the dogs feet and walk away. If the dog looks at him maybe he could turn away from the dog to pique it's interest and also to show he's not a reason for concern. Good luck <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thanks everyone...I'll just be patient and keep trying.