Amy, let me get this straight, you have 3 dogs that are fine and fit into your lifestyle well and you're looking to add a fearful dog to the mix? Seriously if you think about it, there are so many dogs with great temperaments out there that need rescuing. It's harsh but true. I wouldn't waste any time with a fearful dog.

I hope you think long & hard about taking on a dog that you already know is fearful. Lke Al said... there are alot of dogs with great temperments out there that need homes.

I've lived with a very fearful dog & I can tell you that it is NO fun at ALL! It is a PITA for the owner & a very unpleasant existance for the dog to live constantly in fear. My dog was afraid of the same things after 6 months of everyday exposure to them, that he was on day one. It was heartbreaking. These kinds of dogs can't go anywhere & be comfortable...new people,(even in their own home) new things etc etc are terrifing to them. It is very sad.

I'd give it a GREAT deal of thought before taking that on knowingly. JMO & experience.

I would do it for my mom.

so would I, the piece of mind you would give her is priceless. I took a fearful dog of my sister's for a while until she got out of school and could reclaim him as I was one of a handful of people that he trusted.

Al, it isn't harsh. But when you think about it, why rescue a dog that's Dog agressive, a food guarder or not housetrained? You take the issue the dog comes with and if you can, you work with it. He is honestly the sweetest dog you will ever meet. You just won't know it for about 6 months until he stops running away from you.
Anne, thanks for the warning about it being a pain. I know it can be challenging, but because we already have him in our home on a regular basis and do care for him when my mom has been out of town, I'm not going into this blind.
I know more about this dog, his fears, his loves, his reactions than any of the other 3 when they entered my home. I know he's going to poop in the kitchen and hide under the bed if it storms and I'm not home. I know that when I try to put him inside at night, I will have to leash him first if my shaddow looks funny on the patio. I also know that he is going to get all wiggley and turn into a mushball when my daughter walks up to him, and that he's going to forget he's scared and put his paws up on me if I have a piece of turkey. Why waste my time with this fearful dog? Because he's spent the last 3 years putting on the bravest face he has to face the fear of living and has found joy in more things that we ever thought possible. He will be and is happy to play with my dogs, sleep in a sunny spot in the yard and go for a car ride around town every now and again. I won't be asking him to meet new people in our home, or taking him to parades or a number of other things, but that's ok with us.

Great argument - too many good dogs out there. By the same logic there is always a dog out there that is better (temperament, drives, health etc.) than the one we got. Shall we dump the current "genetic mess" and "training failure" in order to pick up the next best thing? For a while, of course, because there is the next best thing waiting just around the corner.

Loyalty is valued so highly in a dog but would be an impediment for such a progressive handler.

IMO, there is a huge difference between adopting a fearful dog as a family pet and taking over the care of a a family members much loved dog that comes with fear issues.

It's not about the other perfectly good dogs out there, it's about this dog, that a commitment has already been made to, that has already blossomed under good care, that does find life enjoyable, that is well known (both the good and bad) and that already has become a cherished family member.