Dog Gone Problems is a weekly advice column by David Codr, a dog behaviorist in Omaha. David answers dog behavior questions sent in by our readers. You can reach him at dogbehaviorquestions@gmail.com.
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Dog Gone Problems,
We need some advice regarding our Maltese dog who we rescued a few months ago. She was rescued from a breeding facility and is pretty skittish. She has no issues with my wife or my daughters but she's not a big fan of myself or my son. I'm guessing she was either abused or neglected at the breeding facility and doesn't know what it's like to be a pet, so we are trying our best. She is not a fan of leashes, so we don't take her for walks, as we have a pretty large yard for her to roam around. She's not into toys or anything, except laying in her kennel or on the tile floor now to keep cool.
We rescued her over the weekend of spring break for my kids this year and then they never went back to school and my wife and I have been home working as well due to the coronavirus pandemic. I'm wondering what will happen when my wife and I go back to work and the kids return to school in the fall. Whenever we go somewhere as a family, she is kenneled and then will howl and bark. She's not trustworthy yet to be alone and not kenneled, as she still has accidents. After reading your article about separation anxiety, I wonder how we can prevent this for her since she doesn't like walks (leash) and she's not into toys or anything. Do you have any suggestions we can start to try?
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Thanks in advance,
Jeff
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Hi Jeff,
I've found that when helping a dog from an abused or neglected situation, you need to do two things. First, demonstrate you are not going to harm them and second, give them a voice.
Many people think since petting or hugging a dog are done with loving intentions, that it's OK to give them to any dog at any time. But if the dog doesn’t want or is fearful of the interaction, it's going to cause him or her to become frustrated and, in some cases, more fearful.
One way to help check to see if a dog wants you to pet him or her is to reach out but stop an inch or two short of making contact. If the dog leans in, he or she is saying, “Yes, I'd like a pet.” If the dog turns away, backs up or lowers his or her head, the dog is saying “I don't want you to touch me.”
Listening to this conversation from your dog and respecting her wishes is the first step in establishing trust and helping that dog know you are listening. This can be a breakthrough moment for many dogs. The more a dog turns his or her head and has the human stop trying to reach them, the more trust the human earns. The more that happens, the more of a voice the dog has.
The same thing applies when picking a dog up. If your son goes to pick her up and she growls, she is saying, “Leave me alone.” If he picks her up anyway, your dog is kind of powerless so she surrenders and accepts she has no choice. This leads any creature to resentment.
After a week of practicing reaching out to your dog to see if they lean in to be pet, I'd recommend you and your son start hand feeding the dog. This is a powerful connector when successful. Make sure to sit on the floor and offer the food off to your right or left side at nose level or lower. Front facing is confrontational to dogs. It may take a meal or two before the dog eats from your hand. If she refuses to eat after a few minutes of offering, put it away and wait for the next meal to try again.
It's not ethical to withhold food, but it's OK to offer it with conditions to motivate the dog to do something that isn't egregious. Without seeing your dog, I can't say how fearful of you she is. If she refuses to eat from your hand and is not showing signs of fear or distress, I'd put the food up until the next meal and perhaps repeat the same the next day. If she won't eat after three days of doing this, go back to normal feeding and practice the following videos.
— This video includes an exercise your wife and daughters should lead. It's important you start out motionless and only start moving once the dog sits and lays calmly when doing the exercise. Basically, this rewards the dog for simply looking at you. With practice, you start to become an indicator of something the dog likes.
— This second video features a trick that can help the dog like being picked up. I'd recommend you practice it to success first, then repeat the same with your son.
Additionally, having amazing treats on you can help if you reward things with good timing and technique. A really easy way to do this is wait for your dog to do a command you like (sit, come, lay down, etc.) on her own. As soon as the dog sits, offer her a treat and if she takes the treat, say “sit” once. Avoid using multiple words or saying it too excitedly.
The idea is to offer amazing rewards when the dog does things you like without you or your son asking. After a while, the dog will think, "These men are my fans. I like these guys, as they support what I do and don’t try to make me do things I don’t want."
Another tip is to try to sit on the floor at times the dog is nearby and invite your son to do the same. Don’t call your dog. If she comes to investigate you, let her sniff you as much as she wants without reaching to pet her. Wait for her to stop sniffing and linger nearby before you reach out and wait for her to lean in.
It will be tempting to reach out and grab or pet the dog, but make sure you don’t. If you are patient, one sniffing visit will become two and eventually the dog will linger nearby, making it easier to reward those voluntary actions.
Remember, this dog isn't just fearful of you. It's likely she's fearful of all men and many other things, too. Once she gains confidence in you, her anxiety will diminish and she may not need to work on her separation anxiety. If she does, then you can cross that bridge together when she trusts you and your son.
Good luck and remember — everything you do trains your dog. Only sometimes you mean it.
David
Submit your pet questions to David Codr by emailing a photo of your dog and question to dogbehaviorquestions@gmail.com. Visit doggoneproblems.com for more from David.
Meet the 10 (very good) dogs who have been at the Nebraska Humane Society the longest:
Meet the 10 (very good) dogs who have been at the Nebraska Humane Society the longest
These are the very good dogs who have been at the Nebraska Humane Society the longest. All are up for adoption as of Aug. 3. For more information on the adoption process and to see all dogs available for adoption, visit nehumanesociety.org/adopt.
All adoptions are being done via appointment only. The application can be found inside each animal's bio on the Humane Society's website.
Missy
Name: Missy
Breed: Boxer mix
Age: 9 months
Sex: F
First Day at NHS: March 4
Bio: Missy is a shy girl who was having a hard time in the shelter and is now in a loving foster home. Her foster mom says she is very smart and already knows sit, down, shake, high five and is working on leave it and drop it. Meeting new people is difficult for her and can be a slow process. She is slowly gaining more confidence every day and is looking for a home experienced with dogs that are fearful and under socialized. Missy is just a big puppy and is still trying to figure out the whole potty-training thing. So patience is going to be key! A fenced in yard will help her potty-training progress and is a must. Her ideal home will need to be one where someone is home most of the time, or even a family with split schedules, that can let her out often. Because she is very shy, she needs an adult only home with few visitors. She does not like to share she family's attention with other dogs, so she will need to be the only dog in her next home. Missy is a very fun and playful girl once she opens up. She still needs a little work but has lots of love to give!
Tullia
Name: Tullia
Breed: Boxer and pit bull terrier mix
Age: 6 years
Sex: F
First Day at NHS: March 24
Bio: Tullia arrived at the shelter as a skinny stray. She has since gained weight, but she still hears heavenly singing and golden light emanating from any food she sees… and will do whatever it takes to get you to hand over the food. Sit? Shake? Lie down? Roll over? If you want to teach Tullia a trick, she will work for it for the foods. Tullia isn't to picky about the home she goes to, all she asks is there are no cats, and that she is your only dog so she can get all the treats you have. She can be a little too enthusiastic about taking treats, at times, so she might do better with older kids, but being in your family to meet her and see if she will be a good match.
Rebel
Name: Rebel
Breed: Labrador retriever and bit bull terrier mix
Age: 1 year, 3 months
Sex: F
First Day at NHS: April 14
Bio: Rebel is an outgoing gal with energy to spare. She loves the water and her exuberant and bubbly personality can be contagious, but some people may find it a little overwhelming. She may not be the best fit for the first-time dog owner. If you have experience with large dogs and want a dog to take on adventures and train, then Rebel is your girl! If she goes to a home with children, they'll need to be 12 years or older, as she may be a bit too much for younger family members. She should not go to a home with female dogs. If going to a home with male dogs, Rebel will need to meet them to make sure they can handle her pushy and rambunctious play style! She'll need a home with a fenced in yard, so no apartment life for me. .
Kaiser
Name: Kaiser
Breed: German shepherd
Age: 6 years
Sex: M
First Day at NHS: April 26
Bio: Kaiser is looking for an adult-only household with a 6-foot privacy fence where he will feel more comfortable and secure. He prefers the company of female dogs to other males, and will need to meet all family members and any other dogs before going home with you.
Ryker
Name: Ryker
Breed: Catahoula leopard hound
Age: 2 years, 4 months
Sex: M
First Day at NHS: May 5
Bio: Ryker is an energetic, playful boy who loves toys. He can be nervous around new people and sometimes slow to warm up. He's looking for a home that will be patient and allow him to warm up at his own pace. Because he's not a big fan of sharing my toys, Ryker will require a home with adults only. He must meet all members of the home and resident dogs prior to adoption. Due to his energy level and athletic abilities, he'll require a home with a 6 foot privacy fence, as he could easily jump a 4 foot fence. He would do best with a female dog or as the only dog in the home.
Baby Girl
Name: Baby Girl
Breed: English Bulldog and Pit Bull Terrier mix
Age: 3 years
Sex: F
First Day at NHS: May 24
Bio: Baby Girl has simple tastes and is easy to please. Play with her, snuggle her and give her all the best snacks. A home without any kids under 12, and no other female dogs would be ideal for her. Just bring your family in to meet her and make sure you're a good match!
Lucille
Name: Lucille
Breed: English bulldog and pit bull terrier mix
Age: 1 year, 3 months
Sex: F
First Day at NHS: May 24
Bio: Lucille is known for being best dressed, always sporting her tux. She may be overdressed for most occasions, but she is ok with being the center of attention with all eyes on her. If she isn't getting enough attention she might climb onto your lap and live out her dreams of being a lap dog. Lucille is looking for a home with where she can have the spotlight on her, and no other dogs, and with any kids being older. You don't have to be in formal wear to meet her, just bring your family in to see if she's a match for you!
Loki
Name: Loki
Breed: English bulldog and Staffordshire bull terrier mix
Age: 1 year
Sex: M
First Day at NHS: May 28
Bio: If you have a ball and a good throwing arm, you and Loki will be a perfect match. Throw the ball and he will happily fetch it! Do you have any kids? Younger kids can be too overwhelming for Loki, he's a sensitive soul under his athletic appearance, but if your kids are closer to their teens, they'll be fun to play with. Just bring your family in to meet him so you can have some ball throwing tryouts! Loki is not suited for apartment living.
Astro
Name: Astro
Breed: Dalmatian mix
Age: 1 year, 4 months
Sex: F
First Day at NHS: May 29
Bio: Astro is a happy pup but she can also be a bundle of nerves at times when around a lot of people or commotion. She's a pretty sweet pup if there isn't too much happening at once, but can become quite timid with new people and dogs. Astro would like to meet all of the family members including the other dogs, just to make sure they won't be too much for her. She is looking for a home with just adults for company. Astro is not suitable for apartment living and would prefer a home without any feline friends.
Mel
Name: Mel
Breed: Australian Cattle Dog Mix
Age: 3 years
Sex: F
First Day at NHS: May 30
Bio: Mel is a sweet girl that can be a little anxious at times, so she'll need someone who will give her a chance to acclimate to a new home. Mel likes to play with tennis balls and loves to meet other dogs, but some dogs may not appreciate how much she wants them to be her new best friend. As a herding breed dog, she may not be the best fit for a home with cats or small animals. Mel is also very high energy, so she'll need a family that will help make sure she's getting the exercise that she needs! If she goes to a home with children, they'll need to be closer to their teens. Mel will need to meet all resident dogs before going to her new forever home to make sure you're a good match.