Anyadogz
37122
625
20
So far Milo is adjusting nicely to us and his new environment but he's hand shy. Today I was making a sandwich (Milo was sitting behind me) I shook the mustard bottle and he ran away. If you wave your hands around too much, have something in your hand, put on a hat, etc he runs away. When you call him to you, he comes to you but he's almost crawling on his belly, his head is down and his ears are back. We give him all kinds of love, praise and affection when his comes to us.
We have had several rescue dogs in the past but we've never really dealt with a dog this hand shy. Whenever we pet him or rub his belly we tell him what a good boy he is, that he's safe with us, we'll never hurt him type of stuff.
He's been with us for a month now and while we weren't expecting the behavior to stop overnight, it doesn't seem to have gotten much better. We know it will take time, we both just feel so bad for him. I wish I could look at him and explain to him that he's safe now.
All we know to do is keep giving him all the love and reassurance we can. If anyone has ever dealt with this before, please give me advice, suggestions or even a word of encouragement.
Half sploot tax
Edited to add: Thank you all for the suggestions and advice. It has helped put things into perspective. It's been 12 years since we've had a rescue, so I had forgotten sometimes things take longer than you'd like. Heck, it was a full month before our Border Collie would be in the same room with us. Time and patience is what it took.
Thank you all again!!
eovnu87435ds
It took my 1 dog 6 months to warm up to the people in the house, and my second dog took 14 months. It takes time and positive reinforcement!
DryPuns
With hand shy dogs, I've learned that it's easier to train them to be excited about fast hand movements than it is to teach them to not be afraid. I typically engage with some kind of toy, slowly and gently at first, of course, and eventually move into swifter movements of the toy in hand. It's always worked, but result time may vary depending on how toy motivated the dog is. More treat motivated dogs can be done the same way with a puzzle feeder or treat kong.
OhIfIMust
Give him time.
Cats2cats
Where’s the hooman that did this? I’m sure many imgurians would love to have “a word”. But we’ll settle for a line of cuddles.
cosinewave
Just wait it out and keep things as calm as possible. Let him come to you when he is ready
MightyIink
All you need to do is wait.
Pfffftit
Time, and some scritches …
bound4doom
Time and patients. My first rescue dog it took her 2 years before she barked. The first time she did we were playing and she immediately shut back down all embarrassed like i can't believe I did that, oh no. I just hugged her told her she was a good girl. It took her another 6-7 months before she would bark on the regular. All you can do it give it time and patients and show love.
tallquasi
Corgis are a peculiar breed under the best of circumstances. Unless properly sensitized from birth, they're usually skittish when it comes to paw touches and nail trimming. Mine has never learned to ask for attention but likes it when she receives it. Getting on the floor was the key for my non-rescue to open up a bit. She has a hard time comprehending that anything but food offerings happen above her head height, and doesn't fetch. She may be Dogtistic. Good luck.
RoboUnicornFishBalls
Our Jack (right) we've had since puppy is the same.
I think something like a paper plate fell on him and spooked him in the wind at bbq.
Don't make a fuss over it, completely ignore his actions.
The less you fuss, the less they respond to the action.
He's much better now and will give you teef if he thinks you've spooked him.
Cat spook tax
gassyclover
Hand feed him? Start slow, he moves towards your hand you throw food away. He gets food and then once he makes the choice to come close again you throw it away. Teaches hand = good and also gives him agency. Eventually you can do the following of the hand for food. But yeah, takes time.
DingusMcGhee
I have no advice to give that’s not already been said but, can we have full sploot tax please
drduffer
Someone posted a few months back about a dog story like this and if I remember correctly, it was several years before they were back to “normal”.
Be patient. Don’t be afraid to ask for expert help from a trainer with experience with this. Good on you for the adoption. ⬆️
TheJomsborgViking
Patience
Pnwpolarbear
Our dog was very similar and still shows some of these behaviors, but now after 2 years, it’s so much better. It did take many months to see changes.
buzkilljoy
I've fostered over 30 dogs. It takes a minimum of 2 months, sometimes years, to get over stuff like this. Having another dog around without trust issues helps significantly. Warn potential adoptees that these issues will return with a new forever home. They have abandonment and trust issues just like humans.
Vter3
I was gonna say "about three months" for some of the rescues to come out of their shell from the ones I've seen. Consistency also helps a lot, but some fear triggers may never completely disappear.
Anyadogz
Thank you. Unfortunately we lost both of our boys recently, so that's why Milo is with us now. Lol at this point, he may be in his forever home. He's such a great little doggie
theshinobi23
Yeah, that's why we can't foster. Would love to, to be able to help the process along for dogs that need it, but we'd get attached and either break down when giving them up, or end up adopting all that come into our home.
LisaSimps0nsDr3aM
Rule of thumb: 3 days to calm down, 3 weeks to accept a new home, 3 months to become family … don’t overestimate … patience is key.
Layinginbed
I'm on foster 323. His reaction to fear is flight and since it works for him (he is able to remove himself) he has no reason to change the behavior. You may want to leash him to you on a 6ft leash. If you shake a bottle his instinct is to run, when he can't (because he is leashed) he will have to face the situation and realized he wasn't harmed. It will be very uncomfortable for him at first. Just make sure you don't react either.
winternal
This is actually sound advice. They need to eventually face their fear and learn to adjust their behaviour. Like taking them to a vet, it's a small discomfort in favour of less trouble.
5knotcans
Give it time being in the pound is very traumatic for some dogs.
Dungeongeek
Gain his confidence by sneaking up on him and blasting an air horn.
Sebastopol140
Might take time.
AllieRiot
Time is on your side as they get comfortable with you. You can try associating an upward hand movement with a "sit" request. Start with a treat in your hand and let them sniff it, bring your hand slowly up to your face and ask them to sit, and treat when they do. Increase speed of the hand movement as they get more comfortable.
Psychobeanz
You can slowly condition doggo to associate hands with good things - treats, pets, scritches, grabbing leashes to go for walks, scooping food into the bowl. Avoid reaching directly for the dog's head or face (obviously). Let them make or attempt first contact.
fractalsphere
Just keep on being kind to them. Soft voices, gentle pats, let them come to you in their own time. They will eventually most times.
thepeenisbehindthetrenchcoat
give him the Peanut Butter Solution
evilspock
Time. Time and very small treats. Small treat in hand, approach slowly, hand with small treat *below* his eye level, not above head. Praise when treat is taken. Repeat frequently. Later, shift to praise and petting - dog associates the behavior with rewards, good feels Try to have multiple people participate. Be patient - abuse can take months or years to forget.
CatEyebrows
Yes. Also, never lean over him when giving a treat, petting, leashing, etc. I always get in a squat position next to them. Hand gesturing is a trigger for him and it’s good to know his body language. When dogs are nervous they will always do one or more of these things: excessive lip licking, “side-eye”, ears down, tail down. High value treats and lots of positive reinforcement and I bet he’ll come around but he may always be a little shy or wary of strangers.
littlecoatfatguy
If he used to get hit, it might take considerably longer than a month.
jnmjnmjnm
It takes months for a dog to feel at home.
horseman05
Over time offer tid bits of food,treats and toys from your hands.Don't be insistent or pushy.Give him time to accept them himself.
becauseurwrong
I second this. The more good things he associates with your hands, the less he might remember the bad. But you must also remember to be careful the movements you make around him. Don't go overhand above his head, always underhand below his eye level. And when he gets scared & runs, don't raise your voice to call him back! Slowly follow him with a treat, get on his level & reassure him. When the day comes he doesn't run at something he used to, extra super happy praise celebration!
Germankipp
Coat your hand in peanut butter
BeaverOnFire
Why stop there? Full body dip !
dogboybastard
Dogs have to heal from trauma just like people do. Hand shy dogs were hit a lot. Give them time. They'll bond with you and if they spend a LOT of time with you will imprint on you.
RoyalMajesty
We have a rescue with troubled past as well, and it took over 3 weeks for her to get out of her "safe" space and be closer to us. These things take a lot more than a month.
Now 2 years later we have a happy pup that even trusts our friends and guests after a some time.
METROlD
Im gonna piggy back on top comment here so I dont get drowned out with the rest. @op Yeah they need time. They also need to get to know you. An adult dog might let a stranger pet it, but for a dog, having a new owner is a really big deal, and they know it. Just do your best to be reliable, on time, and positive, and do all the positive things. Imagine if you had a new owner. That would be scary as fuck. You got this.
Anyadogz
This really brings things into focus for me. I was raised in an abusive home and I still get anxious when I hear arguing or raised voices in anger. I'm 55. Thank you for the perspective.
shaggybeard
I have a rescue that went through the same thing. She's been with us for 7 years now and occasionally she'll put her dead down and scuttle away if I'm waving my hands about. We've never struck her and given her nothing but love but I'm sure some of that trauma still remains.
Zyrixion
For my $0.02, if they are tolerant of it, you might try gentle toy-based hand-using activities like rolling or gently tossing a ball/toy for them, too, maybe light tug of war if they like that. Generally begin to gently make action and activities involving hand movements have some association with good actions, like toys or treats. Love and support them and hopefully they can heal from whatever happened to them, but also be ready for the event that it may be a lifelong journey for them. ^_^
Heavenissize17socks
Medicinal supplements will help with pups stress. Food motivated? Notice -your- stress levels. Brisby really started enjoying being hand fed after my brother sent a sampler case of flavored tequila. Apparently, I give out good treats AND skritches after a margarita or two. Hand shy dogs get -very good- at recognizing stress, even the I feel bad for the poor pup stress.
jwhennig
I used to put my hand down on the surface in front of our shy cat and let him sniff before pets. It gives the animal the option, which can help.
IAmTheBadW01f
And then there's my cat. We brought her home from the shelter on Sunday, they said it would likely take 2-5 days for her to acclimate.
After work Monday I sat down next to the bed she was hiding under and she walked out and demanded pets. I love her so much
jwhennig
That’s great!
IAmTheBadW01f
She's really the best cat. She's so gentle with our young daughter, though she eventually bats at her when she really deserves it. Once when she was just learning to walk she stood up and grabbed the cat's tail and the cat just walked away. She didn't let go, and was pulled over. I was like, "you deserved that, kid"
But as gentle as she is with us, she's ruthless and efficient with the mice. We had very bold mice before we got her, they'd scurry across the kitchen. Haven't seen one in years!
Nututleptek
So it doesn't go away, eh ?...
MightyUrto
I'm a trauma child as well, and I'm not that far from 60 years old. Parts of it no, it shaped who you are as an adult. It's the foundation for how I interact with people, how I can function, and how I pay attention to things around me in a way many other people don't.
Anyadogz
In some ways it never does. We have new neighbors and they are "spare the rod, spoil the child" fundamentalists. It has brought back some painful memories.
MFive15
I have never heard that phrase before. If you are open to sharing, what does it mean?