Dog Health Questions: Any more tips for abused dog training?

We are in our 3rd week of having our adopted 8 month old rescue Poodle. He has come a little ways in the 3 weeks, but not far. He no longer hides 24-7, he'll come sit at the end of the sofa, he'll come when you call him but stops far enough away that you cant pet him. A couple times Ive had to corner him, once for a flea bath, then to put the drops on him and once to clean his ears and he tried to snip at me, after it was over he seemed ok and "happy". He runs around and wags his tail, and takes treats from our hand occasionally. Im overwhelmed by the fact that he NEVER lets us pet him, that he snips at us, and that he is still terrified of all humans except us, and any loud noise sends him running under the bed. He does interact with and play with our other little Poodle very well, but its sad he wont let us give him affection, and hes so cute you just want to snuggle with the lil guy. What can I do?

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What makes you think this dog was abused? He sounds like a dog with a genetically fearful temperament. An abused dog with a good temperament comes around very quickly and acts like any other dog once they're out of the abusive situation.

You've got a fearful dog. Back off, let the dog come to you when he's ready. There's plenty of info you can google about helping a fearful dog cope. You can also buy an excellent booklet by Patricia McConnell called "The Cautious Canine".

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• This will take time but i you want to pet him you gotta resect him. Try sitting down on the floor with a few treats in your hands and let him come to you. Once hes wanting the treats give him one at first, let him finish it then for the next one try and pet him after i few trys hopefully he'll let you pet him. But if its not working ALWAYS finish your 'session' with him on a good note. You dont want to end the session with your dog mad at you.


• Big problem ! ! ! Your dog was NOT abused, it has a soft disposition.
  A dog with a normal disposition will be quite resilient and would recover from abuse quite easily with little or no lasting behavioral problems. It is the dog with a weak temperament that will have lasting problems caused by little or nothing.
  
  When dealing with a soft dog patience is your best friend. Allow the dog to make up to you rather than being the one seeking affection.


• Never force a fearful dog to do anything, it must always be on the DOGS time table NEVER yours. Keep doing what you're doing, working slowly, it might take a year before this dog will allow you to pet him or not be fearful of human hands. When you adopted him you knew he was abused and you chose to take on the dog anyway, good for you, however, move at the dogs pace and never ever rush him because you want to snuggle with him. It's his terms not yours. Make everything a positive association, get him out for walks and most of all don't coddle him when he's fearful ignore him and don't feel sorry for him. It's humans that carry baggage, dogs don't so as long as you don't feel bad neither will he.
  
  I suggest watching Cesar he deals with a lot of fear cases. If you don't force this dog his desire to snap out of fear might diminish, if it doesn't then you will need to consider professional training.
  
  Good luck


• You need to be patient but demanding. Right now your little dog is getting his way and being rewarded for behaving this way. Trapping him to to 'bad things" like cleaning the ears will make this worse. What I do with scared dogs like this is to fit them with a well fitted collar that they cannot pull out of. To that I attach a 5-6ft light line. The leash and collar stays on the dog 24/7. Several times a day (at least 10), I pick up the line and lead the dog to me. At first, he's going to struggle and try and get away. That's normal for dogs like this. Just hang onto the line. When he relaxes and stops pulling, give some light praise and let him go. When he starts coming to you without a fight, reach down and lightly touch him. Again he's going to struggle and may try to bite. Don't get after him for biting as he's doing it out of fear. Do not reward him by letting him go until he will let you touch some part of him. After he is comfortable with that, start picking him up. This technique may take several months. Your dog may never warm up to people but this will make him a lot easier to manage. Many dogs after awhile will follow you around. Some will learn that you are so wonderful that they become a pest in demanding attention.


• My rescue girl came to me three and a half years ago not knowing how to take a treat or any understand any human communication. Tt takes time and patience but you can do it. She will always be a fear based dog (she was staved and shot at with rubber bullets) but she is the most loving affectionate animal now. The things that helped her the most was seeing my other dog and learning from him and we took agility classes at a place that was understanding of her background. She must have thought that was the weirdest thing me asking her to do all those obsticales, but she did it and it really built her confidence. She so wants to please and, although she has a mind of her own, I am her leader and she will follow me anywhere.
  You are going such a good thing and your patience will be rewarded 10 fold. It took 6 months to turn the corner with Cindy Lou so hang in there.
  Jan D.
  Trueman Poodle
  & Cindy Lou Who