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reward based confidence building is the key...that goes for you too..if you find yourself getting frustrated with your lack of patients, stop, take a break and treat yourself!
I see a dog that is fearful, timid, and yet wanting to take that step towards being relaxed but seems anxious about it. This is an extraordinarily important time in the dog's life (and your life). It is very important that you build upon a strong foundation of ignoring the fear, rewarding calm and relaxed behavior, and not pushing her too far too fast.
Something you may want to try is a vest... Something perhaps like this. You can use the vest to calm her down but also give her the impression that she's "doing" something. The vest is not a permanent solution but one to work on and assist in calming her down so that you can reward and reinforce the relaxed behavior. Naturally, you will slowly work your way towards weaning her off the vest.
At this time, a larger part of how this plays out is going to depend on how YOU react and interact with the dog during her adjustment period. You have to be careful to expose (very slowly) the dog to a wide range of environments where calm behavior is rewarded. Otherwise, she will only see you as the thing that alleviates your fear and she could still be scared of everything else. If done incorrectly, she'll probably trust you, be fine in the house, but every time you go on a walk, everything from a squirrel to a garbage can will send her to you tail tucked or have her headed back to the house at all costs.
Here's a small video to watch about "Capturing Calmness."
The first pic says, "Can't a girl take pee in peace? Really? Seriouslly, a picture now of all times? How embarrassing!"
Seriously, ears up, nice and alert, tail not between legs is great, confidence is building. (Have never seen one urinate w/tail between legs.) Good body posture in first pic.
Second pic, love ears up, again alert look - not I want to melt into floor so noone notices me. She's giving you eye contact, that is a sign of trust, dogs will not give you eye contact if they don't trust you. (She's doing very well with you!)
She does not look like a bully to me. She does have that Pharaoh mix look, though. Her sister does look like she might have a little bully, but not your girl.
The first pic says, "Can't a girl take pee in peace? Really? Seriouslly, a picture now of all times? How embarrassing!"
Seriously, ears up, nice and alert, tail not between legs is great, confidence is building. (Have never seen one urinate w/tail between legs.) Good body posture in first pic.
I didn't think a dog would urinate or poop on their own tail either, but her tail was so wrapped under her body (on Day 2) that she pooped right on it! No joke!!! At least she isn't doing that anymore, thank God!
why do I look at that dog and think Jack Russell Terrier?
20yrsinBranson
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