Rescued Dog

[lreddinglina]

My family rescued a beagle from a shelter a few weeks ago, he has not been able to warm up to our family and suffers from severe anxiety. Does anyone know any programs or methods I can do to help Tommy warm up to the family.

-Linda

[deadgamegrrl]

Great suggestions! I'll add two. If you are just sitting with him and trying to get hi to approach with treats, don't look directly at him. Dogs think a stare is a challenge. Just kinda keep your eyes elsewhere and the treats visible and he may become your best friend.

Also, if he isn't crate trained it would be a good thing to do once he warms up a little. The crate will then be his 'safe house' where he can go when he gets overwhelmed and know that no one will bother him.

Good luck!

[Jerry_NJ]

Do you know if the dog has any physical problems such as hearing loss.  Our rescue Westie was described as hard of hearing, I'll call him deaf.  This makes the process of control and interaction more difficult, but he is mostly integrated with us now, just my wife and I, no children at home.

Wishing you success, it is worth some extra effort to bring your adoption around to being a part of the family.

[Margot49]

Good idea and may certainly be worth a try!

[BluCrystal]

There is a thing you can purchase at good pet stores called a 'Thunder Shirt' for dogs who suffer nervousness.  It works by hugging them, which alot of dogs find comforting.  Blessings to you and your new friend - Blu

[Margot49]

Kudos to you and the family for rescuing this dog!  First, can I ask how many in your family and are their children and their ages?  Any idea as to the age of the dog?
First off, it can be a difficult situation if you don't know the history on the dog.  Was the Shelter able to supply any information? Was he picked up or relinquished?  The Shelter itself can be a traumatic experience for an animal then he is introduced to your family, yet another new environment, etc.  it is best to not try and "push" him but you do need to set up his own areas for food and water and where he sleeps and regular exercise.  Is he crate trained?  Without seeing the situation and the dog, it can be difficult to advise.
Try not to give him free run of the house.  Keep him in a room you are in but don't force yourself on him.  Sit on the floor with treats and try to entice him to come near you but don't grab fir him.  If he takes a treat, praise him.  Do you take him for walks?  If so, start by staying on the outskirts of activities and let him observe, treat and praise.  See if he is interested in a Kong toy stuffed with treats.
I always suggest at least one basic obedience class.  If a class atmosphere is too much for him, seek the advice of a trainer for some one on one training.
Do some searching on dog training on the Internet and you might check Cesar Milan's web site.
Best advice, time, patience and consistency.
Good luck with your boy and keep us posted