very frightened foster dog

SnackattackJack, thankyou. You gave us some really great stuff. I'm getting another roommate and he has 3 grown and happy pack oriented labs. She has already met them, she runs away but watches with curiosity so I think it will work out, the Labs will be in a seperate section of my house.
My tone of voice IS a problem. My world fell apart over the last 12 months, divorce then my becoming disabled caused Mickey to lose any sense of a Dominant to look towards. She stayed by my side for nearly five months on my bed while I recovered from surgery and I know it worried her greatly. I tend to coddle her, but I am now aware and halt it immediately yay.
I received a plastic crate from the Lab owner yesterday but didn't have the chance to show Mickey. Disasterous results. Storm early morning, I placed Mickey in the sm bathroom. I checked on her 3x all was well. The last 1/2 she tore the hinges off the door and broke the jamb. Her paws are cut [cleaned and checked her mouth too], I was calm til she was outside with me then I cried.
So I brought the crate up to my room and she is going in on her own, with me, with and without treats. She spent 20 with the door shut and is now outside playing. The crate is her friend, and I fit in with her *I may be the one to sleep in it haha*. I've crating questions in Asking Out/Strange stuff as well as half this post but in more detail.
Ohgosh SAJ all your words came at the right time. Thankyou for the support of me, as well as the needed direction for both of us.
 
 

You're more than welcome.  I am so glad to hear she likes her crate. Crates are a haven for  dogs like Mickey.  Our dog hated the crate.  He was very young when found him at the shelter and he was happy around people and dogs, as long as he had time to acclimate, but something bad happened to him.  He was hand shy and skinny from being on the streets. We tried to use the crate to housetrain him, though after a while we realized that just wasn't right for him. The anxiety it caused him and us was not worth it so we used baby gates to block off the kitchen and I just lived in there with him (I don't work) while he was being housetrained.  His attitude improved greatly.  There's just no one way to deal with every dog. They're all different.  So, if things don't work right away, don't panic!  Try the same idea, with a slightly different approach. A good acid test for whether you're going to have success with a particular method is to compare the length of time you've been working on a particular technique to the the time it took you to successfully train her in another area.  For instance, a dog that was able to learn sit and stay in two days should be able to learn an anti-barking or heeling command within a similar, reasonable time frame. If you find yourself working on it for a few weeks, its not working!
 
I have to say that, although it sounds like you've been through a lot lately, from my perspective, it sure sounds like there's a TON of possibility in your future for you and your dog.  I mean, I realize its hard now, but as you get physically stronger and emotionally stronger, just keep focusing on how great it will be that you're going to make a huge (and are already making a huge) difference in her life.  Sadly, not many people would try with a scared dog like her.  She's lucky to have you and you're lucky to have her. I'm sure she is enriching your life incredibly.
 
Sounds like your roommates (people and canine!) are going to help a lot, too. I like to hear that she has a natural curiosity about the dogs.  I predict she'll overcome the shyness with them and they'll do their little doggie thing to help her with her problems, too.  I'm always amazed at how dogs take each other under their wings and show each other the ropes!
 
Also, just to share with you some of my success with my dog, Jack....I never had a shy dog before.  We've always had alphas or outgoing dogs.  This was very difficult for me to deal with in the beginning and I wasted a lot of time and energy feeling sorry for him.  He wasn't as traumatized as Mickey sounds, but was afraid of all sorts of little things like cardboard boxes (someone probably put him in one because the fear was way out of proportion) and our kitchen table (he bumped his head the first day home and thought the table was a puppy eating monster from them on...)  After a few months, we knew his confidence had grown when we threw the tennis ball under the table and he thought about getting it before chickening out.  We never coddled him or got the ball for him (until he was alseep or didn't see us take it out from under the table.)  We were so encouraged.  Little by little, weeks at a time, he got up his courage and finally the day came when he reached his paw in there to grab at the ball.  Huge step, but he still gave up.  The following day, he hesitatingly went under the table completely, slowly backed out and stepped back, ball still in mouth and looked down the hallway at my husband and I, who were completely silent, trying to not screw it up for him.  We could see the look on his face when his fear literally turned into pride and he pranced back to us, shoulders and head held high, wagging like he'd never wagged before.  Both of us were beaming with pride, too, because we knew that if he was with someone else, he might have never gotten the chance to overcome his fear.  Just this small experience alone has made me grow as a person and I feel I took on some of his confidence, too. He's been fine ever since and even lives under the table when I'm in the kitchen during the day.  Now,  if we could just get him over the vaccuum cleaner....
 
Whenever you need encouragement, send me a private message!
 

I have found the "B" vitamins helps my anxious rescue dog.  I use Canine One , I buy off the internet.  At first wasn't sure it helped, but when I ran out, he totally lost valuable ground he had made.
 
I contacted a homeopath who put him on Pulsitilla.  IT was 3 doses in 3 days, then in a month, a couple more does, then 4 months later.  He was "wind" in that world of medicine.
 
You can try Bach flower essences,,"Minimulus" for fear.  A couple on drops on the gums or rub on his ears.  or WALNUT I think is for life changing
 
My dog was terrified of walks at first.  we only went about 3 houses length and when we turned he was pulling so hard to get back into our yard.  ITs been almsot 2 years and now, my God, this dog begs for walks. At first he would stand in front of me to tell me he wants to go home.  I gently would take him down a new street and he was very anxious.  Now,  he leads me down those streets and loves it.  I taught him to SIT so I can put on his halter and and LEASH to attach his leash.  IF you have a well adjusted dog, like the lab, take the 2 out for walks.  He will learn to gain confidence from the lab.  He used to be afraid of getting in our truck, now he jumps right up.
 
Yes it takes a lot of patience, but you can do it.  Bless you and good luck!

I came on this topic because I am bringing home a greyhound who has been in a previous home but was returned because she is terrified of everything! I have had "spooked" dogs before but this one has a few different issues so I was hoping to get some suggestions on things I hadn't thought of. This is a very helpful forum and I now have some extra ideas, so thanks so much!
I did have maybe 1 suggestion for "kritterscorner" and that is a doggie backpack. I am a huge dog whisperer fan and I have learned a lot of great tips form watching the show, reading the book and from his training DVD (close leash-you lead them, careful when to give affection so you don't foster their fears, when encountering something that causes fear- ignore their reaction, stop and wait if you have to...). One thing I have seen used multiple times is the doggie backpack that you can fill with between 7-10% of their body weight. Water bottles are a good item to put in them for the weight. The idea behind this is distraction. If he is focused on the packpack and doing a "job" he can't focus as much on other things going on around him. Since he is just a foster and you don't have a huge amount of time to spend on re-training, maybe the backpack would be benificial?? I would recommend no weight in it at first, but if it goes over well and he is young and healthy, then add a little weight so that it tires him out. A tired dog will do better in your home too!   

Hey, on the subject of backpacks..where can I get one that will fit a 4.5 lb chihuahua? I have 2 of them, and the youngest has an INSANE amount of energy! I think this would really help him (and me!) a lot on our walks.

Wow, that would be a tiny backpack!!
Not sure where you could find one for a dog that small. The one I got is from Outward hound, but not sure they come in a small enough size. REI the outdoor store also has a bunch but again, not sure about the size.

I would do an online search and see what companies come up. I am sure it would be nice to "even out" their energy level a bit!

Thanks for the info! I did find Outward Hound (how much do I love that name?) online, but their smallest is too big. I'll check into the other one though. I wonder if someone would be able to make me one, even? It's a bit weird to think a chihuahua would be so high energy (my other one is content with a toddle round the block) - but I can HONESTLY run with him for a good stretch before I get tired - and HE'S still rarin' to go. Must be on the 'roids, I say.

I think making one might just be the right idea for you. I really like the ones at REI that have mesh over their back so that they don't get so hot. If you can't find one, I would take a look at a larger size one and see if you think someone could make a "mimi" size. It doesn't have to be anything fancy.

Good luck!  []