2 Shy Goldens

Honestly, I would skip next weekends event.  Too much too soon for these pups and it could create long term problems for them.

glenmar

Honestly, I would skip next weekends event.  Too much too soon for these pups and it could create long term problems for them.

I agree.  Sitting in the kennel with treats and allowing the dogs to approach you will be very helpful.  You can toss treats toward the dog while keeping your gaze averted and your voice soft and encouraging.  You have to adjust the distance between yourself and the dog based on the dog's reaction to your proximity.  They'll probably get better fairly quickly if they aren't pushed too far, too fast.  Good luck and thanks for helping these dogs.

glenmar

Honestly, I would skip next weekends event.  Too much too soon for these pups and it could create long  them.s

Agreed. Too much too fast, for these pups.

glenmar

Honestly, I would skip next weekends event.  Too much too soon for these pups and it could create long term problems for them.

Ditto

To add to your training one thing I would consider is separating the two dogs into kennels where they can't see or hear each other.  They are feeding off of each other and as long as they are together they find comfort in each other while doing what they can to avoid you. By working with each one on its own it will learn that you are the one it needs to trust. I think if you are going to see improvement you are going to have to work with each one separately. Once you built some stability as an individual dog you could bring them together again. 

I know that sounds harsh but trust me, I have done this with shelter dogs and once the dogs were separated, I could really get through to them and they started to trust me.  When they are together they just feed off of each other's fear and it can become more difficult in the long run to get through to them.

Training in a shelter setting is very difficult and follows different rules then training an owned dog.  You are basically working on behavior modification in a short period of time in a place that is unfamiliar to the dog with limited tools to use. Essentially what you are training for is to make the dog more adoptable. Look up "Open Paw" if your shelter doesn't already use it, there is some great advice in that program.

Thanks everyone for your input:I have to be there but I'll make sure the dogs aren't placed in a stressful situation.

dogjunkie

Thanks everyone for your input:I have to be there but I'll make sure the dogs aren't placed in a stressful situation.

Paige, if this is a shelter, they might just open things up and let folks roam.  However, if there is an isolation room or someplace that these dogs can be placed away from the mainstream of human traffic, I strongly encourage it.  Finding a very short term foster home to get them completely out of the event would be even better.

There is some reason that these dogs are so shy.  Could be anything or could be as simple as having just flat not been socialized, but, putting them in a stressful situation like an adoption event, isn't going to help and it might do a lot of damage.

Separating the dogs is a really good idea so that you can work with them individually.  It sounds like they are so tightly bonded that there just isn't room for people in their lives, so at the VERY least, pull them apart for training seasons.  It would be great for the dogs if they could be adopted together, but, FIRST they need to learn that people are GOOD things, and I agree that that won't happen while they share the same cage.

I've done enough work with shelters to "get" the limited space, limited resources, need to get these dogs placed, but, it sounds to me like you've got a couple special needs puppers who are going to need a good deal longer to be successfully placed in forever homes.  A good foster home could be the ticket.

ETA:  I won't get into the differences in trainers, but, even CM will admit that the shy dog only comes to HIM in that instance.  Sitting there isn't going to break all the barriers.  I don't disagree with sitting, treating, not looking at the dog and being very non-threatening, but doing that is only going to work for the ONE human who does it, and when that human throws a lead on the dog and tries to expose them to other scarey creatures (humans), that work is going to circle the drain pretty quickly.  More than that, the dog in question is going to feel pretty duped and distrust people even more.

glenmar

Paige, if this is a shelter, they might just open things up and let folks roam. 

For some reason when I first read it, I thought she was GOING to an adoption event - where they bring the animals to a site and "show them off", etc.  I wasn't reading it like they would be opening their doors for an event.  In re-reading it, I see that it sounds more like they have visitors coming in to their facility.  IMO, dogs like that probably need to be in a foster environment, not a shelter, so perhaps the adoption event could be good to expose them to someone who wants to foster one or both of them.

Good luck to the dogs. 

 Paige,

  I totally agree with you that these dogs should be placed in a quiet area while the adoption is going on; I'll talk to the operations manager at the

shelter but I know in advance that she won't agree. My only hope is to talk with the adoptions supervisor  and see if the two of us can convince her to do it.

Conversely, how do you think they would do if they were outside - ie, not confined within a small kennel area?  Given the space to know they are not FORCED to interact with people, I wonder if they would feel more comfortable coming forward.  They may still seek to retreat to a small space, but I'd start gently testing some of that - see what their reactions are like when you bring them outside of the small enclosure (separated from eachother) and have them see people walking by who don't want to assault them with attention, then step up to having a passerby look at them in a friendly manner, but not approach.  Then having the passerby stop and bringing the dog to stop near the passerby who is not looking at the dog, to see if the dog is curious for interaction.  Go slowly, being careful not to be creepy.  Dogs recognize when people are being creepy/weird and it really freaks a fearful dog out.  The more people ignore the dogs and allow the dogs to choose the interaction, the more confidence they can build that someone isn't out to get them.