calliecritturs
Posted : 7/13/2006 8:46:30 PM
Mhadog is absolutely right. You *must* let this dog come to you and give him the room to do that. However, you CAN certainly stack the odds in your favor with treats, etc.
My husband and I have taken on several abused animals -- one in particular comes to mind. She was terrified of people generally, but I was her rescuer (literally I took her off the street, and I recognized when we drove by where she 'lived' and how TERRIFIED she was of that place) so she trusted me slightly more.
But she was horribly 'gunshy' -- probably literally (she grew up in a major horrible ghetto). ANY sharp sound would have her leaping for the ceiling. One time my husband poured a 20 pound bag of dog food into the sealed trash can we had in the kitchen and just the sound of that kibble hitting the can -- she lept 6 feet in the air and headed for the furthest place in the house!!
She was particularly afraid of men -- my husband would lie on his back absolutely motionless (a posture of total submission "I will not hurt you" in dog-ese) while I got her to stay in the same room. he would simply touch her and eventually pet her gently He would talk to her constantly - sort of crooning and just speaking very comforting to her and letting her know he wasn't dangerous. Ultimately she bonded very tightly with him.
At one point we were working on riding in the car. Because she was SO noise shy, being in a car when you drove over a pothole or !!heaven forbid!! ~~ hit those little reflectors they have in the road in the South -- She would bounce around the car like a richocheting bullet. I was afraid she'd wreck us.
Solution: I drove and my husband got her to sit in the floor of the front seat in front of him (this was after she began to tolerate his presence and not be terrified of him). And he literally 'talked her through' everything -- "Ahhh ... Mom's gonna drive over some bumps -- here they come "bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity bumpity " and he'd say that in a sing song voice while going over the bumpy/noisy parts. Soon I was driving over the noisest things I could find -- and she was fine -- the bumpitys became more for fun than anything. But it was that rhythm of his voice - that soft cadence that calmed her.
Try singing to her -- it doesn't matter a BIT if you sing well. It's the cadence -- just a gentle silly song. Incorporate her name into some silly children's song. One of MY favorites is "The Muffin Man" -- except with different words: "Oh do you know my _______ girl? My __________ girl? ... she lives on ____________."
Like "Oh do you know my Billy boy ... my Billy boy, my Billy boy .. do you know my Billy boy .. he lives on Newburg Streeeeeeet" -- whatever just incorporate their name in a song -- they LOVE it.
She's likely been abused by a specific person or gender. And greys are sensitive anyway. They often have never gone up stairs, seen laundry flapping in the wind, or seen an umbrella among a zillion other things.
On walks try to expose her to new things and show they can be fun. Just going up and down the steps in front of the library, going to 'checkout' some squeaky playground equipment -- anything to de-mystifiy the stuff that scares her.
You'll be a lifetime finding all her foibles and fears -- but you will create an awesome bond with this dog.
In return why not take her to obedience class and then try some dog sport with her -- anything from tracking to rally. It will give her confidence (there is NOTHING like a dog hearing "Go Baby go -- WOWWW WHATTA KID!!" and an obedience class is a great cheering section!!).
Good luck.