Now Please - Trying to coax a very fearful dog - CoBuHe

Bruister, I too thought about a toy...I didn't have one at the time, since I was at the shop...I'll take one tomorrow and see...I'm willing to try everything.  I do think that she is just too fearful to want to play; I think she is in survival mode right now.  Although...she did perk up when I turned and jogged back towards my door.  Like I said, she started to follow with a trot.  I also wondered if one of my dogs would be able to help coax her.  Definately not Heidi...perhaps Bruder.  I wonder if the old man would be the best selection...if I tried that.

Leis, it was like one step forward, then two steps back....because I had her eating out of my hand (so sweetly too).  Then I brought the rope out (no leash with me), and I feel like I ruined everything I had gained with her.  I'm sure that she was abused by a man....so says the mechanic.  And, I also thought that she might be scared of this new owner as well.  I just don't know.

The more I think about it, the more I don't think it would be a good idea to bring her home if/when I catch her.  But, that is my thought at this moment in time. 

CoBuHe

).  Then I brought the rope out (no leash with me), and I feel like I ruined everything I had gained with her.

I feel terrible for suggesting the snare. :(    I should have kept my mouth zipped.  I have done it successfully but as I said it was dogs I had been feeding to gain their trust for a while.  Sorry.

CoBuHe

I think she is in survival mode right now.  Although...she did perk up when I turned and jogged back towards my door.  Like I said, she started to follow with a trot. 

The more I think about it, the more I don't think it would be a good idea to bring her home if/when I catch her.  But, that is my thought at this moment in time. 

There is survival (where dogs will respond to genuine care and attention)  and there is survival (where as humans we have a lot of proving to do to show that we are safe)...you have shown this little girl that she is not in that impossible survival place.  She wants to hang with you, but she is not sure how to do that.  

I will tell you a quick story about a dog that my friend and I managed to grab.  We played soccer (gently) in front of him....he was a prey driven dog and he really wanted that soccer ball.  Once he learned that we were only too glad to give it to him, we had him.  We still had a lot of work to do, but eventually we were able to leash him and go from there.  

Jackie, please no....I had the rope out before you suggested it.  We were thinking along the same lines for sure.

I'll spend some time tomorrow morning just hanging out making our back door a nice place to be.  I'll also try my best to do this with patience. 

I agree about training the mechanic.  I don't know how open he would be to advice...but if I'm suttle enough he soak in something.   

Sometimes a wee bit of valerian tincture in a little peanut butter will relax a skittish dog enough to make friends easier.  If you are in a position to lie down on your back that can also help convince her you're no threat. 

 Don't really have any advice to add so I'll just send some good dog catching vibes your way. 

 I know it is hard but sometimes I think the best things to do in these situations is to say to yourself, "I'm not going to try and catch this dog today, we are only going to have fun and become friends.  Tomorrow then maybe I'll see about catching her."  Basically try to take off all the pressure.  Dogs are so good at reading us and a sensitive one like this can tell a mile away when we are trying to trick them or have ulterior motives, even if they are good ones.  Our bodies do subtle things we couldn't possible hide.

It is very hard for sure...because this girl really needs to get out of the element and get into a safe and warm environment where she can start a new life.  I have no doubt that yesterday my vibes were all about "I need to capture you."  I'm going to try very hard to do nothing but gain her trust this morning. 

I'm thinking about taking the 1/2 crate and making it comfy; some dog food; a couple of toys; and The Bud Man to see if we can make friends.

Buddy might be the just the ticket.

I wish you well in making a new friend. And I have no other advice than to keep doing what your doing and good luck with it.

When I drove up to the shop, I found her sitting in between cars in front of the mechanics shop.  So, that is a good sign....she is sticking around her owner's place.

I put a bowl of food out in front of the shop....then got Buddy out.  She ran away at the sight of Buddy...but I ignored her...and took Buddy in.  After I got settled,  I put Buddy on a long lead and walked him around the pond out back....as I was walking by our place, I saw her eating the food I put down. 

I sat down in the chair and Buddy layed down by me....and I saw her in the distance, about 200' away.  I don't think I'll have any success today with perhaps the exception of gaining interest.

No mechanic this morning as of yet.  I can only stay another hour, then need to leave.  Stay tuned.

 Would she jump in an open car door? I have caught dogs that way before.

 If you still can't get her, you may want to see if any of the rescues around you have a trap big enough for a dog her size. You can get info on local rescues by doing a petfinder search.

That said, I'm not sure I'd be trying harder than the owner is to catch this dog. If he isn't concerned about her being loose, she'll likely just escape again the first chance she has.

That is so funny that you suggest that.  Right now, I have the back of my blazer open with a bowl of food in it.    The owner said he was going to try it yesterday, I don't know if he did.  But I thought it was worth a try.

My gut is not allowing me to ignore this girl.  I do hear you about the owner...and I am concerned about her getting loose again.  But, I just can't not try to catch her.

Earlier I had come inside to get out of her sight.  I opened up the back door and she was walking off with Buddy's Twist and Treat filled with cream cheese and blueberries.  She laid down and enjoyed that for a bit. 

Buddy and I have to leave now.  Earlier though I have to tell you....when she was enjoying her T&T with creamcheese and blueberries...I sat down on the curb about 50 feet away from her, talking softly to her.  That girl got up and walked over to me!  I averted my eyes and just let her do what she wanted to do.  She came up behind me and sniffed...touching me!  I'm calling this a success.  I was able to snap some pics...I'll post later when I get a chance.

I've got a nice comfy 1/2 crate filled with towels with a bowl of food and water in front of it.  Its all I can do for now.  No mechanic yet and its 10am.  Hopefully he will do what he said he would and show up.  sigh

Stay tuned.

 That's awesome!!! I hope you're able to get her, soon.

Here are some pictures of the girl.

When I drove up, she was laying by the cars.  She moved between the cars to watch me.

Here she is after she swiped Buddy's cream cheese/blueberrieTwist&Treat.

I was able to sit down across the parking lot while she enjoyed her T&T for a few minutes:

A bit later when Buddy was inside and I was just hanging...she came to check me out.  I did nothing...except snap this shot.  lol

I'm gathering that this girl is not so much fearful, but completely distrusting.  There was all kinds of noise going on, which didn't seem to thorw her in to a fright and flight at all.  Her nerves were strong.  She no likey people though.