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How to deal with a fearful rescue dog?

Marcella Ullrich
Marcella Ullrich
2025-06-27 17:18:59
Count answers : 9
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I use a very soothing and gentle tone of voice. I don't make prolonged eye contact, don't force much physical contact. When I speak to him, I get down on his level, at a distance and hold out a cupped palm with treats in it. I offer treats as positive reinforcement but he rarely takes them, even if I leave them on the floor and remove myself to a different room. He does often get so overwhelmed by, I don't know, anything and everything that he just collapses. To get him to eat or go outside, we have to put his leash on, otherwise he won't even move. Occasionally, even with the leash, we sometimes have to pick him up and bodily move him, as we are concerned he will soil himself instead of leaving his crate to go potty outside.