Tonight, I am being asked to help Prudence, a good dog in a lot of trouble.
When P saw Prudence in an animal shelter five weeks ago, she saw a sign on her crate which said “Rescue Only, Timid.”
And when she asked the workers at the shelter about her, she was told that Prudence, a young Great Dane who was emaciated, was about to be euthanized.
P took her home and put the dog in her 20 by 40 x six feet high kennel. Prudence is gentle and not aggressive, and loves her food, but she is terrified of people. One look in the dog’s eyes tells me she has been traumatized severely and will need a great deal of wise and patient care.
I’m talking to the family this afternoon on Zoom, and I hope to be of help. I have some ideas ready for them to consider, but I need to know much more about Prudence’s history, behaviors, and responses since she got out of the shelter.
She won’t go near people and runs to a corner and hides if any stranger appears. She even abandons her food if she sees a new person.
I’m glad they called on me to help; I’ve been busy thinking and researching issues relating to traumatized and severely frightened animals.
Every dog has a weak spot, something they love or badly want to do, which is often the way to change behavioral changes in traumatized dogs. I call it exploiting what they love.
I advocate avoiding the things that frighten them for a long time and not pushing them too quickly to change, which scares them all the more. Building a trusting relationship is the key.
I also advocate one of my favorite tools, calming training which builds trust with their humans and settles them down. I’ll know more tonight.
This will take a great deal of time and patience; in Cesar’s world, dogs are flipped in seconds on TV, but in our world, it’s a lot trickier. Prudence is being given a second change in life by good and committed people. I’m sure we can find a way to help her.
As described, Prudence is frightened of people to a greater degree than any dog I can recall knowing or hearing about. This is the kind of problem I hoped to encounter when I started thinking about my Dog Support program.
With the family’s permission (I won’t reveal their location, real names, or identity), I’ll write about Prudence and the different things we are trying.
If you need Dog Support, e-mail me at [email protected]. It costs $50 per half hour. I’ll guide you from there. I do it on Zoom, facetime, or the telephone.
FIrst, they need to feed her/him. I have had several Great Dames in my lifetime and this dog has been nearly starved. They are very gentle dogs for the most part and tolerant of most people but this poor baby has been so mistreated that it will take some time tor it to re
gain trust…Good luck.
They’ve been feeding her regularly, Sally, and is gaining weight steadily. She is in good and very knowledgeable hands. And yes, she has been severely mistreated and will need loving and gentle care for a long time..
I fostered a very shy, very gentle dog this winter. She didn’t want anything to do with being touched by people, but loves food and other dogs, thank goodness. Almost a year later and we are all coexisting peacefully. Only I can pet her, but I also have done most of the food dropping and morning toast sharing. Lots of time…
I rescued a fearful, big dog. I found that the best way to connect with her was to lie down with food nearby and not look at her.
yes, that’s a good idea and part of the plan..
oh my, Prudence is fortunate to have been taken in by loving and caring people who want to help her become the dog she probably *is*…….or can be. If only we could know what she has endured…..it does not look pleasant and we probably wouldn’t want to know, really. This seems to be a dog (and her owners) that will greatly benefit from your experience and knowledgable counsel and guidance. Bless you, Prudence…….. and bless you, Jon, and bless her adopters. I will anticipate updates as their journey progresses. Makes me want to weep, looking at this pic. I am optimistic that there is a warm and beautiful spirit in there just waiting to be released, I believe there IS!
Susan M
The owner and I had a really great session tonight, we threw around a lot of ideas and we’re going to talk once a week for awhile..SHe really knows dogs and is committed to Prudence..I’m excited, this is a creative as well as a humanitarian challenge..
Yay for Prudence and all the compassionate and skilled support she is getting now. May all good things ensue.
Thanks Lori, I’m quite hopeful..it’s the worst fear case I’ve ever seen..but she has a great owner..
I agree with Susan, bless you and her new owner’s. It is so sad what this poor creature has gone through. I will keep you all in my prayers.
Thanks, Marsha, I’m very hopeful…it will just take time, love and patience..snd she’ll get all three.