Tommy Coyote Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 I am taking care of a very spooky golden. I am having a terrible time getting her to go outside. She's just afraid of me. She comes right back in so that's not a problem. She has to go out a door and through the garage and then out a side door. It's kind of a long way when she'S scared. And we have major rain coming and that will make it worse. Spooky dogs are the hardest ones I have to deal with. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amc Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 Cheeseburger. She's a golden, right? Good luck! Amy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisandgabe Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 Maybe some Adaptil to try and take the edge off a little? I think I'd also try bringing some wonderfully smelly food and dropping it on the ground so she can follow it and follow you out that way, and doesn't need to get close enough to you to take it from your hand. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Coyote Posted November 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 Hot dogs? There is another golden there who tries to hog everything. They are so different from each other. Cheese burger, huh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cass C Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 Specifically try warm hot dogs (heated in the microwave for 30 seconds). My dogs go crazy for them, and even my trainer's spooky Belgian will very carefully take them out of stranger's hands. I'd lock the other dog somewhere else while you try and bond with the spooky one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz P Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 Don't try to make friends with her. That makes it worse. Talk to yourself (explain everything you are doing to her, even if it sounds stupid). Don't make eye contact. Curl your body inward, slump your shoulder, turn your head slightly away, move slowly and speak softly. If she ever tries to approach you, keep this posture. Do not turn around to greet her. A gentle (not excited or high pitched) "good dog" if she does something you like. Try to use words she knows if the owners left a list of commands. If she likes food, carefully toss treats to her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Coyote Posted November 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 Ok. I'll try. She has always been like this and I only go up there maybe once a year so she doesn't remember me. I bought hot dogs. I will do them last so I don't have to be somewhere else . Better if I don't feel hurried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Coyote Posted November 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 And you should see the rain headed this way. It's going to be a fun day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liz P Posted November 26, 2015 Report Share Posted November 26, 2015 It's just cloudy here and quite warm, at least mid 60s. Turkey is in the oven. I was going to try to get the dogs walked before the rain started. Better get that done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Coyote Posted November 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 Hot dogs are working. I got her out. I hope they don't make her sick. The weather here is just miserable. Cold and pouring down rain but I got her out. Now we have a freezing rain warning for early tomorrow. Worst thanksgiving in 50 years. I can't believe it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D'Elle Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 Hot dogs in small doses should not make her sick. I slice the hot dog into quarters, lengthwise, and then slice those strips into tiny pieces. That way you can give lots of treats without it all adding up to even half of a hot dog. I hate using hot dogs for treats because of all the nasty chemicals in them, (I won't eat one, myself), but as a last resort they can be magic, and you are in a situation where whatever works is what you need to do. Good luck. h, and considering the season, small pieces of turkey might be good too. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pam Wolf Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 yup lots of rain! and getting icy last night. Stay save driving! as for the dog, the smellier, tastier the treat the better luck you will have. Additionally toss them to the dog then back up a step or two. repeat and see if that works. I findYummy Chummies (salmon treats) or Sella and Chewies (fancy dog food) will work with many dogs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Coyote Posted November 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 Hot dogs are working. I can't get very close to her but she'S beating me outside now as soon as she sees the package of hot dogs. It's so crummy out here today. Not pouring down rain anymore but soggy and freezing. One weather guy said it'a the worst thanksgiving in 50 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushdoggie Posted November 27, 2015 Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 Don't try to make friends with her. That makes it worse. Talk to yourself (explain everything you are doing to her, even if it sounds stupid). Don't make eye contact. Curl your body inward, slump your shoulder, turn your head slightly away, move slowly and speak softly. If she ever tries to approach you, keep this posture. Do not turn around to greet her. A gentle (not excited or high pitched) "good dog" if she does something you like. Try to use words she knows if the owners left a list of commands. If she likes food, carefully toss treats to her. This. My dog doesn't like humans other than his family to be too familiar. The harder they try to "make friends" the more uncomfortable he is. Worse yet, people who follow the rules and don't try to make friends become comfortable for him, so he relaxes, then they see him relax and think "oh he wants to be friends now." No, really, he doesn't. And now he's learned that you can't ever relax because even people who you thought were cool will try to get in your face. He LOVES my petsitter because she never, ever does. She is exceptional. And thus, she is his friend because he can trust her to not violate his personal space, and he does politely whatever she asks, tail wagging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Coyote Posted November 27, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 27, 2015 My Joe is like that. Too. He doesn't like strangers. This dog is coming around just in time for her owners to get home. At least I can get her out and that's the main thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GentleLake Posted November 29, 2015 Report Share Posted November 29, 2015 ... I only go up there maybe once a year so she doesn't remember me. Sure she does. I'm always amazed at dogs' memories for people. But if she's a fraidy dog and sees you so rarely, she's still afraid of you. It sounds like you've made great headway with her, at least as far as getting her to go where she needs to go for you. She will remember those hot dogs next year and associate you with them in a positive way, especially if you remember to use the postures Liz taught you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Coyote Posted November 29, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2015 She was beating me out the door for that piece of hot dog. Whatever works with dogs like that. The owners are home now and all is well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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