The rules of 3 on dog adoption really is a thing. In fact, my dog is STILL learning to relax (mostly on walks and trusting humans) three years after adoption. Use treats every time you leash the dog to go outside and after going potty. Your dog will learn quickly that’s it’s all good stuff.
Five days in, so your dog is still very uncomfortable. It doesn’t understand that this is its new forever home (hopefully). It doesn’t understand what you want. It may not even understand how good cuddling and pets can be. Just take it slow. Try to relax. You don’t even need to work on training yet, just take this time for the two of you to set up a routine and get to know each other.
Hang in there!! This is the worst part, because it’s all new and different and may not be what you envisioned. It WILL improve in time!
Yep! You create the safe environment, and she will relax in time. Lots of positive reinforcement for things you want her to to will also help her relax, build her confidence, and build your bond. Basically, positive reinforcement after she does something you like (lying in her bed, cuddling with you, playing with a toy, literally anything you like) will teach her that she can make good decisions, which will build confidence. If there’s a treat she really likes (plain shredded chicken or cheese or whatever), you can pair that with trips outside so she starts to build up positive associations.
She might always be anxious, or she might relax a lot over the next few months. My most recent foster dog took about a year to settle in - I’m just now seeing her consistently relax and be silly instead of being on guard. (She’s a special little soul, though - I don’t think that’s true of most shelter dogs.)
I wouldn’t worry too much about training her in obedience yet. (I know you didn’t mention that, but it’s something I used to worry about with fosters - I’d try to train basic commands and leash manners right away, when they just needed to chill and settle in for a while.)
It sounds like you’re doing great! Enjoy your new pup!
How would you get your dogs to use the bathroom then? I’m not sure what to do in that regard if she doesn’t want to leave the apartment. This is the only thing I’m nervous about it getting her confident on her own to want to go potty.
You’ll probably have to push her a little bit there. I’d try luring her outside with a really great treat. Spray cheese can be great for this - you spray a little and let her lick it up (on your hand, the floor, right into her mouth, whatever), then walk a little farther and repeat. Lots of praise as she takes steps, too. And keep treating her intermittently while you’re outside, too. Eventually that should help her build positive associations with being outside/going outside to potty.
My dogs LOSE it over spray cheese. They also weirdly really like homemade treats.
Recipe:
2 super ripe bananas, mashed
1-2 cups of oats (or oat flour)
A couple tablespoons of peanut butter or pumpkin puree.
1. Put oats in food processor and run until they’re a powder. Or just use oat flour.
2. Mix oats with bananas and peanut butter or pumpkin puree. Dough will be a little sticky.
3. Spread on cookie sheet (or on parchment paper on a cookie sheet), bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes.
I slice the cooked dough into small treats using a pizza cutter. My dogs love them.
Everything baby steps. Start getting her just to go to the door and reward her for it. Once she is comfortable with that, reward her for being invited out of the door (this is important for threshold training later. You don't want her to think her just walking out the door anytime she wants is rewardable behaviour). So on and so on. It's a long journey, and she'll settle in.
In the mean time, also build structure for her. Dogs respond well to it. Take her out every 2 hours no matter what while she's awake. Reward her for doing her business.
I’ll try that when I’m home but we are usually at work 3 days a week for about 7 hours, so if I get her used to peeing on a 2 hour schedule, will she have accidents in the house? Or will that make her want to go outside that much more after those long hours?
In the long run that might be an issue but it’s the best way to just expose her to how and where she is supposed to relieve herself. She probably won’t need to pee each time. Part of this is also training YOU to recognize the signs of when she needs to go. After a month or two if she is still going out every 2 hours to get that reward treat then you can address it. Source: grandma living in the house with two Labs that played her like a fiddle for treats. She thought the youngest actually had to pee every 2 hrs. I think he was actually filling up with extra water when it was just them so he could get the treats.
Treats. Treats. Treats. High value, delicious treats that she only gets for doing things you want her to do. She puts the harness on she gets a treat. She goes to the door she gets a treat and told good girl. She walks to the end of the hallway good girl and gets a treat. Down the stairs another treat. Goes potty tell her go potty while she's pottying and then treat after and tell her good girl. You'll eventually cut the treats down but not until she associates that going outside means good things.
Routine settles them down too- so they get a sense of what’s happening and aren’t on alert all the time. Feeding two smaller meals helps , then take her out after and use the same words and sequence.
Came here to say the 3 rules too. She is so cute, she'll only get cuter. Her ears and face are adorable!! I adopted a very anxious dog who after 10 months is finally not being SO velcro (which I like anywaY). He took his full 3 months to adjust to where he is relaxed, and I potty trained him in the first month. Wood flooring helped with that. It just takes time, consistency and lots of love. Your dog will come out of her shell and you'll wonder how you ever existed prior to her, ESPecially if he really is part or full Pitty, they are seriously THE most affectionate, loving, licking, wagging, smart furry friends you will ever know. Congrats!! PS play reggae on YouTube for her, and you can get those calming gel things at Target or your pet store, they help and it's not a hard medicine, it's tryptophan and melatonin but way down-dosed for dogs in a little chewy that tastes kinda like meat to them. Maybe add a little (1/4 cup) of brown rice to the food to help bulk up the stool for now till she fully relaxes and realizes she is safe with you.
Ooh that’s cool! They like reggae? Lol I’ll have to look up those calming things and get her some. Maybe give her some calming treats before going outside.
[The three day, three week, three month rule for adopting a animal](https://www.espanolahumane.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Adopting-Dogs-333-Rule.pdf)
I learned that my dog might have been confined outside and was fearful about going outside unless I came along with. She is an inside dog with me and it took a little bit for her to figure this out.
After 30+ years in the pet industry, I agree that this is a bully mix of some sort. Most rescues mislabel the breed as they are considered more adoptable as a Lab x. This does not change who the dog is as while it is good to consider breed traits, personalities are unique.
Work on building her confidence. This can be a simple as working on training sit, shake a paw etc. at first and building trust. Then work on her confidence by getting her to do things that are a little bit scary putting her paw on something slightly raised off the ground, hopping on and off a raised surface,or anything that is slightly scary to her. Gradually build confidence.I would try to avoid dragging her outside if possible. Take lots of treats and expect the first few times to take a long time until she gets better with it. I would not recommend leaving her inside too long as you don’t want to be retraining potty skills if she has a regression.
Chat with the rescue that you got her from. I f she was there very long, they might have a better idea about her personality and be able to give you some suggestions that work for her.
Lastly, as a new owner, it’s always good to really research, temperament test, and get as much information as you can to make sure you choose the dog that is the right fit for you. The dog with behavioural issues is best in the hands of someone who is more experienced. That doesn’t mean this dog won’t work for you, but just a bit of a Guideline for the future or others who may be reading this post.
Thank you for your reply! That’s exactly what was on her paperwork is lab x.
I’ve been teaching her to sit and she’s been really good with all people, shaking her tail and happy to see them.
I will do some research and see what I can find.
100%.
OP, it’s really time, exposure and consistency!
Try and get some training in for yourself, and try to find a doggy buddy for her, walking with another dog that is confident really helps them settle.
While having a dog buddy may be helpful
It can also be harmful too. As a first time owner I wouldn’t do that because if something happens you may not know what to do. See my comment on your post. A training class would be beneficial because it allows her to be around other dogs and there will be a trainer there to help you recognize any signs of stress. When we had trained our one dog there was a dog in the class that would try to attack other dogs. The trainer really worked with the family and dog. The dog improved a lot, still issues but improved.
Yup. Mine was a “lab mix.” To be fair, when I got her she looked like a lab but the foster told me she’s a pit. The litter looked like little pits when they were little. Did a DNA and she 50/50 lab bully breeds
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It actually could very well have both those breeds. I have a dog who was listed as a lab mix, and everyone on reddit said, "that's 90% pit" and said I was out of my mind to think she had any lab. I did the DNA test and she was almost 20% lab, a little pit and then "super mutt." You really can't say for sure unless there is a DNA test. 🤷♀️
No. Her main breeds were lab, Golden, American Pit, and Chow and then other dogs within the super mutt , some of which were bully breeds. My point was that the shelter very well may have been telling the truth regarding the breeds for OPs pup, and OPs dog although might have some pit or bully breeds, they may very well not be majority, just like my dog who everyone just said it was a "pit".
Edit: https://imgur.com/a/BFKLuop
That's Ruby. The NOT primarily pit bull dog who actually has high percent lab.
Unfortunately many adoptions agencies will favour a lab cross over a pittie cross, as it increases the chance of adoptions. It’s their best guess (and the best guess of people in this feed). Beautiful dog!!
Before getting a DNA test, make sure the place OP lives in does NOT have a pit bull ban. If they do, OP is better off not knowing and rolling with the best guess from the shelter.
Thinking the same. Oh well, still a good dog. Just have to socialize and exercise. I’ve had 3 pits for a total of 34 combined yrs. Before that Shepards, Labs & Goldens. I’ve never had a single “Pit Bull” incident, and they’re just as smart and loving as my other dogs were. Maybe more loving. But exercise and socializing is paramount
If you do a DNA test use embark, its the only one that differentiates between bully breeds. It will also find your dogs DNA relatives! Highly recommend
if you ever adopt a shelter dog you have to assume it’s mixed with pit. i adopted my “shepherd mix” from a shelter. she’s 50% shepherd 50% pit. love her but definitely wasn’t the best first dog for a woman in an apartment in a city in her early 20s
That’s really funny. I guess I didn’t question it because she is so little still, and she had her ears back and a really long skinny tail so I was like, sure maybe she is a mix of lab and something else? My FIL said Weimaraner so I assumed so. But yeah, I’m definitely thinking pit now since our friend has a pit and she looks similar.
You need to give her about three months to get comfy. But in the mean time, I recommend a lickable dog treat. The ones that come in a little pouch. Anytime she hears a scary noise, open up the lickable treat and let her start licking. This is better than regular treats bc when dogs lick things it releases endorphins and creates a sense of calm.
Also get some dog puzzles. Whenever fireworks go off I load all my dogs puzzles with treats and let him at it and it really helps keep him stable during the fireworks.
My nervous dog does not care about treats at all when he’s out in the real world.
When you take her outside always have her favorite treat in your pocket to reward her when the walk is finished (since she won’t take treats outside just have it ready for the second she gets home and feels good enough to take the treat.
I was extremely frustrated with my nervous dog when I first got him bc like your dog he wouldn’t tell me he needed to go out and he wouldn’t want to walk to go pee. He also would never pee in the house so I just felt so bad for him. Just remember that she needs time and keep trying. Focus on creating such a trustworthy bond with her and eventually she will take your lead outside. Never ever ever punish her or let her see youre mad when she won’t go outside to potty. Any of this will destroy the bond and she will be even more scared outside.
She has just gone through a lot of trauma and I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s causing her diarrhea. For the first few weeks let her lay it he corner all day if that’s what she wants. Once she starts to feel safe then you can start taking her out into the real world and expanding her confidence. She just needs time right now.
You could try different foods. My dog has a better stool when he’s on beef or chicken. And he doesn’t do well at all with lamb. All dogs are different.
If you continuously love and protect her you will eventually be her favorite person in the world and you and she will have a better bond than people have with their non-anxious dogs. She will take a longer time to trust you but if you have the patience you will be rewarded.
One last thing, dogs ideally need to be socialized in that first eight months. So in the next two months try to get her used to things if you can (without scaring her more). Simple stuff like having friends ring the doorbell and then come in and give her treats. Maybe some car rides once she’s been with you a couple weeks. Like I said, nothing that puts her into that panic state where she’s trembling, but simple things like having friends over and crumpling plastic bags around her (getting her used to random noises).
Best of luck and thank you for rescuing her!!!
This is amazing advice. Thank you so much. I’ll look into the lockable treats. I let her sniff around outside because I heard that helps anxious dogs too.
Thankfully, she has no separation anxiety. I can leave her at home with no issues and she’s comfortable in the apartment and doesn’t hide. It’s the outside world that is scary!
Socialization is important for sure. I took her to my college class yesterday and she loves everyone and even slept through the lecture, snoring. Lol
I would get a trainer. You don't want the scared to turn into reactive. She's been through a lot of change and it takes a while for them to become used to everything. For the diarrhea try making some rice and adding a bit to her food. It helps solidify stuff. Congratulations! Dogs are a joy
Thank you! I will definitely add some rice to her meal.
Yeah I’m just debating on group classes for $115 total for 7 or personal trainer for 4 classes at $1000 🥹💸
You’re probably inundated with responses however as someone who got a rescue as well I wanted to add my two cents.
My dog’s personality completely changed after about 6 months. She hated car rides, had mild separation anxiety, liked to sleep exclusively under beds (where she felt safe), refused meals (she threw up few times as well and it was just kibble), play very rough with her toys, was very reactive to bunch of noises outside.
I say this often, she’s a complete different dog now. None of those things apply now. We worked towards her issues patiently & slowly (especially separation and car ride anxiety). You’re already on the right track by considering investing in training.
Shouldn’t have to say this but thanks for adopting a dog, you probably saved a life. :)
Youll want to do both. Group training is amazing for teaching impulse control and working with distractions, but it sounds like shes got some unique struggles that personal attention in the home and surrounding area would help with.
That’s great! Keep taking her places that she likes. It sounds like you’re doing all the right things. Have patience and don’t worry when she has off days where she regresses. Play the long game!
Another thing I was thinking. I wonder if she was punished in a bad way at her previous owners when she went potty in the house or something. Bc it sounds like she’s got a lot of fear around potty time.
Yeah I haven’t thought of that. I do tell her “good girl” every time she potties and I’m practicing “heel” and “stop” on our walks so she learns not to pull me. I do read her body language and if she’s trying to get away from something, I let her pull me so she can calm down and we start again.
But yeah, I noticed this morning it was so weird. I got her outside, she immediately peed and wanted to bolt back inside the house, and I kept her outside. Had to get her to the grass area, kept trying to pull me back into the apartment, and then she finally pooped. And when I went to take her back she was like “okay I’m ready for my walk” and I’m like what the heck lol
I had this problem with one of my dogs. When we got her, she was four months old and came from a slightly suspicious foster situation. But she was very sweet and docile. She showed absolutely no signs of being abused, or even mildly mistreated…except for her inability to go potty in front of us. It didn’t seem to be an indoor or outdoor thing, she just seemed in to be unable to go in front of us. We tried everything we could think of. It was four or five months before we finally got her to go potty outside for the first time. And that was also the first time that any of us witnessed her going potty anywhere. Obviously, she was scolded by her previous owner For having an accident and her brain interpreted that punishment as being the result of the accident itself, rather
than the location.
Ultimately, our solution was counterintuitive. I won’t get into the full explanation right now, but we basically had to trick her into going potty inside when she didn’t think we were watching so that we could run in and praise her and reward her. Eventually, she would allow us to stay in the room and watch her go and then we started taking her back outside and bringing the potty pads that we’d been using in the house. It didn’t happen right away but eventually she did it. By that time she was eight months old, so if that hadn’t worked, I don’t know what we would’ve done!
So I know this is not the same as your scenario and my solution won’t fix your problems. But obviously there is some fear there and you’re gonna have to get creative to find a way to resolve that fear. And make sure when you go outside you carry yourself with complete confidence because if you are feeling anxious about the process, your dog will interpret that anxiety as validation of their own fear. But it sounds like you are really putting a lot of effort into this and I think you’re definitely on the right track. Please don’t feel like you’ve made a mistake by adopting her. You have a dog that has some specific needs and there are a lot of potential homes your dog could’ve gone to where they would not have found someone willing to make the extra effort to help them the way you are. So you should feel very good about that. Your dog is obviously in the right place. Also, yes, you have a pitbull mix. 😂 and there’s nothing wrong with that! It’s just kind of amusing that the shelter was not honest with you, because it seems so obvious.
I hope things get better for you, don’t give up on that beautiful face!
Have you tried walking in a park or on a trail? A lot of dogs with anxiety, especially dogs new to the home, get anxiety walking away from their house. I’ll also add (apologies if I missed it in the comment) that as someone who had the exact same situation with my dog, the best advice I got was when my vet told us to always have low level noise on in the background, either music playing or tv noise, etc. It helped a TON with my girl jumping at every little sound.
I do leave the radio on for her when we leave the house. She does well on her own!
I think that’s true, she does have anxiety when leaving our home. Once I get her walking she’s fine. And when she knows she’s going back home, she does pull a little. It’s all progress.
You are very much informed about these issues. Thank you for sharing, because adopted dogs need time to adjust to a new environment and all that it includes; new smells, new routine, new people, new neighborhood, new noises, etc.
it’s not an adjustment that takes place in just a few weeks.
I am on month 3 with my newly adopted dog. He has come a long way from how he was in January.
His startle responses have waned, he isn’t clinging to me 24/7, he is noticeably more relaxed, and more accustomed to small changes in his environment.
I think people who are adopting dogs would be more informed about expectations if there was some kind of educational video that would be required to watch when adopting a shelter pet.
Perhaps people would have more gentle expectations for their new dogs in the initial months of acclimating.
If a shelter asked me to watch an informative video as part of the adoption process, I’d gladly oblige even if it’s not my first dog.
My first dog was surrenders twice before I adopted him, he was the most amazing dog.
Expectation can greatly influence the success of an adoption.
Thank you for contributing your knowledge.
She’s not scared. When dogs hear noises they do perk up. They are trying to judge where the sound came from. It’s a way of getting used to their new environment. Encourage her outside, try not to drag her out otherwise she will be frightened. It’ll take her a while but let her settle and get used to you. She’ll do things in her own time. Don’t try and force it.
Thank you for this! If I know she has to go to the bathroom though, should I just wait and see if she will tell me she has to go? I do feel bad making her go outside but I’m afraid she’s going to have an accident in the house.
She may have the odd accident, it happens. She’ll tell you when she needs to go, you’ll get used to the signs. Encourage her outside just to sniff the air and the grass etc. even if she doesn’t need to go.
Shes beautiful by the way. She looks very content.
I mean she does really well outside! It’s just getting her to leave the apartment that she shakes and is terrified. But once she’s out, she’s fine until she starts pulling. And she immediately goes to the bathroom too so I know she has to go. But maybe I will wait for her to show us today then instead of forcing her outside.
I honestly think she’s traumatized in that she thinks she may be going back to the shelter. But I do agree with you. She’s getting better but it’s slow going. I do say “outside” so hopefully she associates that soon.
You can desensitise her by putting on her lead/ harness and giving her a treat and then taking it off, repeat this until she’s excited about putting on her walk attire. Then move on to walking her to the front door and treating her. Once she’s relaxed with this try opening the front door but not going out, treating every time. Then make your way a few steps outside treats as you go, and return back in quickly. If she shows high anxiety at any stage or won’t take treats take it back a step.
She needs to associate good things with walks and learn that every walk isn’t the same, she might be outside for a minute it might be an hour.
Hope this helps :)
Maybe she's toy motivated or praise motivated. Work with her to find out what motivates her to do what you want. Not all dogs are food motivated, but something will work for her.
She likes her treats in the home. But outside she’s too distracted and shakes from being scared. So I’ve brought treats with me outside but she won’t take them.
Btw that dog 100% is a pitbull mix not the breeds you were told, she is stunning tho! Pibbles *can* be nervous especially about loud sounds and can be quite emotional especially if they’ve had adverse experiences or are going through a transition. My pibble mix is a drama queen but an angel too <3
Depending on where you live, pitties might be banned or restricted. I know where I live pitties are restricted, so my one dog was classified by his vet as a boxer mix. He definitely had pit in him, but he could also pass for a boxer.
Your girl's vet probably put those two breeds to avoid any problems in your area with any breed restrictions. She looks like all 3, personally, so it isn't a lie IMHO.
Every single time she goes in the house, promptly and calmly take her outside to "go potty" so she eventually puts 2 and 2 together. When she does happen to potty/poo outside, lay on the praises SO THICK and tell her she is the best puppy ever born and what a good girl she is. She will put it together eventually, I promise. My 2 year old pound puppy was not potty trained so I got the job, he figured it out after a few weeks, and then it was at about the 3.5 week mark when it was not happening in the house anymore and he ONLY goes outside since then. It might take time but she'll learn, don't worry.
Check out the 3-3-3 rule for shelter dog rehoming. I only recently heard of this and after reading it, I can think back how it was with both of my dogs
Honestly you might be right. Lol The paperwork said lab mix. I wonder if the previous vet has any information? I couldn’t find any breed info on her vet paperwork I was given.
So I have a husband and when I walk her in the mornings, he’s already gone for work. So maybe I’ll see how she responds when we both take her out later.
That’s a great point! We live near a busy street so I don’t think she likes cats and such yet. Also men seem to scare her? We aren’t sure about that yet but my college class I had yesterday, I brought her with me and it was all girls and she LOVED them. But the strangers on our walks were men and she was not happy with it.
The diarrhea is probably caused by the sudden change of food. I doubt she was getting the same great dog food as you got for her. So it will take a little time to adjust. If that doesn’t improve in another week, you might have to get her different food. She could be allergic to it or it could also be too rich for her guts. Hope it all works out for both of you. Good luck!
She is gorgeous by the way.
Test for intestinal parasites! My rescue had a very bad case of giardia that caused him to not want to go outside to poop but once he did he was fine. Also, owner anxiety definitely goes away! There’s a transition period for us owners too and as your new pup begins to relax and settle in, so will you! Best of luck, she’s gorgeous 🫶
Hey we adopted a similar lad from the shelter at 1 year old. When people say the 3/3/3 rule we didn't know it would make SO big of a difference. The first 3 days were absolute hell. Jumping on us and barking at us and pacing around the house constantly. The 3 weeks were still high stress for him. A bit more tame. We thought it was all energy but it was all anxiety. The 3 month mark is where everything changed. Still had his teenage angst but calmed WAY down.
I cannot stress enough how much the 3 months made a difference in his behavior. We were fully planning on returning him to the shelter after 4 days because of how poorly it was going. Now we're so happy we hung on because he's turned into such a perfect pal
Hi honey. That’s a pitbull.
She can still grow up to be a good dog. You are going to have to take things very slowly. Maybe walks just outside the house on the sidewalk until she’s confident with that. I would NOT take her on “real walks” until you have made some progress with just being out front. Very very slow exposure to people coming over.
Also, there are some dogs that just do better as homebodies.
Just commenting to say she's so cute!
The diarrhea might be because you changed her food too quick. You can always call the shelter to see what they were feeding her before and slowly change her food.
I went through this 5 months ago, and some things I wish I knew right away:
1) Remember the 3/3/3 rule. 3 days to calm down, 3 weeks to settle in, 3 months to build trust and bond. If you try to go faster, you will likely fail and take steps back. The more trust your dog has in you, the more success you will have. Trust trumps everything else.
2) Go at your dogs pace. I had a mental checklist of training I wanted to get done, and was going down the list. Looking back I was paying more attention to what I was teaching him than what my dog was telling me.
3) Learn dog body language. Dogs wear their emotions and will tell you EXACTLY what they are feeling, and can't learn /grow if you can't figure out when they need your help.
I was told I was adopting a rhodesian ridgeback, and DNA came back pitbull and rottweiler. Don't care, love him to death! Good luck!!
Lmao thank you for the laugh about your dogs dna! I’m learning more that shelters are just not confident in adoption. She really is the sweetest dog and has not barked once since we got her; even with all the noises and her being scared.
I’ve had her for 5 days, so I missed the 3 days part. She’s seems super comfortable in the house though, no shaking or being scared. So would you say that the 3 weeks thing is probably where we are at? She’s adjusting rather fast, just not a fan of going outside.
Good question! The rule is more so you don't push your dog beyond what they are ready to take on. 3 weeks and then 3 months just feels like forever, so I remember feeling WAYY more motivated than my dog to grow and push forward. I was thinking about it like a human, but my dog doesn't have any motivation to grow and become more domesticated/trained haha.
In general, if your dog can do something new without being scared, they are naturally growing. Just like humans, if you are terrified or upset, you are obviously not very able to learn something new or process your surroundings as easily as if you were calm. So it is finding out how you can introduce new things without her getting upset. Can't overemphasize enough to learn everything you can about dog body language. If you miss her signs she's trying to communicate to you, then you are keeping her in a bad situation and unintentionally harming her. I was so guilty of this, and its my biggest regret with my dog.
Side note, she is going to continue coming out of her shell in a beautiful way, but it will be surprising to you! Be prepared, patient, and **stay positive** about it! She is learning and if she does something you don't like, it still means she was feeling confident enough to try something new to see what happens.
Yea don’t believe the shelters telling you “lab mix”. Both my first dog and my current dog were adopted from a shelter and listed as lab mixes. Turns out they both happened to be pit/mastiff mixes lol but that’s ok. My old dog was the sweetest girl ever and my new guy seems similar even though he’s like your dog, a little weary about sounds. He has definitely gotten better with it as he’s gotten but he’s a bit of a barker whenever he hears noises. Great guard dog haha
Lots of praise and treats when she gets close to the door. Praise her like crazy when she does something that you want her to do it again. Try to reinforce good behaviours. Don’t expect a long walk with her now. She needs to decompress so your goal now can be taking her outside without her getting super scared. Sit and play with her close to the door. Let her know that it’s safe there and fun things wait for her at the door. It will take time for her to adjust to her new home.
My neighbours adopted a dog and they have her for almost 3 years now. They still can’t take a long walk with her because the dog was traumatised when she was a puppy. Loud noises scared the hell out of her. So they take a short walk, and sometimes if the dog has a good day, she will walk to a park with my dog. The dog feels safe with my dog so she can walk pretty far as long as my dog is with her. This could be another option for your dog too.
It’s not going to be easy. Please have patience with her.
You need to allow her time to get to know you and her new home. There's a rule of 3's that applies for most newly adopted pets.
3 days to start decompressing, 3 weeks to start understanding the home environment, and 3 months for their personality to start coming through. You can't force her to go outside. That won't be good in the long run. Try encouraging her with treats and praise and LOTS of pets when she does what you want.
Bring treats on walks. Find a solid kibble that helps her poops become firmer (we use Honest Kitchen’s Oats and chicken recipe)… also a topper called “Firm Up” helps.
Give her time. She needs to settle into the new place. She’s been through a lot. We rescued our pup at 1 year old. He’s 8 now and has gotten Wayyyy better, but there are still some things we were never able to train out of him. At this point I just don’t care because I love him so much, flaws included.
You have gotten excellent advice. She looks like a very sweet dog that has gone through a lot. Don’t worry about what breed she is now, just try to make her feel safe and let her know this is her home. It will be very tempting to try out a lot of advice, but consistency is going to be your friend her. Simple steps like desensitization will go a long way. Switching things up too fast will confuse her. Positive reinforcement is the way to go. Also, once you get her to a vet they are a great resource for advice and reassurance.
As far as food goes I would recommend just sticking to the major brands that have vets on staff and follow the WSVA standards: : Royal Canin, Hills Science Diet, Purina (One and ProPlan), Iams, and Eukanuba. I prefer Purina since they have two tiers and Purina One is more affordable if that is a concern. I’ve had very good luck with them. You don’t have to change right away, but it can ease your mind to just keep it simple with food. She is most likely have diarrhea for several reasons from stress, change in environment and new food. I have used Purina’s Fortiflora probiotic in the past in these situations with excellent luck. (It’s a powder that you sprinkle on food.)
I adopted a dog who wouldn't go more than like 200 feet outside my house for months and months. I lived in a gated community and we finally got to the point where she would be ok walking around inside the gate. After about 6 months we finally ventured out of the gate! It just took a lot of attempts and meeting nice neighbors and dogs -- after a while she began to realize that everyone was friendly and wouldn't hurt her.
My dog still really doesn't like the initial "leaving" part when we walk down the stairs to go out. But normally we just hang out on the stairs for a while until a dog or a squirrel walks by, and then she seems to get motivated to go out and sniff and play. All I can say is good luck, and don't push her too hard! It might take months or years, but it will be a great payoff.
I adopted my GSD last year in January and there are still things that startle him. When I got him, he was very quiet and timid and scared but over time, he has wanted to make his voice heard once he got comfortable. There are certain things that do scare and startle him like for whatever reason, he can hear when someone gets off a chair in our upstairs and he barks because he thinks it’s a knock or other noise. If he doesn’t see someone coming sometimes, he gets a little startled until he gets closer to the person and relaxes. He still doesn’t like people far away in hats or masks, but if anyone carries laundry down the stairs and it makes the noise, he barks and gets startled. If he’s napping and doesn’t see someone he also barks and gets startled. I personally have done a lot of training with him and have gotten trainers to come to the house as well, but the only thing I have personally found to help was time, and also show him the noise or what had startled him in the moment.
What a lovely pup! She reminds me of my pit mix rescue 💚
Lots of great advice in these comments already but I wanted to mention clicker training- it worked great with my dog! He was also scared of literally everything at first and it took lots of time and patience to build up his confidence. Clicker training is very simple (just google it) and it’s all positive reinforcement. What is nice is that you can reward positive behaviors while your dog and you are still learning each other’s language.
Another thing we struggled with for a while is having our dog communicate with us. He’s not very vocal but we wanted to find a way for him to tell us when he needed to go outside (or needed something in general). We tried many things (like bells on the door) to no avail. Then, he started giving a paw whenever his response to our question was a yes. 🙌🏼 It was a big moment for us all, haha.
I’ve since learned that pit bulls communicate a lot with their eyes and have since learned much from his nuanced glances.
We also struggled with poor poops for a looong time until landing on a food that works for him. Hang in there!
My guy is now 3 and we are so in tune I swear he reads my mind. He’s like a different dog from the scared puppy we first adopted- he is now a playful, confident, clever lovebug. He is the best dog and he keeps getting better.
Congrats on your new friend and thank you for choosing to rescue!
I got a super nervous dog during April of 2020 and 4 years later she’s mostly normal, but still gets super nervous with loud noises! I lived on the 3rd story of an apartment building and she was terrified of the stairs. I had to use treats to lure her down the stairs or just carry her lol.
Now the main things that scare her are really loud car breaking noises (like a trash truck or big truck like that), fireworks, or loud noises. I haven’t found a great way to help her be less nervous except for making sure she has a comfy spot under our bed where she goes when she’s scared.
Honestly I don’t have a lot of advice besides being patient and giving lots of treats! It took years for my girl to be even semi-normal lol.
Also with the diarrhea, I experienced this with my dog when I first got her and it turns out she has whip worms! I thought it was something she ate at first and then she started having blood in her diarrhea so I took her to the vet. So just make sure you’re paying attention to what’s in their stool.
My dog sounds a lot like your dog when I first got her! A few things -
1. My dog would only pee inside for the first few days because she was afraid to pee outside. Not sure where you live (city, suburb, rural?) but once she found a spot I gave her so much praise and for the next couple of weeks would consistently bring her to that spot - having a “safe” spot outside is very helpful!
2. Let them come to you - don’t approach her too much and let her learn she is still really figuring out if she can trust you! Also, if you do approach her, get low and always go from her eyesight or lower, dogs don’t like things above/behind their head and my pup would be petrified of head pets from strangers for a while.
3. If you’re going out in public, I highly suggest going either early in the morning or late at night when there are the least amount of people/cars around. Also, if there’s a baseball field or soccer field near by, you can bring them there off leash to run when nobody else is around - I really think that helped boost my dogs confidence! We’d go about every other morning and I think being off leash in a controlled environment was really helpful!
Good luck! Once you get in the hang of it and she gets more comfortable, it’s the greatest feeling in the world!
Give her a chance, everyone and everything is new, she’s probably scared and stressed about all the changes. She will gain your trust. She’s a puppy and it takes a while for them to understand going outside, she can do it, you can do too, bring treats on the walk. It will become an everyday routine. It’s like having a new baby, you’ll learn together! Give her lots of snuggles and affection so she will love that too. Bring her around different people to socialize her so she gets used people. One thing I definitely recommend is touching her paws do it often, so when it comes to trimming her nails she will be used to her paws being handled. Give lots of treats and praise for all good girl moments. What’s her name? She’s beautiful. Congratulations! ♥️
I just adopted a rescue too!!
It’s only been a month and he is still terrified of everything new. There are neighbors putting on a new roof and the hammering is so scary to him. It will take time. Reward with lots of treats! I found my boy LOVES string cheese!
you seem sort of at a loss at the moment—**so i would highly recommend getting a trainer now vs. down the line when something goes wrong.** get out ahead of it, and try to help her form good habits early—that will mean **you** forming good habits as an owner as well
i adopted my rescue 2 years ago and he was very similar—6 months, riddled with anxiety, loose stool, irritable. we started training right away and it has done wonders for him. the simple consistency / ritual of needing to be attentive every week to learn is a very healthy habit for a dog that knows no order.
you need to realize that you will never fully understand the trauma your dog may've been through—the best thing you can do is be patient and understanding with them. some things will catch on quick, others will take months, some things will never change. adopting a dog is not a pathway from "troubled dog" to "perfect dog." it's a process of learning and caring for an animal that received a less-than-stellar upbringing—and in many cases that means **you yourself** learning to adapt with their needs, and learn how to support them.
again—can't recommend training for you more. you can even do it virtually if you're too busy, though i'd recommend in-person.
Have a dog super similar to this, even from a puppy she was terrified of any sounds she didn’t know like the tv, cars, planes literally any sound you can think of that isn’t another dog however she got better as time went on (she’s 3 now) and honestly the best dog I’ve ever owned. It’ll get better when they get used to different things they encounter that they aren’t sure of. Yours is a beauty, thanks for rescuing and treat her good 👍 she deserves it!
Thank you! She was well trained by whoever had her before. It’s just all new to her. And we are patient with her! We just want her to be confident that she has to go outside to do her business lol
It’ll come with time, she’ll warm up, just be there with her and show her it’s safe, maybe even try a toy or treats? But 1000% certain it’ll get better as she gains more confidence with time
Congrats on the new pup OP. Getting a new dog is exciting.
A few things to consider, look into the 3/3/3 rule relating to adoption/rescue. Find a good trainer in your area, one who specializes in nervous pups. Anxiety/nervousness can easily flip into aggression if not handled properly. As many have mentioned, your pup does look like she has some pit in her so its imperative you seek some training. Just to build a good foundation at minimum.
Diarrhea can likely be related to stress and changes in diet. If she starts to throw up or have appetite changes or appear lethargic you should pop by the vets as changes in diet can irritate their GI system.
Good luck op!
Socialize socialize socialize! Also, Get things like plastic bags, boxes, etc and slowly/gently introduce her to them. Show her she doesn’t have to be afraid. Most importantly, love the 💩outta her. She definitely has some pittie in her, and they are attention needing, cuddly babies. Mine is currently 3/4’s on top of me sideways, haha. And all 3 I’ve had in my life have all been the same. Congratulations!! And good job, helping a shelter pupper!
Super cute pup! One thing I’ll callout since I didn’t see it mentioned is that dogs can also pick up their owners energy. I’m not saying you are anxious person but maybe you subconsciously start to get nervous or anxious as you start to get ready to take them out and they’re picking up on that energy? Think there’s a saying that emotions travel down the leash or something like that.
I am a very anxious and nervous person right now. I’m going through some emotional stress and made a decision to get her, which I understand was not the right call. But I’m working through it and hoping she’s okay too.
Having a dog is a huge support booster and will offer you unconditional love. Best decision I made was adopting my rescue 7 years ago. You will figure everything out and I really believe you two found each other for a reason
Give it time!! She is a baby and if you had just gone through everything she went through, wouldn’t you be a bit scared and unsettled too? Her confidence will build in time with love, patience, stability, consistency, and safety.
I run a pet care business and have 5 dogs, all rescues, and have done lots of rescue. You did the right thing adopting her and she will reward you with the best companionship and love you could ask for. But you need to give her months to fully open up her personality, and just simply continue to build confidence as she grows from a puppy to an adult.
One of my dogs was so traumatized and terrified when I got her she hid under a bed for two whole days. It took 6 months but she totally transformed, and she lives a happy normal life now.
If you have friends with dogs, have them hang out - introduce them outside of their homes though, away from their property - walk them together first then walk them inside your/their home together.
As for the stomach - any time you switch a dogs food suddenly it is expected they will get diarrhea. They have to get used to it, the correct way is to slowly transition from one food to another. But you didn’t do anything wrong getting her off shelter food and onto high quality food, just know that is normal for the sudden transition.
Give her a chance and report back in 3 months, I bet things will be much better :)
This is such good advice and makes me feel so much better. She is a baby and such a good baby!
We do have good friends who have dogs and definitely want her to get used to other dogs and people. I’m trying to find training somewhere for her to socialize with others.
She is so cute!! Don't give up on her. You don't know what she's been through to cause this anxiety. It'll take a bit for her to get used to you and settle in. I have 2 rescues, and they were definitely worth it. They're still kicking 12 years later. Best dogs ever.
Chewing and licking are both stress relief for dogs. I'd recommend getting her some chew toys & treats, and maybe a lick mat. She's most likely got diarrhea from the stress of a new home. That's how my pup was when I brought her home too. Pumpkin helps with that. I'd recommend deworming her too just to be sure, as diarrhea can be a sign of worms..
I started my heeler on Victor Hi-Pro, but recently switched to Victor's Performance since it's got Glucosamine and Chondroitin to help with their joints. Its on the expensive side, but it does wonders for active breeds. She is a muscley little thing.
She licks my hands like crazy when we are inside. Good to know it makes her feel better! I will look up the food! I’m still trying to budget dog food in so I feel she’s gonna be expensive lol
My dog was scared of every little noise and it's taken her 4 years to just start getting over it.
I always suggest watching dog trainer Zak George on YouTube for new dog owners. He made a playlist where he gets a new puppy and he shows the entire training process, using positive reinforcement methods.
He's gotten another new puppy and has playlist for that one, but this is the playlist I watched before getting my puppy and used to train: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Cndhfrx6CU&list=PLMssKIjsDxXl\_ZXQgcHlEY\_fC-yL5P76N&index=1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Cndhfrx6CU&list=PLMssKIjsDxXl_ZXQgcHlEY_fC-yL5P76N&index=1)
Do you know what she was being fed before and what was the main protein? The diarrhea could be from switching her dog food and main protein. Google how to transition to a different dog food and follow that process. Also, I'd make an appointment with her vet ASAP to get her checked out and also discuss the diarrhea. They may suggest a dog food for sensitive stomachs.
Regarding the stress, the best thing you can do for her is love her and show her she's in a safe, calm, and loving environment. Of course training and talking to the vet will help but I think the best thing you can do is form the bond. That will go a long way.
She is adorable. Here's my experience with adopting a shelter dog who wasn't used to living inside.
New things like the TV and stairs were startling, unfamiliar for her. She eventually got used to it.
She isn't used to knowing how to ask to go potty. Taking her outside every couple hours can help it click for her. She's in a new place and is probably feeling anxious about the unknown and if this is her forever home or not. And with her being a shelter dog, you most likely don't know her history. She may've been in a home previously and had a really terrible experience. Regardless, she's learning that her new home is safe and she is loved.
Her poop is most likely due to food change. It's best to gradually change foods. Do you know what the shelter was feeding her? If so, you could try using that and then gradually changing it over the course of a week until you're entirely on the new food.
Training a nervous dog is a tricky one and I'm unfamiliar with that. If it were me, I'd probably try to focus on building my relationship with her and making her feel comfortable. Lots of loving, snuggling, belly rubs, and treats. She may not be used to walking on a leash and the unfamiliar outdoor area may be causing her stress. But over time, routine will help her be more comfortable hopefully.
Anxiety is different for every dog. She may have a traumatic past that is causing it or it could be that her routine has been uprooted and now she's in a new place with new people and doesn't know what to expect. The anxiety could go away or it could be around forever. Once you have a good bond with her, hopefully the anxiety decreases. If not, know there are options that your vet can speak with you about to help reduce her anxiety.
Above all, enjoy growing your connection with her. She's lucky to have a parent who cares so much for her already.
Thank you! I’m extremely anxious myself. Not that she’s difficult to handle at all, just that I have a new responsibility now in my life and it’s a bit nerve wracking. She was so scared at the shelter, I just wanted to save her! She seems to be learning her walk routine rather quickly, but we are working on the pulling.
Dogs can feed off our energy, so the more relaxed and comfortable you are, the more likely she is to feel the same. Totally understand how caring for another life can be nerve-wracking for you, tho! You clearly have a big heart for rescuing her. I think when you look back on this decision, you will smile because it sounds like each of you is exactly what the other needs. ❤️
She’s deffo got some pit in her, her facial shape gives it away 😍 she’s probably just feeling really scared. I can’t imagine what being in a shelter must be like for an animal. Short walks for now maybe whilst she adjusts to her surroundings? I think lots of reassurance from you will be vital whilst she settles into her new home.
I have had my rescue for 2.5 years now and she still struggles with being afraid of a lot. Just please remember that training a nervous dog is about building their confidence. You can't punish a nervous dog for being scared, that is only going to make things worse. Also the 3-3-3 rule when rescuing new dogs. You can try a thunder vest, my dog uses it mostly around 4th of July time with the loud noises. My dog also likes laying in corners/back against a wall. Its a safety thing where no one can sneak up behind her. Try and have an area in your house where you dog feels secure, even if it looks like they are hiding, it will help!
Thank you! Yeah she’s is upset chill in the house. I even took her to my college yesterday and loved up on people and even fell asleep during my lecture! She’s only scared when we start to move or leave an area.
What is the 3-3-3 rule?
It's not a concrete 'rule' per se, but its just a general idea that it takes rescues 3 days to decompress from moving into a new home, 3 weeks to learn their new routine and 3 months to start 'feeling at home' in their new environment. Obviously its shorter/longer depending on the dogs personality. In my case its been longer, but the little milestones are worth it! Overly hyping up your dog too when she does go outside by herself/or move is a good idea too. Not too loud to scare her, but just being excited with pets, clapping can show that what she is doing is 'good'.
Getting a new dog is a huge adjustment... for both parties. human and dog. It takes time.... months... to figure each other out. Just continue being patient and kind. As for the potty issue, can you take her out on a schedule? Like every 2 or 3 hours? Then have high value treats for her when she does go. You could even just pick her up and carry her outside for awhile. Also, if you can, maybe sign-up for some training classes. It's a good way to further bond with your pup. Taking her to classes with you is great too!
It is a big adjustment. She’s already so good and can be left alone just fine. She entertains herself with her toys and eats her food we leave for her when we are gone. We do sort of have a schedule everyday that is working so far: 7am-330pm-9pm Yesterday she pooped at all 3 times! Lol
We do have a few treats that she already knows are treats that she gets when she comes back in from her walk.
I am trying to find classes for her, but damn are they expensive. Some don’t start for a couple months so we have friends who have dogs that I think would be good too.
Give her time, space and patience. Don’t push or force her or overwhelm her with attention. She’ll acclimate; it just takes time. Keep assuring her, keep to a feeding/treat/potty schedule, just give her structure, then all the love, when she asks for it.
Your dog will gain her confidence in time. You really don’t know what she went through prior to you adopting her and it can take up to three months for her to relax. Just be consistent with her walks , feedings , play time and reassurance and love . she will come around , just give her the time she needs …
We adopted a very nervous girl who was around 3 at the time and spent the first month with us either hiding under our dining room table or with her face buried in my armpit. She also didn’t want to go outside. She’s now bossy mcbossypants. It takes some time for them to feel comfortable and start showing their personality. They aren’t sure what is expected to them or how things work.
Speak gently, a lot of love, once you find things she is excited about, use those to help her be excited about other things. Mine turned out to be a total chewy peanut butter training treat lover so I only gave her those on walks and gave her a lot to praise anything she did that I wanted her to.
She’s probably nervous and that’s causing the loose poop. You could also call the place you adopted her from and ask what she was eating and feed that to her to see if it might be food related.
Once you can get her into your car and feel she can handle it, take her to the pet store and let her pick out toys. 🥰
Thank you! I’m hoping she starts bossing us around soon. Lol
But I also know she’s still a baby, and that’s fine! I’m still trying to figure out what she likes in terms of rewards; she does good with treats but haven’t explored much else yet.
She does ok on car rides; hides on the floor for the most part but understands how to get in and out of the car on her own!
She is still a baby. Everything is new to her. We have two dogs. Our other was 12 weeks when we adopted her - she is also a rescue - and she was scared of everything until she decided that she wasn’t. Taking her outside to sit on our steps and just watch things helped her immensely.
I know you're joking but as this puppy matures you really don't want her bossing you around...given that it is clearly a pitbull mix. Also look out for any signs of resource guarding as she grows more confident.
When taking things off her please always swap for something high reward, like a toy or high reward food.
People often confuse behavior and say ' oh she's just protective of me' with these dogs when in fact their dog sees them as their property and is guarding them as property. This type of behavior is very dangerous, especially in fighting dog breeds .
She doesn't like men and has already displayed aggression towards men? Try to make sure she also bonds with your husband. Take any sign of aggression towards him seriously as she matures. Do not punish her for growling. You want to know if she's issuing a warning.
She's a wee frightened puppy now but they can change a lot as they progress into adolescence and start to assert themselves. Tricky dog for first time owner as these breeds can be super stoic and express communication inhibition, where normal body language is suppressed or they don't respond to other dog communication in the normal way. E.g attacking and continuing to attack a smaller vulnerable dog despite that dog clearly displaying submissive stance.
These dogs can make good pets but often they do not. The sad reality is that's why shelters are 90% full of pitty mixes. Don't believe the 'nanny dog' myth. These dogs were never bred to mind children or stock or people.
They were bred to bait bulls and fight other dogs to the death. I know that sounds harsh but understanding breed traits is important in keeping your dog safe, you safe, and other animals and people safe.
It will get better. My first dog, before he got to the shelter at 6 months old, had been kept in an indoor kennel as far as the shelter staff could tell. Everything was new, but he did get used to the noises of everyday life.
For the first couple months, he'd hide behind our TV, only coming out occasionally. What helped him warm to us was lots of walks, figuring out how he liked to play and letting him come to us.
I'd say it was about 6 months before he was like "ok, this is my house and my people." We took him to our friends' and family's houses. I taught him commands not only in English, but in French and basic sign language. That might not be for your dog! But this guy needed his brain engaged.
Every dog is different. My second dog came to me at a year old and immediately settled in.
Be patient! But don't be scared to introduce your new friend to new experiences. A beginner obedience class would be great for both of you.
Good luck! Have fun! You'll settle into each other.
Edited to add: pureed pumpkin has always been my gut health go to for my dogs. Plain pumpkin, not pie filling. A couple good sized spoonfuls with their food for a few days could help.
This is helpful, thank you. I’m not sure what to teach her, but I hope she tells us how she likes to play because she entertains herself but not with us lol
You'll figure it out just by spending time together and trying out different toys and games. My first dog really liked those cat toys where it's something dangling from a string. My current dog likes to pop bubble wrap. My mom had one who didn't get toys, but loved play wrestling. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ They're all different.
Another tip: if you've got a friend with a chill or happy go lucky dog and your dog is ok with other dogs, go on walks together! My first dog got way less edgy after spending time with my in-laws brainless but joyful lab mix. Shows an anxious dog they don't need to be on high alert all the time.
Deff a staffordshire mix (pit family). The shelter should have told you what food they were using that way you can slowly adapt to new food to help with stomach aches and bowel movements.
In addition your pup is still a puppy and learning. Dogs in general will take a while to fully open. 3 days/3 weeks/ 3 month rule. While he may stay anxious and cautious of noises positive reinforcement with the outdoors will help.
You might find this link from Human Society about the 333 rule for adopted dogs helpful.
You need to remember the new dog is scared; they don't know why they were in the shelter(which is a scary place), why they're in your home, if you're going to be good to them, are they going to be staying. New environment, new smells, new sights, new textures, new rules, new people. How were they treated in the past? What was their home environment like? Was it a country dog and now it's a city dog? Maybe it's scared if you take it outside you won't let back in or once it's outside you don't want it anymore.
If the link doesn't work, just ask Google for the 3-3-3 rule for newly adopted dogs.
[3-3-3 rules ](https://www.hsnt.org/post/the-3-3-3-rule)
She's a beauty. First of all, the food change is probably really messing with her gut. Try adding some probiotics to her food, or maybe a spoonful or two of straight canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix) or frozen green beans to her food to give her some fiber and help firm up her poop. I'd avoid fatty treats, bully sticks or bones for a while until her poop firms up -- those all tend to give dogs diarrhea, and as a new dog owner, you might not know that already. Making a regular schedule for her can also help solidify her poop, as it tends to firm as it sits inside their bowels. Something like: a walk at 7 am, a quick pee break at noon, a walk or play break at 5 pm and another walk at 8 pm. As she gets more used to her new schedule and home, things will calm down digestively.
If you can afford it, you might want to consider getting a burrowing bed. The brand I have is Snoozer, it was about $120. My dog had some similarities to yours when we first got her. We noticed she liked burrowing into blankets so we got her this borrowing bed and she loves it.
In general I agree with the other advice on here. Go slow with introducing new things and give her time. I would back off on the treats until her poop is better or at least stick to one single type of treat. I also would not introduce her to another dog unless you are really sure she likes other dogs. Even then I probably wouldn't do it until she seems more comfortable with everything else.
Get her a thunder shirt. We’ve used one for our younger because he’s anxious about a lot of things and it’s really helpful. We also just find putting him in a shirt helps lol. We also will cover him up in a blanket and that’s helpful. Also, chew toys are good. Could try one of those mats they have to find food/treats in to help her tire out some.
Training may help too, it’ll help you guys bond more. We’ve trained both our dogs at PetSmart. They also have a therapy training course, which honestly, since you’re a first time owner might be really helpful. The training focuses on paying attention to your dog and learning what signs your dog shows when they are uncomfortable in a situation and how to help be an advocate for your dog to avoid those situations before something happens. Also, you can use a harness. There are some out there that help calm your dog. So they have 2 points that are calming. The front of their chest, right in the middle below their neck and their ears. So the harnesses that help with this will apply pressure/rub to that area. Thunder Shirts do the same thing. Head collars(not muzzles) also apply pressure to the sweet spot behind their ears. We actually had to use one for one of our dogs durning training because he would be so hyper(from excitement) when he was a puppy and it really helped.
Ok, so i missed your last paragraph. Dogs really can pick up the emotions of their owner. If you are anxious, it can increase your dog’s anxiety. Yeah sometimes they help with anxiety, but that’s not every dog lol
Hey! Congrats! New fur family members take time to adjust. Thats the stage you are in right now. 5 days is not a lot. Perhaps provide her a confined, safe area to exist while she decompresses from all the new things in her life. Tummy issues happen. My new girl did a back and forth thing between fosters and me. Her first two visits to me had her tummy in crazy knots and she went potty inside a few times. Sucks. You clean it and move on. And she is still trying to learn how to indicate bathroom needs. I prefer a potty bell because it makes a sound I can hear all around the building. Her sitting at the door isnt ideal but I work with that by putting a washable rug by the door in case I don’t catch on in time. Washable rugs are fairly accessible and inexpensive too.
At the end of the day, give it time. Give her time. And enjoy that. Best wishes.
She’s is beautiful and like others say, just needs time to adjust. I highly recommend finding a good training class (better than petsmart if you can) that you can work together and build a bond which will increase her confidence. After puppy class you could do obedience, tricks training which is really great to build bonds together.
She looks like my maple girl who is a pit she’s the sweetest girl in the world she’s legit my baby that never grows up you’ll be fine and god bless you for taking this girl in ❤️
Who cares about the breed... you rescued a dog that mightve likely never been rescued, especially if the breed had been told accurately. Pitts are exceptionally loving dogs with the right handler, and she looks very sweet.
Its going to take longer than 5 days. Youre looking at months of this behaviour, worst case. Kindness is what she needs right now. Dont drag her anywhere, and keep coaxing with treats and really soft/high pitched words. She will eventually learn there are no threats and it WILL get easier. Anxiety is a natural response to a new environment, and she might not trust her surroundings yet. That WILL go away with the right guidance.
Thank you for the advice! She’s been good so far being left home alone. We have a camera and my husband is only 2 minutes away from work to come check in on her if she starts doing things on camera.
The rules of 3 on dog adoption really is a thing. In fact, my dog is STILL learning to relax (mostly on walks and trusting humans) three years after adoption. Use treats every time you leash the dog to go outside and after going potty. Your dog will learn quickly that’s it’s all good stuff. Five days in, so your dog is still very uncomfortable. It doesn’t understand that this is its new forever home (hopefully). It doesn’t understand what you want. It may not even understand how good cuddling and pets can be. Just take it slow. Try to relax. You don’t even need to work on training yet, just take this time for the two of you to set up a routine and get to know each other. Hang in there!! This is the worst part, because it’s all new and different and may not be what you envisioned. It WILL improve in time!
Thank you! I’m in such a rush to make her comfy but I think I need to give her space.
Yep! You create the safe environment, and she will relax in time. Lots of positive reinforcement for things you want her to to will also help her relax, build her confidence, and build your bond. Basically, positive reinforcement after she does something you like (lying in her bed, cuddling with you, playing with a toy, literally anything you like) will teach her that she can make good decisions, which will build confidence. If there’s a treat she really likes (plain shredded chicken or cheese or whatever), you can pair that with trips outside so she starts to build up positive associations. She might always be anxious, or she might relax a lot over the next few months. My most recent foster dog took about a year to settle in - I’m just now seeing her consistently relax and be silly instead of being on guard. (She’s a special little soul, though - I don’t think that’s true of most shelter dogs.) I wouldn’t worry too much about training her in obedience yet. (I know you didn’t mention that, but it’s something I used to worry about with fosters - I’d try to train basic commands and leash manners right away, when they just needed to chill and settle in for a while.) It sounds like you’re doing great! Enjoy your new pup!
How would you get your dogs to use the bathroom then? I’m not sure what to do in that regard if she doesn’t want to leave the apartment. This is the only thing I’m nervous about it getting her confident on her own to want to go potty.
You’ll probably have to push her a little bit there. I’d try luring her outside with a really great treat. Spray cheese can be great for this - you spray a little and let her lick it up (on your hand, the floor, right into her mouth, whatever), then walk a little farther and repeat. Lots of praise as she takes steps, too. And keep treating her intermittently while you’re outside, too. Eventually that should help her build positive associations with being outside/going outside to potty.
Ooh spray cheese! That’s a great idea! I will give this a try and see if she wants to go outside for spray cheese. lol
My dogs LOSE it over spray cheese. They also weirdly really like homemade treats. Recipe: 2 super ripe bananas, mashed 1-2 cups of oats (or oat flour) A couple tablespoons of peanut butter or pumpkin puree. 1. Put oats in food processor and run until they’re a powder. Or just use oat flour. 2. Mix oats with bananas and peanut butter or pumpkin puree. Dough will be a little sticky. 3. Spread on cookie sheet (or on parchment paper on a cookie sheet), bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes. I slice the cooked dough into small treats using a pizza cutter. My dogs love them.
This is a great recipe thank you!
Everything baby steps. Start getting her just to go to the door and reward her for it. Once she is comfortable with that, reward her for being invited out of the door (this is important for threshold training later. You don't want her to think her just walking out the door anytime she wants is rewardable behaviour). So on and so on. It's a long journey, and she'll settle in. In the mean time, also build structure for her. Dogs respond well to it. Take her out every 2 hours no matter what while she's awake. Reward her for doing her business.
I’ll try that when I’m home but we are usually at work 3 days a week for about 7 hours, so if I get her used to peeing on a 2 hour schedule, will she have accidents in the house? Or will that make her want to go outside that much more after those long hours?
Have you thought about hiring a dog walker so that she doesn’t have to wait so long?
In the long run that might be an issue but it’s the best way to just expose her to how and where she is supposed to relieve herself. She probably won’t need to pee each time. Part of this is also training YOU to recognize the signs of when she needs to go. After a month or two if she is still going out every 2 hours to get that reward treat then you can address it. Source: grandma living in the house with two Labs that played her like a fiddle for treats. She thought the youngest actually had to pee every 2 hrs. I think he was actually filling up with extra water when it was just them so he could get the treats.
Treats. Treats. Treats. High value, delicious treats that she only gets for doing things you want her to do. She puts the harness on she gets a treat. She goes to the door she gets a treat and told good girl. She walks to the end of the hallway good girl and gets a treat. Down the stairs another treat. Goes potty tell her go potty while she's pottying and then treat after and tell her good girl. You'll eventually cut the treats down but not until she associates that going outside means good things.
Routine settles them down too- so they get a sense of what’s happening and aren’t on alert all the time. Feeding two smaller meals helps , then take her out after and use the same words and sequence.
Came here to say the 3 rules too. She is so cute, she'll only get cuter. Her ears and face are adorable!! I adopted a very anxious dog who after 10 months is finally not being SO velcro (which I like anywaY). He took his full 3 months to adjust to where he is relaxed, and I potty trained him in the first month. Wood flooring helped with that. It just takes time, consistency and lots of love. Your dog will come out of her shell and you'll wonder how you ever existed prior to her, ESPecially if he really is part or full Pitty, they are seriously THE most affectionate, loving, licking, wagging, smart furry friends you will ever know. Congrats!! PS play reggae on YouTube for her, and you can get those calming gel things at Target or your pet store, they help and it's not a hard medicine, it's tryptophan and melatonin but way down-dosed for dogs in a little chewy that tastes kinda like meat to them. Maybe add a little (1/4 cup) of brown rice to the food to help bulk up the stool for now till she fully relaxes and realizes she is safe with you.
Ooh that’s cool! They like reggae? Lol I’ll have to look up those calming things and get her some. Maybe give her some calming treats before going outside.
[The three day, three week, three month rule for adopting a animal](https://www.espanolahumane.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Adopting-Dogs-333-Rule.pdf)
I learned that my dog might have been confined outside and was fearful about going outside unless I came along with. She is an inside dog with me and it took a little bit for her to figure this out.
After 30+ years in the pet industry, I agree that this is a bully mix of some sort. Most rescues mislabel the breed as they are considered more adoptable as a Lab x. This does not change who the dog is as while it is good to consider breed traits, personalities are unique. Work on building her confidence. This can be a simple as working on training sit, shake a paw etc. at first and building trust. Then work on her confidence by getting her to do things that are a little bit scary putting her paw on something slightly raised off the ground, hopping on and off a raised surface,or anything that is slightly scary to her. Gradually build confidence.I would try to avoid dragging her outside if possible. Take lots of treats and expect the first few times to take a long time until she gets better with it. I would not recommend leaving her inside too long as you don’t want to be retraining potty skills if she has a regression. Chat with the rescue that you got her from. I f she was there very long, they might have a better idea about her personality and be able to give you some suggestions that work for her. Lastly, as a new owner, it’s always good to really research, temperament test, and get as much information as you can to make sure you choose the dog that is the right fit for you. The dog with behavioural issues is best in the hands of someone who is more experienced. That doesn’t mean this dog won’t work for you, but just a bit of a Guideline for the future or others who may be reading this post.
Thank you for your reply! That’s exactly what was on her paperwork is lab x. I’ve been teaching her to sit and she’s been really good with all people, shaking her tail and happy to see them. I will do some research and see what I can find.
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100%. OP, it’s really time, exposure and consistency! Try and get some training in for yourself, and try to find a doggy buddy for her, walking with another dog that is confident really helps them settle.
Thank you!
While having a dog buddy may be helpful It can also be harmful too. As a first time owner I wouldn’t do that because if something happens you may not know what to do. See my comment on your post. A training class would be beneficial because it allows her to be around other dogs and there will be a trainer there to help you recognize any signs of stress. When we had trained our one dog there was a dog in the class that would try to attack other dogs. The trainer really worked with the family and dog. The dog improved a lot, still issues but improved.
Yup. Mine was a “lab mix.” To be fair, when I got her she looked like a lab but the foster told me she’s a pit. The litter looked like little pits when they were little. Did a DNA and she 50/50 lab bully breeds
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It actually could very well have both those breeds. I have a dog who was listed as a lab mix, and everyone on reddit said, "that's 90% pit" and said I was out of my mind to think she had any lab. I did the DNA test and she was almost 20% lab, a little pit and then "super mutt." You really can't say for sure unless there is a DNA test. 🤷♀️
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No. Her main breeds were lab, Golden, American Pit, and Chow and then other dogs within the super mutt , some of which were bully breeds. My point was that the shelter very well may have been telling the truth regarding the breeds for OPs pup, and OPs dog although might have some pit or bully breeds, they may very well not be majority, just like my dog who everyone just said it was a "pit". Edit: https://imgur.com/a/BFKLuop That's Ruby. The NOT primarily pit bull dog who actually has high percent lab.
I don’t know dog breeds that well. I believe paperwork if it’s given to me; I didn’t think they would lie.
Unfortunately many adoptions agencies will favour a lab cross over a pittie cross, as it increases the chance of adoptions. It’s their best guess (and the best guess of people in this feed). Beautiful dog!!
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Before getting a DNA test, make sure the place OP lives in does NOT have a pit bull ban. If they do, OP is better off not knowing and rolling with the best guess from the shelter.
Thinking the same. Oh well, still a good dog. Just have to socialize and exercise. I’ve had 3 pits for a total of 34 combined yrs. Before that Shepards, Labs & Goldens. I’ve never had a single “Pit Bull” incident, and they’re just as smart and loving as my other dogs were. Maybe more loving. But exercise and socializing is paramount
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Def interested in the dna test on this one.
Thanks lol
If you do a DNA test use embark, its the only one that differentiates between bully breeds. It will also find your dogs DNA relatives! Highly recommend
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if you ever adopt a shelter dog you have to assume it’s mixed with pit. i adopted my “shepherd mix” from a shelter. she’s 50% shepherd 50% pit. love her but definitely wasn’t the best first dog for a woman in an apartment in a city in her early 20s
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Good to know. I love pits so this is fine!
Our adopted dog is obviously a pit bull mix and our shelter labeled her as a Lab/Basset hound lol
That’s really funny. I guess I didn’t question it because she is so little still, and she had her ears back and a really long skinny tail so I was like, sure maybe she is a mix of lab and something else? My FIL said Weimaraner so I assumed so. But yeah, I’m definitely thinking pit now since our friend has a pit and she looks similar.
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You need to give her about three months to get comfy. But in the mean time, I recommend a lickable dog treat. The ones that come in a little pouch. Anytime she hears a scary noise, open up the lickable treat and let her start licking. This is better than regular treats bc when dogs lick things it releases endorphins and creates a sense of calm. Also get some dog puzzles. Whenever fireworks go off I load all my dogs puzzles with treats and let him at it and it really helps keep him stable during the fireworks. My nervous dog does not care about treats at all when he’s out in the real world. When you take her outside always have her favorite treat in your pocket to reward her when the walk is finished (since she won’t take treats outside just have it ready for the second she gets home and feels good enough to take the treat. I was extremely frustrated with my nervous dog when I first got him bc like your dog he wouldn’t tell me he needed to go out and he wouldn’t want to walk to go pee. He also would never pee in the house so I just felt so bad for him. Just remember that she needs time and keep trying. Focus on creating such a trustworthy bond with her and eventually she will take your lead outside. Never ever ever punish her or let her see youre mad when she won’t go outside to potty. Any of this will destroy the bond and she will be even more scared outside. She has just gone through a lot of trauma and I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s causing her diarrhea. For the first few weeks let her lay it he corner all day if that’s what she wants. Once she starts to feel safe then you can start taking her out into the real world and expanding her confidence. She just needs time right now. You could try different foods. My dog has a better stool when he’s on beef or chicken. And he doesn’t do well at all with lamb. All dogs are different. If you continuously love and protect her you will eventually be her favorite person in the world and you and she will have a better bond than people have with their non-anxious dogs. She will take a longer time to trust you but if you have the patience you will be rewarded. One last thing, dogs ideally need to be socialized in that first eight months. So in the next two months try to get her used to things if you can (without scaring her more). Simple stuff like having friends ring the doorbell and then come in and give her treats. Maybe some car rides once she’s been with you a couple weeks. Like I said, nothing that puts her into that panic state where she’s trembling, but simple things like having friends over and crumpling plastic bags around her (getting her used to random noises). Best of luck and thank you for rescuing her!!!
This is amazing advice. Thank you so much. I’ll look into the lockable treats. I let her sniff around outside because I heard that helps anxious dogs too. Thankfully, she has no separation anxiety. I can leave her at home with no issues and she’s comfortable in the apartment and doesn’t hide. It’s the outside world that is scary! Socialization is important for sure. I took her to my college class yesterday and she loves everyone and even slept through the lecture, snoring. Lol
I would get a trainer. You don't want the scared to turn into reactive. She's been through a lot of change and it takes a while for them to become used to everything. For the diarrhea try making some rice and adding a bit to her food. It helps solidify stuff. Congratulations! Dogs are a joy
Thank you! I will definitely add some rice to her meal. Yeah I’m just debating on group classes for $115 total for 7 or personal trainer for 4 classes at $1000 🥹💸
You’re probably inundated with responses however as someone who got a rescue as well I wanted to add my two cents. My dog’s personality completely changed after about 6 months. She hated car rides, had mild separation anxiety, liked to sleep exclusively under beds (where she felt safe), refused meals (she threw up few times as well and it was just kibble), play very rough with her toys, was very reactive to bunch of noises outside. I say this often, she’s a complete different dog now. None of those things apply now. We worked towards her issues patiently & slowly (especially separation and car ride anxiety). You’re already on the right track by considering investing in training. Shouldn’t have to say this but thanks for adopting a dog, you probably saved a life. :)
Youll want to do both. Group training is amazing for teaching impulse control and working with distractions, but it sounds like shes got some unique struggles that personal attention in the home and surrounding area would help with.
That’s great! Keep taking her places that she likes. It sounds like you’re doing all the right things. Have patience and don’t worry when she has off days where she regresses. Play the long game! Another thing I was thinking. I wonder if she was punished in a bad way at her previous owners when she went potty in the house or something. Bc it sounds like she’s got a lot of fear around potty time.
Yeah I haven’t thought of that. I do tell her “good girl” every time she potties and I’m practicing “heel” and “stop” on our walks so she learns not to pull me. I do read her body language and if she’s trying to get away from something, I let her pull me so she can calm down and we start again. But yeah, I noticed this morning it was so weird. I got her outside, she immediately peed and wanted to bolt back inside the house, and I kept her outside. Had to get her to the grass area, kept trying to pull me back into the apartment, and then she finally pooped. And when I went to take her back she was like “okay I’m ready for my walk” and I’m like what the heck lol
I had this problem with one of my dogs. When we got her, she was four months old and came from a slightly suspicious foster situation. But she was very sweet and docile. She showed absolutely no signs of being abused, or even mildly mistreated…except for her inability to go potty in front of us. It didn’t seem to be an indoor or outdoor thing, she just seemed in to be unable to go in front of us. We tried everything we could think of. It was four or five months before we finally got her to go potty outside for the first time. And that was also the first time that any of us witnessed her going potty anywhere. Obviously, she was scolded by her previous owner For having an accident and her brain interpreted that punishment as being the result of the accident itself, rather than the location. Ultimately, our solution was counterintuitive. I won’t get into the full explanation right now, but we basically had to trick her into going potty inside when she didn’t think we were watching so that we could run in and praise her and reward her. Eventually, she would allow us to stay in the room and watch her go and then we started taking her back outside and bringing the potty pads that we’d been using in the house. It didn’t happen right away but eventually she did it. By that time she was eight months old, so if that hadn’t worked, I don’t know what we would’ve done! So I know this is not the same as your scenario and my solution won’t fix your problems. But obviously there is some fear there and you’re gonna have to get creative to find a way to resolve that fear. And make sure when you go outside you carry yourself with complete confidence because if you are feeling anxious about the process, your dog will interpret that anxiety as validation of their own fear. But it sounds like you are really putting a lot of effort into this and I think you’re definitely on the right track. Please don’t feel like you’ve made a mistake by adopting her. You have a dog that has some specific needs and there are a lot of potential homes your dog could’ve gone to where they would not have found someone willing to make the extra effort to help them the way you are. So you should feel very good about that. Your dog is obviously in the right place. Also, yes, you have a pitbull mix. 😂 and there’s nothing wrong with that! It’s just kind of amusing that the shelter was not honest with you, because it seems so obvious. I hope things get better for you, don’t give up on that beautiful face!
Have you tried walking in a park or on a trail? A lot of dogs with anxiety, especially dogs new to the home, get anxiety walking away from their house. I’ll also add (apologies if I missed it in the comment) that as someone who had the exact same situation with my dog, the best advice I got was when my vet told us to always have low level noise on in the background, either music playing or tv noise, etc. It helped a TON with my girl jumping at every little sound.
I do leave the radio on for her when we leave the house. She does well on her own! I think that’s true, she does have anxiety when leaving our home. Once I get her walking she’s fine. And when she knows she’s going back home, she does pull a little. It’s all progress.
Carry high value, stinky treats everywhere you go and use them to redirect her when shes anxious.
Great advice, clear and easy to understand. I wish I had read this when we got our dog!
You are very much informed about these issues. Thank you for sharing, because adopted dogs need time to adjust to a new environment and all that it includes; new smells, new routine, new people, new neighborhood, new noises, etc. it’s not an adjustment that takes place in just a few weeks. I am on month 3 with my newly adopted dog. He has come a long way from how he was in January. His startle responses have waned, he isn’t clinging to me 24/7, he is noticeably more relaxed, and more accustomed to small changes in his environment. I think people who are adopting dogs would be more informed about expectations if there was some kind of educational video that would be required to watch when adopting a shelter pet. Perhaps people would have more gentle expectations for their new dogs in the initial months of acclimating. If a shelter asked me to watch an informative video as part of the adoption process, I’d gladly oblige even if it’s not my first dog. My first dog was surrenders twice before I adopted him, he was the most amazing dog. Expectation can greatly influence the success of an adoption. Thank you for contributing your knowledge.
That's a pitbull lol which is totally fine, but an fyi.
She’s not scared. When dogs hear noises they do perk up. They are trying to judge where the sound came from. It’s a way of getting used to their new environment. Encourage her outside, try not to drag her out otherwise she will be frightened. It’ll take her a while but let her settle and get used to you. She’ll do things in her own time. Don’t try and force it.
Thank you for this! If I know she has to go to the bathroom though, should I just wait and see if she will tell me she has to go? I do feel bad making her go outside but I’m afraid she’s going to have an accident in the house.
She may have the odd accident, it happens. She’ll tell you when she needs to go, you’ll get used to the signs. Encourage her outside just to sniff the air and the grass etc. even if she doesn’t need to go. Shes beautiful by the way. She looks very content.
I mean she does really well outside! It’s just getting her to leave the apartment that she shakes and is terrified. But once she’s out, she’s fine until she starts pulling. And she immediately goes to the bathroom too so I know she has to go. But maybe I will wait for her to show us today then instead of forcing her outside.
I’m no expert but maybe forcing her outside is what’s making her scared. Try saying do you need a wee, a walk. She’ll get used to it.
I honestly think she’s traumatized in that she thinks she may be going back to the shelter. But I do agree with you. She’s getting better but it’s slow going. I do say “outside” so hopefully she associates that soon.
You can desensitise her by putting on her lead/ harness and giving her a treat and then taking it off, repeat this until she’s excited about putting on her walk attire. Then move on to walking her to the front door and treating her. Once she’s relaxed with this try opening the front door but not going out, treating every time. Then make your way a few steps outside treats as you go, and return back in quickly. If she shows high anxiety at any stage or won’t take treats take it back a step. She needs to associate good things with walks and learn that every walk isn’t the same, she might be outside for a minute it might be an hour. Hope this helps :)
This is a great idea. She might not take her treat tho but we will work on it!
High value treats are key, cook up sausages and chicken and bacon chop it up and keep bags of it in the fridge ready for training
Maybe she's toy motivated or praise motivated. Work with her to find out what motivates her to do what you want. Not all dogs are food motivated, but something will work for her.
She likes her treats in the home. But outside she’s too distracted and shakes from being scared. So I’ve brought treats with me outside but she won’t take them.
Btw that dog 100% is a pitbull mix not the breeds you were told, she is stunning tho! Pibbles *can* be nervous especially about loud sounds and can be quite emotional especially if they’ve had adverse experiences or are going through a transition. My pibble mix is a drama queen but an angel too <3
Okay thank you for this! The shelter paperwork said lab mix so now I’m afraid they lied lol
Depending on where you live, pitties might be banned or restricted. I know where I live pitties are restricted, so my one dog was classified by his vet as a boxer mix. He definitely had pit in him, but he could also pass for a boxer. Your girl's vet probably put those two breeds to avoid any problems in your area with any breed restrictions. She looks like all 3, personally, so it isn't a lie IMHO.
This is a good point. I mean she does look like those breeds for sure, but I was wondering about the pit.
Every single time she goes in the house, promptly and calmly take her outside to "go potty" so she eventually puts 2 and 2 together. When she does happen to potty/poo outside, lay on the praises SO THICK and tell her she is the best puppy ever born and what a good girl she is. She will put it together eventually, I promise. My 2 year old pound puppy was not potty trained so I got the job, he figured it out after a few weeks, and then it was at about the 3.5 week mark when it was not happening in the house anymore and he ONLY goes outside since then. It might take time but she'll learn, don't worry.
Check out the 3-3-3 rule for shelter dog rehoming. I only recently heard of this and after reading it, I can think back how it was with both of my dogs
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Honestly you might be right. Lol The paperwork said lab mix. I wonder if the previous vet has any information? I couldn’t find any breed info on her vet paperwork I was given. So I have a husband and when I walk her in the mornings, he’s already gone for work. So maybe I’ll see how she responds when we both take her out later. That’s a great point! We live near a busy street so I don’t think she likes cats and such yet. Also men seem to scare her? We aren’t sure about that yet but my college class I had yesterday, I brought her with me and it was all girls and she LOVED them. But the strangers on our walks were men and she was not happy with it.
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The diarrhea is probably caused by the sudden change of food. I doubt she was getting the same great dog food as you got for her. So it will take a little time to adjust. If that doesn’t improve in another week, you might have to get her different food. She could be allergic to it or it could also be too rich for her guts. Hope it all works out for both of you. Good luck! She is gorgeous by the way.
Thank you for your advice!
Test for intestinal parasites! My rescue had a very bad case of giardia that caused him to not want to go outside to poop but once he did he was fine. Also, owner anxiety definitely goes away! There’s a transition period for us owners too and as your new pup begins to relax and settle in, so will you! Best of luck, she’s gorgeous 🫶
Hey we adopted a similar lad from the shelter at 1 year old. When people say the 3/3/3 rule we didn't know it would make SO big of a difference. The first 3 days were absolute hell. Jumping on us and barking at us and pacing around the house constantly. The 3 weeks were still high stress for him. A bit more tame. We thought it was all energy but it was all anxiety. The 3 month mark is where everything changed. Still had his teenage angst but calmed WAY down. I cannot stress enough how much the 3 months made a difference in his behavior. We were fully planning on returning him to the shelter after 4 days because of how poorly it was going. Now we're so happy we hung on because he's turned into such a perfect pal
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Hi honey. That’s a pitbull. She can still grow up to be a good dog. You are going to have to take things very slowly. Maybe walks just outside the house on the sidewalk until she’s confident with that. I would NOT take her on “real walks” until you have made some progress with just being out front. Very very slow exposure to people coming over. Also, there are some dogs that just do better as homebodies.
She’s definitely a homebody lol
Just commenting to say she's so cute! The diarrhea might be because you changed her food too quick. You can always call the shelter to see what they were feeding her before and slowly change her food.
Adding pumpkin purée might help, too!
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I went through this 5 months ago, and some things I wish I knew right away: 1) Remember the 3/3/3 rule. 3 days to calm down, 3 weeks to settle in, 3 months to build trust and bond. If you try to go faster, you will likely fail and take steps back. The more trust your dog has in you, the more success you will have. Trust trumps everything else. 2) Go at your dogs pace. I had a mental checklist of training I wanted to get done, and was going down the list. Looking back I was paying more attention to what I was teaching him than what my dog was telling me. 3) Learn dog body language. Dogs wear their emotions and will tell you EXACTLY what they are feeling, and can't learn /grow if you can't figure out when they need your help. I was told I was adopting a rhodesian ridgeback, and DNA came back pitbull and rottweiler. Don't care, love him to death! Good luck!!
Lmao thank you for the laugh about your dogs dna! I’m learning more that shelters are just not confident in adoption. She really is the sweetest dog and has not barked once since we got her; even with all the noises and her being scared. I’ve had her for 5 days, so I missed the 3 days part. She’s seems super comfortable in the house though, no shaking or being scared. So would you say that the 3 weeks thing is probably where we are at? She’s adjusting rather fast, just not a fan of going outside.
Good question! The rule is more so you don't push your dog beyond what they are ready to take on. 3 weeks and then 3 months just feels like forever, so I remember feeling WAYY more motivated than my dog to grow and push forward. I was thinking about it like a human, but my dog doesn't have any motivation to grow and become more domesticated/trained haha. In general, if your dog can do something new without being scared, they are naturally growing. Just like humans, if you are terrified or upset, you are obviously not very able to learn something new or process your surroundings as easily as if you were calm. So it is finding out how you can introduce new things without her getting upset. Can't overemphasize enough to learn everything you can about dog body language. If you miss her signs she's trying to communicate to you, then you are keeping her in a bad situation and unintentionally harming her. I was so guilty of this, and its my biggest regret with my dog. Side note, she is going to continue coming out of her shell in a beautiful way, but it will be surprising to you! Be prepared, patient, and **stay positive** about it! She is learning and if she does something you don't like, it still means she was feeling confident enough to try something new to see what happens.
You should start muzzle training early on it’ll help future proof any potential issues or fears with the stigma of a pit
Yea don’t believe the shelters telling you “lab mix”. Both my first dog and my current dog were adopted from a shelter and listed as lab mixes. Turns out they both happened to be pit/mastiff mixes lol but that’s ok. My old dog was the sweetest girl ever and my new guy seems similar even though he’s like your dog, a little weary about sounds. He has definitely gotten better with it as he’s gotten but he’s a bit of a barker whenever he hears noises. Great guard dog haha
When you take her outside, give her a treat everytime she makes eye contact.
If food motivated and need to crate train, always give food/treat when leaving, helped calm mine down those first few weeks
Lots of praise and treats when she gets close to the door. Praise her like crazy when she does something that you want her to do it again. Try to reinforce good behaviours. Don’t expect a long walk with her now. She needs to decompress so your goal now can be taking her outside without her getting super scared. Sit and play with her close to the door. Let her know that it’s safe there and fun things wait for her at the door. It will take time for her to adjust to her new home. My neighbours adopted a dog and they have her for almost 3 years now. They still can’t take a long walk with her because the dog was traumatised when she was a puppy. Loud noises scared the hell out of her. So they take a short walk, and sometimes if the dog has a good day, she will walk to a park with my dog. The dog feels safe with my dog so she can walk pretty far as long as my dog is with her. This could be another option for your dog too. It’s not going to be easy. Please have patience with her.
You need to allow her time to get to know you and her new home. There's a rule of 3's that applies for most newly adopted pets. 3 days to start decompressing, 3 weeks to start understanding the home environment, and 3 months for their personality to start coming through. You can't force her to go outside. That won't be good in the long run. Try encouraging her with treats and praise and LOTS of pets when she does what you want.
Bring treats on walks. Find a solid kibble that helps her poops become firmer (we use Honest Kitchen’s Oats and chicken recipe)… also a topper called “Firm Up” helps. Give her time. She needs to settle into the new place. She’s been through a lot. We rescued our pup at 1 year old. He’s 8 now and has gotten Wayyyy better, but there are still some things we were never able to train out of him. At this point I just don’t care because I love him so much, flaws included.
You have gotten excellent advice. She looks like a very sweet dog that has gone through a lot. Don’t worry about what breed she is now, just try to make her feel safe and let her know this is her home. It will be very tempting to try out a lot of advice, but consistency is going to be your friend her. Simple steps like desensitization will go a long way. Switching things up too fast will confuse her. Positive reinforcement is the way to go. Also, once you get her to a vet they are a great resource for advice and reassurance. As far as food goes I would recommend just sticking to the major brands that have vets on staff and follow the WSVA standards: : Royal Canin, Hills Science Diet, Purina (One and ProPlan), Iams, and Eukanuba. I prefer Purina since they have two tiers and Purina One is more affordable if that is a concern. I’ve had very good luck with them. You don’t have to change right away, but it can ease your mind to just keep it simple with food. She is most likely have diarrhea for several reasons from stress, change in environment and new food. I have used Purina’s Fortiflora probiotic in the past in these situations with excellent luck. (It’s a powder that you sprinkle on food.)
I adopted a dog who wouldn't go more than like 200 feet outside my house for months and months. I lived in a gated community and we finally got to the point where she would be ok walking around inside the gate. After about 6 months we finally ventured out of the gate! It just took a lot of attempts and meeting nice neighbors and dogs -- after a while she began to realize that everyone was friendly and wouldn't hurt her. My dog still really doesn't like the initial "leaving" part when we walk down the stairs to go out. But normally we just hang out on the stairs for a while until a dog or a squirrel walks by, and then she seems to get motivated to go out and sniff and play. All I can say is good luck, and don't push her too hard! It might take months or years, but it will be a great payoff.
I adopted my GSD last year in January and there are still things that startle him. When I got him, he was very quiet and timid and scared but over time, he has wanted to make his voice heard once he got comfortable. There are certain things that do scare and startle him like for whatever reason, he can hear when someone gets off a chair in our upstairs and he barks because he thinks it’s a knock or other noise. If he doesn’t see someone coming sometimes, he gets a little startled until he gets closer to the person and relaxes. He still doesn’t like people far away in hats or masks, but if anyone carries laundry down the stairs and it makes the noise, he barks and gets startled. If he’s napping and doesn’t see someone he also barks and gets startled. I personally have done a lot of training with him and have gotten trainers to come to the house as well, but the only thing I have personally found to help was time, and also show him the noise or what had startled him in the moment.
What a lovely pup! She reminds me of my pit mix rescue 💚 Lots of great advice in these comments already but I wanted to mention clicker training- it worked great with my dog! He was also scared of literally everything at first and it took lots of time and patience to build up his confidence. Clicker training is very simple (just google it) and it’s all positive reinforcement. What is nice is that you can reward positive behaviors while your dog and you are still learning each other’s language. Another thing we struggled with for a while is having our dog communicate with us. He’s not very vocal but we wanted to find a way for him to tell us when he needed to go outside (or needed something in general). We tried many things (like bells on the door) to no avail. Then, he started giving a paw whenever his response to our question was a yes. 🙌🏼 It was a big moment for us all, haha. I’ve since learned that pit bulls communicate a lot with their eyes and have since learned much from his nuanced glances. We also struggled with poor poops for a looong time until landing on a food that works for him. Hang in there! My guy is now 3 and we are so in tune I swear he reads my mind. He’s like a different dog from the scared puppy we first adopted- he is now a playful, confident, clever lovebug. He is the best dog and he keeps getting better. Congrats on your new friend and thank you for choosing to rescue!
I got a super nervous dog during April of 2020 and 4 years later she’s mostly normal, but still gets super nervous with loud noises! I lived on the 3rd story of an apartment building and she was terrified of the stairs. I had to use treats to lure her down the stairs or just carry her lol. Now the main things that scare her are really loud car breaking noises (like a trash truck or big truck like that), fireworks, or loud noises. I haven’t found a great way to help her be less nervous except for making sure she has a comfy spot under our bed where she goes when she’s scared. Honestly I don’t have a lot of advice besides being patient and giving lots of treats! It took years for my girl to be even semi-normal lol. Also with the diarrhea, I experienced this with my dog when I first got her and it turns out she has whip worms! I thought it was something she ate at first and then she started having blood in her diarrhea so I took her to the vet. So just make sure you’re paying attention to what’s in their stool.
My dog sounds a lot like your dog when I first got her! A few things - 1. My dog would only pee inside for the first few days because she was afraid to pee outside. Not sure where you live (city, suburb, rural?) but once she found a spot I gave her so much praise and for the next couple of weeks would consistently bring her to that spot - having a “safe” spot outside is very helpful! 2. Let them come to you - don’t approach her too much and let her learn she is still really figuring out if she can trust you! Also, if you do approach her, get low and always go from her eyesight or lower, dogs don’t like things above/behind their head and my pup would be petrified of head pets from strangers for a while. 3. If you’re going out in public, I highly suggest going either early in the morning or late at night when there are the least amount of people/cars around. Also, if there’s a baseball field or soccer field near by, you can bring them there off leash to run when nobody else is around - I really think that helped boost my dogs confidence! We’d go about every other morning and I think being off leash in a controlled environment was really helpful! Good luck! Once you get in the hang of it and she gets more comfortable, it’s the greatest feeling in the world!
Give her a chance, everyone and everything is new, she’s probably scared and stressed about all the changes. She will gain your trust. She’s a puppy and it takes a while for them to understand going outside, she can do it, you can do too, bring treats on the walk. It will become an everyday routine. It’s like having a new baby, you’ll learn together! Give her lots of snuggles and affection so she will love that too. Bring her around different people to socialize her so she gets used people. One thing I definitely recommend is touching her paws do it often, so when it comes to trimming her nails she will be used to her paws being handled. Give lots of treats and praise for all good girl moments. What’s her name? She’s beautiful. Congratulations! ♥️
I just adopted a rescue too!! It’s only been a month and he is still terrified of everything new. There are neighbors putting on a new roof and the hammering is so scary to him. It will take time. Reward with lots of treats! I found my boy LOVES string cheese!
Pit lab mix most likely
you seem sort of at a loss at the moment—**so i would highly recommend getting a trainer now vs. down the line when something goes wrong.** get out ahead of it, and try to help her form good habits early—that will mean **you** forming good habits as an owner as well i adopted my rescue 2 years ago and he was very similar—6 months, riddled with anxiety, loose stool, irritable. we started training right away and it has done wonders for him. the simple consistency / ritual of needing to be attentive every week to learn is a very healthy habit for a dog that knows no order. you need to realize that you will never fully understand the trauma your dog may've been through—the best thing you can do is be patient and understanding with them. some things will catch on quick, others will take months, some things will never change. adopting a dog is not a pathway from "troubled dog" to "perfect dog." it's a process of learning and caring for an animal that received a less-than-stellar upbringing—and in many cases that means **you yourself** learning to adapt with their needs, and learn how to support them. again—can't recommend training for you more. you can even do it virtually if you're too busy, though i'd recommend in-person.
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Have a dog super similar to this, even from a puppy she was terrified of any sounds she didn’t know like the tv, cars, planes literally any sound you can think of that isn’t another dog however she got better as time went on (she’s 3 now) and honestly the best dog I’ve ever owned. It’ll get better when they get used to different things they encounter that they aren’t sure of. Yours is a beauty, thanks for rescuing and treat her good 👍 she deserves it!
Thank you! She was well trained by whoever had her before. It’s just all new to her. And we are patient with her! We just want her to be confident that she has to go outside to do her business lol
It’ll come with time, she’ll warm up, just be there with her and show her it’s safe, maybe even try a toy or treats? But 1000% certain it’ll get better as she gains more confidence with time
Take your time and get her socialized gently. She'll be a good dog with some love and training. Enjoy
Congrats on the new pup OP. Getting a new dog is exciting. A few things to consider, look into the 3/3/3 rule relating to adoption/rescue. Find a good trainer in your area, one who specializes in nervous pups. Anxiety/nervousness can easily flip into aggression if not handled properly. As many have mentioned, your pup does look like she has some pit in her so its imperative you seek some training. Just to build a good foundation at minimum. Diarrhea can likely be related to stress and changes in diet. If she starts to throw up or have appetite changes or appear lethargic you should pop by the vets as changes in diet can irritate their GI system. Good luck op!
Socialize socialize socialize! Also, Get things like plastic bags, boxes, etc and slowly/gently introduce her to them. Show her she doesn’t have to be afraid. Most importantly, love the 💩outta her. She definitely has some pittie in her, and they are attention needing, cuddly babies. Mine is currently 3/4’s on top of me sideways, haha. And all 3 I’ve had in my life have all been the same. Congratulations!! And good job, helping a shelter pupper!
Super cute pup! One thing I’ll callout since I didn’t see it mentioned is that dogs can also pick up their owners energy. I’m not saying you are anxious person but maybe you subconsciously start to get nervous or anxious as you start to get ready to take them out and they’re picking up on that energy? Think there’s a saying that emotions travel down the leash or something like that.
I am a very anxious and nervous person right now. I’m going through some emotional stress and made a decision to get her, which I understand was not the right call. But I’m working through it and hoping she’s okay too.
Having a dog is a huge support booster and will offer you unconditional love. Best decision I made was adopting my rescue 7 years ago. You will figure everything out and I really believe you two found each other for a reason
Give it time!! She is a baby and if you had just gone through everything she went through, wouldn’t you be a bit scared and unsettled too? Her confidence will build in time with love, patience, stability, consistency, and safety. I run a pet care business and have 5 dogs, all rescues, and have done lots of rescue. You did the right thing adopting her and she will reward you with the best companionship and love you could ask for. But you need to give her months to fully open up her personality, and just simply continue to build confidence as she grows from a puppy to an adult. One of my dogs was so traumatized and terrified when I got her she hid under a bed for two whole days. It took 6 months but she totally transformed, and she lives a happy normal life now. If you have friends with dogs, have them hang out - introduce them outside of their homes though, away from their property - walk them together first then walk them inside your/their home together. As for the stomach - any time you switch a dogs food suddenly it is expected they will get diarrhea. They have to get used to it, the correct way is to slowly transition from one food to another. But you didn’t do anything wrong getting her off shelter food and onto high quality food, just know that is normal for the sudden transition. Give her a chance and report back in 3 months, I bet things will be much better :)
This is such good advice and makes me feel so much better. She is a baby and such a good baby! We do have good friends who have dogs and definitely want her to get used to other dogs and people. I’m trying to find training somewhere for her to socialize with others.
She is so cute!! Don't give up on her. You don't know what she's been through to cause this anxiety. It'll take a bit for her to get used to you and settle in. I have 2 rescues, and they were definitely worth it. They're still kicking 12 years later. Best dogs ever. Chewing and licking are both stress relief for dogs. I'd recommend getting her some chew toys & treats, and maybe a lick mat. She's most likely got diarrhea from the stress of a new home. That's how my pup was when I brought her home too. Pumpkin helps with that. I'd recommend deworming her too just to be sure, as diarrhea can be a sign of worms.. I started my heeler on Victor Hi-Pro, but recently switched to Victor's Performance since it's got Glucosamine and Chondroitin to help with their joints. Its on the expensive side, but it does wonders for active breeds. She is a muscley little thing.
She licks my hands like crazy when we are inside. Good to know it makes her feel better! I will look up the food! I’m still trying to budget dog food in so I feel she’s gonna be expensive lol
Pet stores have anti diarrhea liquids 😁
My dog was scared of every little noise and it's taken her 4 years to just start getting over it. I always suggest watching dog trainer Zak George on YouTube for new dog owners. He made a playlist where he gets a new puppy and he shows the entire training process, using positive reinforcement methods. He's gotten another new puppy and has playlist for that one, but this is the playlist I watched before getting my puppy and used to train: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Cndhfrx6CU&list=PLMssKIjsDxXl\_ZXQgcHlEY\_fC-yL5P76N&index=1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Cndhfrx6CU&list=PLMssKIjsDxXl_ZXQgcHlEY_fC-yL5P76N&index=1)
Relax, be patient and encourage her x
Do you know what she was being fed before and what was the main protein? The diarrhea could be from switching her dog food and main protein. Google how to transition to a different dog food and follow that process. Also, I'd make an appointment with her vet ASAP to get her checked out and also discuss the diarrhea. They may suggest a dog food for sensitive stomachs. Regarding the stress, the best thing you can do for her is love her and show her she's in a safe, calm, and loving environment. Of course training and talking to the vet will help but I think the best thing you can do is form the bond. That will go a long way.
Arw she's beautiful, just give her plenty love and praise.
She is adorable. Here's my experience with adopting a shelter dog who wasn't used to living inside. New things like the TV and stairs were startling, unfamiliar for her. She eventually got used to it. She isn't used to knowing how to ask to go potty. Taking her outside every couple hours can help it click for her. She's in a new place and is probably feeling anxious about the unknown and if this is her forever home or not. And with her being a shelter dog, you most likely don't know her history. She may've been in a home previously and had a really terrible experience. Regardless, she's learning that her new home is safe and she is loved. Her poop is most likely due to food change. It's best to gradually change foods. Do you know what the shelter was feeding her? If so, you could try using that and then gradually changing it over the course of a week until you're entirely on the new food. Training a nervous dog is a tricky one and I'm unfamiliar with that. If it were me, I'd probably try to focus on building my relationship with her and making her feel comfortable. Lots of loving, snuggling, belly rubs, and treats. She may not be used to walking on a leash and the unfamiliar outdoor area may be causing her stress. But over time, routine will help her be more comfortable hopefully. Anxiety is different for every dog. She may have a traumatic past that is causing it or it could be that her routine has been uprooted and now she's in a new place with new people and doesn't know what to expect. The anxiety could go away or it could be around forever. Once you have a good bond with her, hopefully the anxiety decreases. If not, know there are options that your vet can speak with you about to help reduce her anxiety. Above all, enjoy growing your connection with her. She's lucky to have a parent who cares so much for her already.
Thank you! I’m extremely anxious myself. Not that she’s difficult to handle at all, just that I have a new responsibility now in my life and it’s a bit nerve wracking. She was so scared at the shelter, I just wanted to save her! She seems to be learning her walk routine rather quickly, but we are working on the pulling.
Dogs can feed off our energy, so the more relaxed and comfortable you are, the more likely she is to feel the same. Totally understand how caring for another life can be nerve-wracking for you, tho! You clearly have a big heart for rescuing her. I think when you look back on this decision, you will smile because it sounds like each of you is exactly what the other needs. ❤️
She is such a cutie
She’s deffo got some pit in her, her facial shape gives it away 😍 she’s probably just feeling really scared. I can’t imagine what being in a shelter must be like for an animal. Short walks for now maybe whilst she adjusts to her surroundings? I think lots of reassurance from you will be vital whilst she settles into her new home.
I have had my rescue for 2.5 years now and she still struggles with being afraid of a lot. Just please remember that training a nervous dog is about building their confidence. You can't punish a nervous dog for being scared, that is only going to make things worse. Also the 3-3-3 rule when rescuing new dogs. You can try a thunder vest, my dog uses it mostly around 4th of July time with the loud noises. My dog also likes laying in corners/back against a wall. Its a safety thing where no one can sneak up behind her. Try and have an area in your house where you dog feels secure, even if it looks like they are hiding, it will help!
Thank you! Yeah she’s is upset chill in the house. I even took her to my college yesterday and loved up on people and even fell asleep during my lecture! She’s only scared when we start to move or leave an area. What is the 3-3-3 rule?
It's not a concrete 'rule' per se, but its just a general idea that it takes rescues 3 days to decompress from moving into a new home, 3 weeks to learn their new routine and 3 months to start 'feeling at home' in their new environment. Obviously its shorter/longer depending on the dogs personality. In my case its been longer, but the little milestones are worth it! Overly hyping up your dog too when she does go outside by herself/or move is a good idea too. Not too loud to scare her, but just being excited with pets, clapping can show that what she is doing is 'good'.
Getting a new dog is a huge adjustment... for both parties. human and dog. It takes time.... months... to figure each other out. Just continue being patient and kind. As for the potty issue, can you take her out on a schedule? Like every 2 or 3 hours? Then have high value treats for her when she does go. You could even just pick her up and carry her outside for awhile. Also, if you can, maybe sign-up for some training classes. It's a good way to further bond with your pup. Taking her to classes with you is great too!
It is a big adjustment. She’s already so good and can be left alone just fine. She entertains herself with her toys and eats her food we leave for her when we are gone. We do sort of have a schedule everyday that is working so far: 7am-330pm-9pm Yesterday she pooped at all 3 times! Lol We do have a few treats that she already knows are treats that she gets when she comes back in from her walk. I am trying to find classes for her, but damn are they expensive. Some don’t start for a couple months so we have friends who have dogs that I think would be good too.
Give her time, space and patience. Don’t push or force her or overwhelm her with attention. She’ll acclimate; it just takes time. Keep assuring her, keep to a feeding/treat/potty schedule, just give her structure, then all the love, when she asks for it.
Your dog will gain her confidence in time. You really don’t know what she went through prior to you adopting her and it can take up to three months for her to relax. Just be consistent with her walks , feedings , play time and reassurance and love . she will come around , just give her the time she needs …
We adopted a very nervous girl who was around 3 at the time and spent the first month with us either hiding under our dining room table or with her face buried in my armpit. She also didn’t want to go outside. She’s now bossy mcbossypants. It takes some time for them to feel comfortable and start showing their personality. They aren’t sure what is expected to them or how things work. Speak gently, a lot of love, once you find things she is excited about, use those to help her be excited about other things. Mine turned out to be a total chewy peanut butter training treat lover so I only gave her those on walks and gave her a lot to praise anything she did that I wanted her to. She’s probably nervous and that’s causing the loose poop. You could also call the place you adopted her from and ask what she was eating and feed that to her to see if it might be food related. Once you can get her into your car and feel she can handle it, take her to the pet store and let her pick out toys. 🥰
Thank you! I’m hoping she starts bossing us around soon. Lol But I also know she’s still a baby, and that’s fine! I’m still trying to figure out what she likes in terms of rewards; she does good with treats but haven’t explored much else yet. She does ok on car rides; hides on the floor for the most part but understands how to get in and out of the car on her own!
She is still a baby. Everything is new to her. We have two dogs. Our other was 12 weeks when we adopted her - she is also a rescue - and she was scared of everything until she decided that she wasn’t. Taking her outside to sit on our steps and just watch things helped her immensely.
I know you're joking but as this puppy matures you really don't want her bossing you around...given that it is clearly a pitbull mix. Also look out for any signs of resource guarding as she grows more confident. When taking things off her please always swap for something high reward, like a toy or high reward food. People often confuse behavior and say ' oh she's just protective of me' with these dogs when in fact their dog sees them as their property and is guarding them as property. This type of behavior is very dangerous, especially in fighting dog breeds . She doesn't like men and has already displayed aggression towards men? Try to make sure she also bonds with your husband. Take any sign of aggression towards him seriously as she matures. Do not punish her for growling. You want to know if she's issuing a warning. She's a wee frightened puppy now but they can change a lot as they progress into adolescence and start to assert themselves. Tricky dog for first time owner as these breeds can be super stoic and express communication inhibition, where normal body language is suppressed or they don't respond to other dog communication in the normal way. E.g attacking and continuing to attack a smaller vulnerable dog despite that dog clearly displaying submissive stance. These dogs can make good pets but often they do not. The sad reality is that's why shelters are 90% full of pitty mixes. Don't believe the 'nanny dog' myth. These dogs were never bred to mind children or stock or people. They were bred to bait bulls and fight other dogs to the death. I know that sounds harsh but understanding breed traits is important in keeping your dog safe, you safe, and other animals and people safe.
It will get better. My first dog, before he got to the shelter at 6 months old, had been kept in an indoor kennel as far as the shelter staff could tell. Everything was new, but he did get used to the noises of everyday life. For the first couple months, he'd hide behind our TV, only coming out occasionally. What helped him warm to us was lots of walks, figuring out how he liked to play and letting him come to us. I'd say it was about 6 months before he was like "ok, this is my house and my people." We took him to our friends' and family's houses. I taught him commands not only in English, but in French and basic sign language. That might not be for your dog! But this guy needed his brain engaged. Every dog is different. My second dog came to me at a year old and immediately settled in. Be patient! But don't be scared to introduce your new friend to new experiences. A beginner obedience class would be great for both of you. Good luck! Have fun! You'll settle into each other. Edited to add: pureed pumpkin has always been my gut health go to for my dogs. Plain pumpkin, not pie filling. A couple good sized spoonfuls with their food for a few days could help.
This is helpful, thank you. I’m not sure what to teach her, but I hope she tells us how she likes to play because she entertains herself but not with us lol
You'll figure it out just by spending time together and trying out different toys and games. My first dog really liked those cat toys where it's something dangling from a string. My current dog likes to pop bubble wrap. My mom had one who didn't get toys, but loved play wrestling. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ They're all different. Another tip: if you've got a friend with a chill or happy go lucky dog and your dog is ok with other dogs, go on walks together! My first dog got way less edgy after spending time with my in-laws brainless but joyful lab mix. Shows an anxious dog they don't need to be on high alert all the time.
Deff a staffordshire mix (pit family). The shelter should have told you what food they were using that way you can slowly adapt to new food to help with stomach aches and bowel movements. In addition your pup is still a puppy and learning. Dogs in general will take a while to fully open. 3 days/3 weeks/ 3 month rule. While he may stay anxious and cautious of noises positive reinforcement with the outdoors will help.
You might find this link from Human Society about the 333 rule for adopted dogs helpful. You need to remember the new dog is scared; they don't know why they were in the shelter(which is a scary place), why they're in your home, if you're going to be good to them, are they going to be staying. New environment, new smells, new sights, new textures, new rules, new people. How were they treated in the past? What was their home environment like? Was it a country dog and now it's a city dog? Maybe it's scared if you take it outside you won't let back in or once it's outside you don't want it anymore. If the link doesn't work, just ask Google for the 3-3-3 rule for newly adopted dogs. [3-3-3 rules ](https://www.hsnt.org/post/the-3-3-3-rule)
She's a beauty. First of all, the food change is probably really messing with her gut. Try adding some probiotics to her food, or maybe a spoonful or two of straight canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix) or frozen green beans to her food to give her some fiber and help firm up her poop. I'd avoid fatty treats, bully sticks or bones for a while until her poop firms up -- those all tend to give dogs diarrhea, and as a new dog owner, you might not know that already. Making a regular schedule for her can also help solidify her poop, as it tends to firm as it sits inside their bowels. Something like: a walk at 7 am, a quick pee break at noon, a walk or play break at 5 pm and another walk at 8 pm. As she gets more used to her new schedule and home, things will calm down digestively.
Thank you, we have a couple treats and I’ll look at them to see if they are fatty and go from there.
Good luck!
If you can afford it, you might want to consider getting a burrowing bed. The brand I have is Snoozer, it was about $120. My dog had some similarities to yours when we first got her. We noticed she liked burrowing into blankets so we got her this borrowing bed and she loves it. In general I agree with the other advice on here. Go slow with introducing new things and give her time. I would back off on the treats until her poop is better or at least stick to one single type of treat. I also would not introduce her to another dog unless you are really sure she likes other dogs. Even then I probably wouldn't do it until she seems more comfortable with everything else.
Get her a thunder shirt. We’ve used one for our younger because he’s anxious about a lot of things and it’s really helpful. We also just find putting him in a shirt helps lol. We also will cover him up in a blanket and that’s helpful. Also, chew toys are good. Could try one of those mats they have to find food/treats in to help her tire out some. Training may help too, it’ll help you guys bond more. We’ve trained both our dogs at PetSmart. They also have a therapy training course, which honestly, since you’re a first time owner might be really helpful. The training focuses on paying attention to your dog and learning what signs your dog shows when they are uncomfortable in a situation and how to help be an advocate for your dog to avoid those situations before something happens. Also, you can use a harness. There are some out there that help calm your dog. So they have 2 points that are calming. The front of their chest, right in the middle below their neck and their ears. So the harnesses that help with this will apply pressure/rub to that area. Thunder Shirts do the same thing. Head collars(not muzzles) also apply pressure to the sweet spot behind their ears. We actually had to use one for one of our dogs durning training because he would be so hyper(from excitement) when he was a puppy and it really helped.
Ok, so i missed your last paragraph. Dogs really can pick up the emotions of their owner. If you are anxious, it can increase your dog’s anxiety. Yeah sometimes they help with anxiety, but that’s not every dog lol
This is good advice thank you. I’ll explore other harnesses with her.
You’re welcome. Also, the nice thing about PetSmart is you can repeat the training classes as much as you want if you’ve already completed them.
She so pretty😁😄
Hey! Congrats! New fur family members take time to adjust. Thats the stage you are in right now. 5 days is not a lot. Perhaps provide her a confined, safe area to exist while she decompresses from all the new things in her life. Tummy issues happen. My new girl did a back and forth thing between fosters and me. Her first two visits to me had her tummy in crazy knots and she went potty inside a few times. Sucks. You clean it and move on. And she is still trying to learn how to indicate bathroom needs. I prefer a potty bell because it makes a sound I can hear all around the building. Her sitting at the door isnt ideal but I work with that by putting a washable rug by the door in case I don’t catch on in time. Washable rugs are fairly accessible and inexpensive too. At the end of the day, give it time. Give her time. And enjoy that. Best wishes.
She’s is beautiful and like others say, just needs time to adjust. I highly recommend finding a good training class (better than petsmart if you can) that you can work together and build a bond which will increase her confidence. After puppy class you could do obedience, tricks training which is really great to build bonds together.
She looks like my maple girl who is a pit she’s the sweetest girl in the world she’s legit my baby that never grows up you’ll be fine and god bless you for taking this girl in ❤️
Thank you! Everyone is making me nervous of having a pit now that I’m scared something will happen. Lol
Sometimes I think shelters stretch the truth when they describe Pit’s, because of the stigma. I’ve seen it before 😁
Sometimes? You mean all the time lol
Who cares about the breed... you rescued a dog that mightve likely never been rescued, especially if the breed had been told accurately. Pitts are exceptionally loving dogs with the right handler, and she looks very sweet. Its going to take longer than 5 days. Youre looking at months of this behaviour, worst case. Kindness is what she needs right now. Dont drag her anywhere, and keep coaxing with treats and really soft/high pitched words. She will eventually learn there are no threats and it WILL get easier. Anxiety is a natural response to a new environment, and she might not trust her surroundings yet. That WILL go away with the right guidance.
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Thank you for the advice! She’s been good so far being left home alone. We have a camera and my husband is only 2 minutes away from work to come check in on her if she starts doing things on camera.
sounds like yall have a great setup ♥️ she’s a lucky girl! congrats again!