My adopted dog is timid and scared. How can I earn her trust?

Question

I adopted a timid dog and would like advice on how to earn her trust. She is very sweet but very scared. She is about 2-1/2. Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Large (61lb +) | Female | spayed | 64 lbs

Lauren Jones VMD · Accepted Answer

Congratulations on adopting Lady! Earning trust will take a lot of patience and time. Remember that she has had a lot of sudden changes with her new home and a new person in her life. Start by giving her space in her new home and try putting a bed in her favorite space in the house to make this her "safe spot". Try to avoid approaching her if she is in this safe spot. If Lady is food motivated, you can start by offering a few high value treats when she lets you gently pet her. Some dogs are threatened when you reach over the top of the head and respond more favorably to scratches on the chest or under the chin. Once you figure out what she enjoys (food, walks, chasing a ball, etc.), you will be able to build upon that activity and spend most of your interaction doing her favorite things. One other thing to try is a calming pheromone collar or diffuser (Adaptil is one example) to see if this helps to calm her a bit. I hope this helps!

My adopted dog is timid and scared. How can I earn her trust?

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