My new puppy is skittish and cowers. How can I make her comfortable?

Question

I adopted a puppy 2 days ago. She is a hound mix and is 13 weeks old. She was found on the side of the road, and has lived in a cage with minimal human interaction since she was 7 to 8 weeks old. She is VERY skittish... She has passed every temperament test, has never growled or snapped at me or my children, and has shown NO aggressive behavior. But she cowers when anyone approaches her. What can we do to help her feel comfortable and show her that is ADORED and SO loved by her new family? Pet's info: Dog | Black and Tan Coonhound | Female | spayed | 3 months and 9 days old | 18.7 lbs

Sara Farmer, DVM · Accepted Answer

Behavior training would be a great way to help her gain confidence. You can look into puppy socialization and obedience classes in your area. I'd also recommend asking any strangers to allow her to approach them, and to offer a treat. Sophia Yin's website is a great resource for behavior questions - this link has good information on socialization in general: https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/puppy-socialization-stop-fear-before-it-starts/

My new puppy is skittish and cowers. How can I make her comfortable?

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