My puppy is very shy and scared. How do I gain her trust?

Question

I bought a 3mth old puppy from an Amish farm 2wks ago. A Blue Heeler. I believe they had her locked up in a dark horse barn alone, must have also been abused. She pees on herself constantly when I am near. Wont play with toys, take food from my hand or come near me. Everything makes her afraid, noises, anything. She only wants to sit in her crate/corner. I have never had a puppy like this. I am so very disappointed and am ready to sell her... What can I do? Please help. Pet's info: Dog | Blue Heeler | Female | unspayed | 30 lbs

Dr. Elizabeth · Accepted Answer

I hate to hear this is happening for both you and Lola. If you want to try to show her that humans are good, you will need to gain her trust. The first thing you need to do is find a treat that she really likes. This will be her high value treat. Basically, sit quietly close to Lola and don’t look directly at her. This can make some dogs uncomfortable. Every time she makes a move to investigate you, she gets a treat. Clicker training is something that can help in this situation as well. Any time she makes an attempt to approach you, click the clicker and treat her. The key is to be slow, patient, calm and not to make her feel pressure. You may also get a small assortment of toys and once again, sit close to her (but don’t force yourself beside her), avoid looking at her and try to get her interested in the toys. This will not be forever but it is needed for right now. The key is that Lola needs to approach you on her own terms. You may also do some reading about shy or fearful dogs to learn other techniques that benefit them. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

My puppy is very shy and scared. How do I gain her trust?

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