My new puppy is scared of people. How long until she trusts us?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Border Collie | Female | spayed | 3 months and 4 days old | 4.5 lbs
My brother and his wife recently got a dog (border collie) 12 week old. We suspect that the dog was beaten up by the former owners. She doesn't want new people in her life as she remains quite scared. How long will it take her to get over her dislike in humans and start rebuilding her trust in us?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on December 5th, 2019
That is quite young for a puppy to be very scared of everything. If you just got her a few days ago, it may take time for her to adjust (usually 2-3 weeks) before she fully feels herself. However if she is acting so scared that she won't interact at all, isn't eating, or wanting to do normal puppy things (playing, exploring, etc), it is best to seek out a veterinary behaviorist in your area. They can help ensure that Bella starts receiving positive socialization in her environment and with her new family to try and help with her issues. You can learn more about veterinary behaviorists here: http://www.dacvb.org/about/member-directory/
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Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on May 7th, 2017
I'm sorry to hear Bella had such a frightening experience! In terms of how she will be in the future, this is a matter of training, patience, and instinct. Since you have stated that this is the first interaction she has ever had with another puppy, I am under the impression that she was either orphaned or an only puppy. In either case, Bella was unfortunately stripped of the extremely important times when learning and socialization take place among puppies. While training can certainly help, we can not go back in time and have her relive these experiences if this was the case. The first thing I would do is see how she does with another dog that is known to be extremely calm, the same size, and well-trained. For any behavior that you see that is liked, be sure to reward this with praise and treats. If she is still showing fear, you will have to approach the situation much more slowly. She will need to be reintroduced to dogs at a distance first, rewarding any preferable behaviors or interest shown towards other dogs. This can be a long and daunting task, but in some cases can have rewarding results. I would keep her on a leash at all times for now during any of these play dates or training sessions, as well as the other dogs involved. Having complete control over the situation in the beginning will be of great importance. If you have any other questions for me regarding training or how to go about this sort of thing, feel free to request a consultation to speak in greater detail. Good luck!
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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