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I was recently assigned a foster dog , Max, through the local humane society. He’s a 5 year old toy poodle, they guess. He was found as a stray in very bad condition, and I’m working with him to overcome some health problems. He’s extremely underweight, is missing most of his teeth, and is blind in one eye.
We don’t know what his life was like before the shelter picked him up, but based on his behavior we guess he may have been abused.
He’s very unsocial. He isn’t aggressive at all–he mostly just pretends people and especially other dogs aren’t there. At the park yesterday, I was holding him on my lap and a friendly dog approached us. I pet the dog and talked to the owner for a couple of minutes, and Max didn’t even pick his head up to acknowledge the dog. When I call him over to me, he doesn’t seem to understand at all what I am asking him to do. He doesn’t even seem to recognize “good boy.”
He also has nearly no appetite. We think this is because his teeth are so bad that it hurts to eat. But after putting him on painkillers, he still doesn’t seem to care about food. We offered him a little piece of meat the other day and he didn’t even sniff it, just turned away.
He’s a very calm dog, and seems to be quite attached to me. But even something as simple as taking him outside seems to bother him–he’ll often tremble and refuse to walk.
What can I do to help him become more relaxed? I’m worried his inability to be social will keep him from being adopted.
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1. You mentioned that you recently got a poodle to foster! For many adopted or fostered pets it can take months to trust again. You have to keep reinforcing the good and try to ignore the scared and hurtful attitude. Just keep up the love and praise and sooner or later he will come around. He may have been abused by other dogs if he doesn’t pay attention to him so once again give him time.
2. The problem with not eating is a serious one and will involve a vet to see what his problem is. Keep trying new, good food and even treats that are healthy to give him the incentive and desire to eat. Add some good wet food to his dry food and put hot water on it to moisten it and make it warm so it doesn’t bother his sensitive teeth and gums.
Most importantly just give him time. He will realize that you are good for him and he will come around in his own time.
I adopted a very fearful female Jack Russell 2 months ago, and she is started to trust more but is still weary of new people. She has come miles from where she was when I got her and I expect her to go miles further in the months and years to come.
Just be patient and kind and he will open up in him time.
Carol
I have adopted, rescued, and inherited 8 dogs and cats so far in my life and the way they make you feel when they finally trust and love is worth all the time and effort that you give! -
I had similar issues with a young foster dog, judged to be about three years old, a small yorkie mix, Taco, picture attached.
We were patient and kind and forgiving and supportive. After about six months, his peculiar fears and behaviors subsided. After about a year, they had all but vanished.
He was underweight and had bad teeth although only about three years old when he came to us. We had to feed him by hand. He was afraid to approach his food bowl. Poor baby, he must have been badly abused. He would quake with fear. Male humans scared him badly. Brooms and sticks frightened him. He must have been beaten.
After several months he had gone from ten pounds to fifteen and began to relax and be confident. He ate normally. We had non-anesthesia dental cleanings performed every six months and his oral health improved. This picture is of Taco basking by our Florida pool.
We spoiled him in every way we could. He also ate books, baseboards and berber carpeting the first months with us – but stopped that behavior as he became a confident and relaxed dog. Good luck with your sweet pup. It will take time, but recovery will happen.Attachments:
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He also may be hard of hearing part of the time. I have an elderly Poodle/? rescue. He is now deaf, but sometimes he appears to hear somethings. When i got him he was not completely deaf. He is a very slow eater. I have to guard him to keep my other rescue from eating his food. When i got him about 2 years ago, he had a major infected back tooth which then had to be removed, but nothing showed until x-rays were taken. He will frequently not eat at breakfast time, but will always eat dinner which has chicken broth on it and a little canned food stirred in. I do not do that for breakfast as he often will just not eat. If I can keep him around 14 pounds, I feel successful. Time will probably help. Good luck with winning him over.
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I’m currently taking care of my mom’s dog – about a 9-y-o Schnauzer mix who is a rescue. She’s been w/my mom for 3 or 4 years. She does the ignoring thing you described – usually when I’m wearing flip-flops and she’s running down my driveway. She isn’t deaf, she’s just stubborn.
I wanted to weigh in on the anxiety issues. Greta (mom’s dog, pictured) is very, very sensitive to sound. We thought she was most averse to thunderstorms and fire alarms (mom lives in a senior living apartment & they have fire drills), but she also freaks out to the sound of my cockatiel – even when he’s being sweet. We’re talking 9.9 on the Richter scale shaking. I’ve never seen anything like it. Greta’s vet prescribed her something called Acepromazine for her thunderstorm anxiety. DON’T LET THEM GIVE THIS TO YOUR DOG! It does NOTHING to help with anxiety – instead it just slows the whole body down. And one of the side effects is sensitivity to noise. If your foster is sensitive to noise, this is a big deal!
Otherwise, love, love, and more love will help you foster baby. What these dogs go through is completely unimaginable. Check with the vet on the not eating thing, because this could get bad fast. Otherwise, be patient & loving. Good luck!Attachments:
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Toledo, United States.
