Dear Alecia,
OK, Here is my problem. My room mate has an American Bulldog/Boxer mix named Champ. Every since I have known him he has be a pretty shy/timid dog, however once he got to know you he would act more like a normal dog should.
However, a few months back Champ got an ear infection and we took him to the Vet. They cleaned his ears and gave us the medications required to treat and clean his ears. Since he is a strong dog and I am the only dude that lives in the house, I was tasked with the cleaning duties and ear maintenance.
I wish I would have never done that now considering that he is super afraid of me now. But the crazy thing is is that it’s really just when he is indoors! I cannot for the life of me figure out what it is about being indoors that makes me so scary. If he is outside and I happen to go out there as well, you would never know that this dog has completely forgotten that he is terrified of me.
As it stands now, he confines himself to the cage and only comes out when Lauren, my roommate and Champs owner, is at the house. From everything I read so far all I can determine is that I have to appear more “pack leader” like and to not feel bad about his current condition.
Apparently my energy plays a large role. I’m really certain that I have never felt bad about this and that considering champ is so submissive, I don’t think he is confused about who the leader is. So what can I do to start regaining his trust!? Better yet why am I OK outside and then all of a sudden I’m the big bad Michael Vick when we go back in?
He was a rescue from the pound and has always been shy/timid around people he doesn’t know but at one point he trusted me! Better yet, how do you prove to a dog who thinks I’m Michael Vick that I am the same person inside the house as I am outside? –Jeremy
Dear Jeremy,
What a brave man and good leader you are. I know it can be frustrating but take heart there is hope.
Is Champ food motivated? If so I would like to you carry treats in your pocket and at different intervals just throw one in his direction. Don’t try to go after him or even acknowledge that you threw it out, just throw it out and let him take it.
Do this for a few days and allow him his space to just go and get the treat. Then start throwing the treat out closer and closer to you so that Champ has to move towards you more but do so with the same non-chalant attitude as before. Also have his owner do the same while she is sitting next to you.
Give Champ his space and I want you to tell him from your heart to his that you didn’t mean to scare him when his ears were hurting him but you had to help him get better and just apologize to him for scaring him. Acknowledge to him that you now understand how sensitive and scared he was and that you will not do that to him again. Just open your heart to him and send him love.
Try out all of the above and let me know how it goes.
Paws Up!
Alecia
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Alecia Evans is the inventor of The Walk In Sync™ Humane Dog Walking and Training System with her exclusive 5 Minute Manners Makeovers using the Walk In Sync™ Harness and Accu-Grip Leash, along with her Walk In Sync™ 3 Easy Steps to teach any human/dog duos to Walk In Sync in just minutes.
The former host of the award-winning GrassRoots Aspen TV Series, The Whole Animal-An Alternative Approach to Animal Care, Alecia takes a natural approach to dog training and health care. Her work has been featured on Fox and Friends, The Sandra Glosser Show, NY 1, and in Aspen Magazine, DogTipper.com, The New York Daily News and Woof Report.
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