Dogs Who Have Been Abused...

Years ago I had a dog that I got at a shelter and she was the same way. If someone came over she would stand behind me and hide. All I can say is it takes time. She was the sweetest dog in the world, but never really warmed up to anyone who wasn't in my immediate family. Even with all her quirks, she was still the best dog I ever had and we had 11 great years together. You can't change what happened in the past, just move forward and give him a happy life!

National Geographic: Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer...watch the shows. Your dog has psychology issues...not just training issues. He is a wealth of information. National Geographic has a link to his shows.
M:)

Ditto what Bee's Mom said. In the meantime, do NOT "love on" your pup when he exhibits the scared behaviors... it reinforces to him that that is what you want him to do. It's like praise for him peeing and being scared. Ignore it as much as you can.

You might also consider crate training for him. Once he learns the crate (which doesn't normally take very long) it will become his "safe" place to go when you have visitors. Not as a punishment--- but a place that HE can be safe from the visitors until he is more comfortable with them present. It's a rule we had at our house for years (we finally took the crate down)... the kids were NEVER allowed to interact with the dog when she went into her crate. It was HER bedroom and they had to leave her alone. She would go there when she had 'had enough' of the kids or the noise in the family room or whatever. Over time she started using the laundry room and our bedroom closet for this, so we were able to put the crate in the attic.
Watch Dog Whisperer though... he covers dogs who are "afraid" often.

I once worked with a woman that specifically adopted abused or neglected animals. She told me that it takes a lot of love and a lot of time. You have to be patient and let the dog adjust on his own. Don't show extra love when he shies away just because of that but do encourage him. Treat him like a child that is afraid to meet someone new. Don't force but gently encourage. If you don't see improvement after a year maybe, you could consider a specialist for some tips. Anther thing the woman did was cage train. It worked very well for her. The dog had a place he or she could run to when feeling afraid.

The next two paragraphs explain what I did to overcome my dog's problem.

My last two dogs were saved from shelters. I think they were put there after bring abused by men. When we went to the shelters to adopt, they had a fenced area so potential new home families could see if they and the dog were compatible. Both dogs played with my kids very well, but avoided me. After we got them home I found out they weren't just playing with my kids. They were avoiding me.

I trained them to like me and eventually they became "Dad's dog". I had a traveling job that required I leave most weeks on Monday morning and return Friday night. I'd call home Thurday night and remind my wife not to feed our dog until I got home Friday afternoon or evening. When I got home, I'd slice a couple of hot dogs and fry them in a skillet. While they were cooking the aroma would bring the dog to the edge of the kitchen sniffing the air. When they were finished frying, I cool them off and sit in a chair and call the dog. When I first did this she wouldn't come within 15 feet of me and I'd have to throw the hot dog slices to her. It took six weeks for her to take one out of my hand. (I was the only one to feed her on weekends, too.) It took another 2 or 3 months before she would meet me at the door, excitedly wagging her tail. Each time I'd slice a couple of hot dogs and fry them in the skillet. I took Psych 1A and 1B in college and it works on dogs too.

Recommendation: Invite a friend over. Have him or her slice a hot dog up and fry it in a skillet. (The fat in a hot dog makes a very inticing aroma for dogs when fried.) When they are finished cooking, have the friend toss the slices, one at a time to your dog. It will take a little while, but your dog will eventually look forward to your friends coming over. ;-)

Good luck with your dog training.

Those are the dogs that I adopt, too! The dog I have now I adopted when he was about 2 1/2. It is now 1 1/2 years later, and we are still working with his fear issues. However, they have gotten better. I work really hard to socialize him (he goes to doggy daycare, we go to the dog park where he can meet other dogs and other people, etc.), but there are times and days and people of whom he is still just terrified. And I just have to accept that, support him, and move on.

One of the things that I have found is that people assume that because he is cute (actually, so ugly that he's cute!), they should just be able to walk up to him and pet him. I have to tell people that we see how they should approach him. I anticipate that this will be a long process - at least another couple years, but that we will get there.

My last dog was so badly abused that the vet at the shelter suggested they just put him down - but we worked together and lived happily together for 15 years after I adopted him. He never was overly friendly with strangers, but he was a wonderful, loving dog with me. I think in his heart, he knew I had saved him, and he went above and beyond and saved me, in a lot of ways, too.

As someone else suggested, it's important that there is a safe place for your dog to go when he is scared. I highly recommend a kennel. Put him in his kennel before people come over, and after a while go over and open the door. But don't pull him out, let him come out when he's ready. And if he's not, that's ok, too. It's ok for a dog to choose to stay in his kennel until he feels safe. I also second the recommendation of calling a behaviorist. I've worked with one for this dog, since he had some fear aggression issues, and it has been very illuminating.

Good luck and enjoy your puppy.

We got our MiMi girl the same way you got your sweet puppy. Someone had abused her and then just dropped her off in a neighborhood that was just getting developed. We have had her for a little over 6 years now, and it took about 3 years for her to stop peeing on our floor when someone new would come to our house. She still puts her tail between her back legs when people come, but at least she is not peeing on our floor. She is also more afraid of women than of men. We have assumed that her abuser was a women. I thimk it is just going to take him time to know for sure that he is safe with you. Just be patient and love him all you can. He will come around to strangers the more he feels safe with you.

Personal training and socialization will provide the biggest benefit. Many trainers can come to your home until your dog gains the confidence to recieve training outside of the home. Sometimes medications or supplements are needed for counter-conditioning and are best used under the advice of a professional.

Best wishes.

We currently have a dog that we rescued from the shelter when she was 9 months old and had been badly abused. She used to shake and pee when my husband or any other men came near her. It took a couple of years and a lot of patience but she has become a wonderful part of the family. She still doesn't like people to walk up behind her and it takes her a while to warm up to strangers but other than that she is great. We used lots of treats and exercise to improve her confidence.

every dog is different, of course, but most will eventually get over at least some of the fearfulness. our max must have been beaten by a man of ....er....girth, because he always hated anyone of that general shape. we thought his back was injured, because it took almost a year before his tail came out from between his hind legs. we were astonished and overjoyed the first time he wagged it. but despite some habits he never outgrew (hating big round men, and cowering if you came up on him suddenly) he became the most happy, wonderful, loving dog.
kudos to you for taking in an abused baby.
khairete
S.

I would get a referral for a behaviorist or behavioral vet - your vet and/or local Humane Society or rescue should be able to help with this. We had to go this route with our dog and it was incredibly helpful, both to have a good assessment of what our dog's issues were, and to get practical advice on how to deal with them. It sounds like you're off to a good start with the socialization.

You might also try some of the pheromone products - Comfort Zone or a DAP collar.

I got a dog one time that was abused. I left him alone he hid for 2 weeks. we made him jealous with the other dogs. dont force the socialization on him. his curiousity will get the best of him. when you walk him tell him it is ok and put you inbetween them and him. when anyone came to my house he hid for awhile and then he would stay in the room on my lap. when walking him if he is tall enough pet him when someone walks by its reassurance for him and safety you are over him and protecting him. it took 6 months for my dog to have anything to do with the boys my ex and my son cause he was abused by boys. give him 6 months and dont force socialization. he will come out of it sooner if it is not forced.