My Anxious Dog Doesn't Know How To Be A Dog
fd (typed by Huckleberry himself...I had this draft open and he put his paw on my keyboard as he was about to jump over me to get away from something that scared him)
Huckleberry is my sister's dog, but I live with my sister so I consider him to be my dog as well (I take care of him more than she does since she's away at work all day so...my dog). My sister adopted him in early January from Ruff Start Rescue and he's been with us ever since. He was quite anxious when we first got him, but we all thought that he'd warm up to us eventually.
We were wrong.
It's been almost five months since Huck was adopted and he is still incredibly anxious. He is scared of everything. And I mean everything. Here's a list of things that have scared Huck in the past:
- boxes
- plastic bags
- my phone (I just picked it up)
- pill bottles (he got so scared he pooped)
- phone charger
- his own tail hitting something
- anyone who's been over to our house (except for Nate...he likes Nate for some reason)
- packages
- bottles
- pretty much anything you hold in your hand
I know that many dogs have anxiety, diagnosed anxiety that is, but I still think that Huck's level of anxiety is unhealthy. He's scared of everything. I have to think that he came from an abusive home before we adopted him, but we've had him for almost five months, has he not learned that our household is far from abusive? My sister is the most loving dog owner I know, this dog is lucky to have been adopted by her. Still, Huckleberry's anxiety prevents him from ever really relaxing. Sure, he plays and gets the zoomies sometimes, but when he's just doing nothing I feel like he's in a constant state of anxiety.
Watch this video to learn more about dog zoomies.
The biggest reason that this dog is not a dog is that he hates going outside. He hates it. I tried to take him on a walk once, but he was hiding under the coffee table (he usually lies there during the day) so I had to spend twenty minutes trying to drag him out from under the table to get him to go on a walk. Then, on the walk, we got about two blocks down when he refused to move. He just stopped and would not go any further. So I turned around and I think he knew that we were going home because he happily walked back.
Huckleberry is also not really potty trained. He is, he doesn't have accidents in the house other than that one time when I was home alone, but he also just kind of...isn't. He won't bark or go to the door to tell you he needs to go potty so you have to just let him out throughout the day. The thing is, though, that he doesn't want to go outside. Even if he has to go potty, he won't go. Sometimes he'll go outside and onto the deck, but he won't go down the stairs. I have to chase him around the table on our deck, grab his collar, and drag him down the stairs. Once he's down there he'll either try to run back up the stairs or he'll actually go potty.
I love this dog, he's so sweet, but I really hate him sometimes too (ok, hate is a strong word, but you know what I mean). Having to chase him around the outside table to get him to go potty, having to drag him out from under the table to go on a walk, and having to pick him up and carry him to my car because he won't go near it; that's all funny, but it gets old real soon.
All in all, this dog does not know how to be a dog. He hates walks, he's scared of everything, he doesn't want to go outside ever, and he lies in front of my sister's door all day.
I'll leave you with a picture of Huckleberry splooting.
Opinions and Perspectives
Keep up the great work with him. Every small step forward is progress!
The fact that he gets zoomies sometimes shows there's a happy, playful dog in there trying to come out.
Sending virtual hugs to Huckleberry. Being a scared dog in a big world must be tough.
That underbite is absolutely winning me over. Even with all his quirks, he seems pretty special.
Your story reminds me why we need to be patient with rescue dogs. They all have their own timeline for healing.
Sometimes the most challenging dogs end up teaching us the most about ourselves.
Five months feels like forever when you're in it, but its still early days in rescue dog time.
His personality really shines through in the photos despite his anxiety. What a character!
You're doing an amazing job with him. Some dogs just need extra time and understanding to find their confidence.
Rescue dogs are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get! But they're all sweet in their own way.
Does he do better at certain times of day? My anxious dog is always braver in the early morning.
Im impressed he doesn't have accidents in the house despite his outdoor fears. Shows he's really trying his best.
The deck situation sounds rough. Have you considered installing a ramp instead of stairs? Might feel less scary for him.
Reading this makes me appreciate my own rescue's progress so much more. Time and patience really do work wonders.
Some dogs just march to the beat of their own drum. Sounds like Huckleberry is definitely one of them.
Its worth celebrating the small wins. Like him being comfortable enough to sploot!
Maybe he needs a doggy therapist! Im only half joking, they do exist and can be really helpful.
Being afraid of his own tail is both adorable and heartbreaking. These anxious pups really do need extra understanding.
The bit about him being scared of everything you hold reminded me of my first rescue. Took months before I could hold a book near her.
I actually find the quirky, imperfect dogs to be the most endearing. They teach us so much about patience and love.
That coffee table sounds like his fortress of solitude! My dog has a similar safe spot under my desk.
Dealing with anxious dogs is definitely a marathon, not a sprint. Sounds like you're doing all the right things.
Love that you shared both the struggles and the cute moments. Rescue life isn't always Instagram perfect.
Im curious whether he's food motivated? That could be key in helping him overcome some fears.
My rescue is scared of random things too. Last week it was a garden gnome. These dogs keep us on our toes!
Not all dogs need to love walks. Some are perfectly happy being homebodies as long as they get enough mental stimulation.
The way he refuses walks reminds me of my old dog. We eventually got her comfortable using baby steps and lots of patience.
I used to get so frustrated with my anxious dog too. Looking back now, I can see how far she's come.
Its amazing how different rescue dogs can be. Each one comes with their own unique challenges.
Those little paws in the last picture are adorable! He's lucky to have found such an understanding family.
It must be hard for your sister being away all day. At least he has you there to help care for him.
Have you tried clicker training? It can be really effective for building confidence in fearful dogs.
The splooting picture shows he must feel safe at home at least. That's definitely something to build on.
I bet there's a story behind why he likes Nate. Sometimes dogs surprise us with their choices!
That deck chase game sounds exhausting. Maybe setting up a covered potty area would help?
Does he play with toys at all? Sometimes finding the right toy can help bring them out of their shell.
Have you looked into nosework? Its a great confidence builder for fearful dogs and they can do it indoors.
The fact that he doesn't have accidents in the house shows he's smart and trying his best despite his fears.
That underbite is everything! Sometimes the most challenging dogs end up being the most special.
Sounds like he needs a lot of structure and routine. Maybe keeping everything super predictable would help reduce his anxiety?
Getting anxious dogs to warm up to car rides is always challenging. Have you tried just sitting in the car with treats without going anywhere?
I totally understand the love-hate feeling. Its hard watching them struggle with basic dog things.
Your sister sounds like an amazing dog mom. Its wonderful that Huckleberry has such a patient and loving family.
What kind of treats does he like? Using his favorite foods might help with positive reinforcement training.
I find it fascinating how he's comfortable enough to get the zoomies sometimes. Shows there's a playful pup in there!
That's tough having to physically move him around so much. Must be frustrating for both you and him.
The coffee table seems to be his safe space. Perhaps you could start training sessions there where he feels secure?
It must be so hard not knowing his background. Just remember every small improvement is a victory.
I love that he typed fd with his paw! Even anxious dogs have their funny moments.
The potty training situation sounds exhausting. Have you considered creating a specific potty spot on the deck since he's more comfortable there?
Maybe try making outside time more rewarding? High value treats and lots of praise might help change his association with the outdoors.
My rescue took 2 years to stop being afraid of plastic bags. Now she doesn't care about them at all. There's hope!
You mentioned he lies in front of your sisters door all day. That actually shows he's forming attachments, which is a positive sign!
The fact that he pooped from seeing a pill bottle shows just how severe his anxiety is. Poor baby must have been through something terrible.
I work at a rescue and see cases like this often. Sometimes its not about fixing everything, but accepting and loving them as they are.
I appreciate how honest you are about sometimes getting frustrated. Its normal to feel that way even when we love them.
The list of things that scare him is both hilarious and sad. A phone charger? Really? Poor little guy must be so stressed.
Something that worked for my anxious pup was having another confident dog around. Maybe some supervised playdates with calm dogs could help?
Actually, medication combined with training can be really effective. It helped my dog overcome similar issues.
I disagree with some comments suggesting medication right away. Natural methods and patience should be tried first.
The splooting picture at the end really got me! At least he feels comfortable enough to relax like that at home.
Not wanting to go for walks must be so frustrating. I wonder if starting with very short distances and lots of treats might help build his confidence.
That underbite photo is absolutely precious! Even with all his quirks, he seems like such a lovable boy.
My heart breaks reading about him being afraid to go outside. Have you considered anxiety medication? It helped my dog tremendously.
Five months isn't actually that long for a rescue dog to adjust. Some take years to fully settle in, especially if they've experienced trauma.
Its interesting that he likes Nate specifically. Sometimes dogs just connect with certain people for no apparent reason.
The part about him being scared of his own tail hitting something made me laugh and cry at the same time. These anxious pups really steal our hearts don't they?
I can totally relate to this. My dog was terrified of everything when I first got her. Have you tried working with a professional trainer who specializes in anxiety cases?
Poor Huckleberry! I had a rescue with similar anxiety issues. It took over a year of patience and positive reinforcement before she started coming out of her shell.