#dog - #Rescue dog scared to death of people?

Rescue dog scared to death of people?

I'll just jump right into it. I adopted a puppy almost a year ago from the shelter. Vets estimate she was about 3 months at the time (So she's just over a year old now). When we met her, she didn't know what to do on a leash. She literally froze and they couldn't get her to walk at all. Once it was removed, she walked over to my husband and I and just laid down between us. We saw some scaring on her muzzle and asked the vet there, who said she was most likely bitten in the face. She also had a pencil sized hole in her cheek that needed sewing up. We adopted her about a week later (she had to get fixed and whatnot).

Fast forward to being at home for the first time and she was extremely dog aggressive. Wouldn't let another dog near her. It took almost 3 months for that to settle down. The problem now is that she's still extremely scared of people, even ones who try to be nice to her. I've stopped letting strangers pet her because she just turns into a mini statue and/or shakes like a leaf. If we're sitting down, she tries to bury herself behind me on the couch. She's not aggressive with people. She just.. freezes. She's been around my family (So everything from babies to old people) and it's all the same. She runs to my husband or I and hides, shaking.

Around my husband and I, she's a happy, normal pup. She runs around and plays like you'd expect a puppy to do. Not a bit like she is around strangers. It's like a complete 180.

I've booked an appointment with the vet this coming Monday (16th of July) to talk to them and I'm also starting her in obedience classes again to see if that will help. I've heard mixed responses as to what I should do with her. Some say keep her away from people, some say to socialize her around people. Some say let strangers give her treats, some say don't let strangers give her treats. Anyone had anything like this before happen? I've also spoken to two animal behaviorists and they both said that they wanted nothing to do with Roxy (she wouldn't come to them when they offered her treats) because she was, to them, aggressive and unpredictable.

Please don't be rude. I'm doing everything I can to help her. I just want my pup to be happy and comfortable.

Submitted July 15, 2018 at 02:46PM by Gingermynxx
via reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/DOG/comments/8z4vqa/rescue_dog_scared_to_death_of_people/?utm_source=ifttt