“We met a little Chow Mix yesterday with the Dog rescue. Her name is Chassie and she is a little over a year old. The rescue thinks she might not have been socialized well as a puppy as she has been very fearful. However you can see she came right over to my seven year old, and snuggled up next to him and took a treat from him. She was an owner surrender by an older lady who was worried about Chassie and her 11 yr old male Chow who had a problem being “bossed” by a little girl. Also, the lady did not have a fenced yard and due to mobility issues let Chassie out to potty off leash. A neighbor’s dog attacked her. So she is slow to warm up to humans, and fearful of other dogs. Any thoughts?
She was quick to warm up to my son and the rescue organizer and I was really impressed with that.”
Honest Answer: I would never adopt a skittish dog. Too much work. That’s just “me to you” because working around a fearful dog is wayyyyyyy more energy than I would invest for possibly 15 years, if she has RAD.
Three articles:
Attorneys Increasingly Identify Dog Bite as a Lucrative Revenue Stream
(https://drjohnson.com/attorneys-increasingly-identify-dog-bite-as-a-lucrative-revenue-stream/)
(https://drjohnson.com/do-dogs-suffer-from-reactive-attachment-disorder/)
(https://drjohnson.com/how-not-to-adopt-a-rescue-dog/)
After those: If you STILL choose to cope; you should know that a large MINORITY of dogs (30-45% but not even half of anxious skittish dogs) “warm out of it” and are “better and better” over time.
If not, they’re not a liability to Apple Fritter but probably anyone else who just walks up and thrusts a loving hand in Feary’s face.
They don’t mean it.
MY PROFESSIONAL RESPONSE AS VET AND ANIMAL LOVER CHAMPION OF ANIMALS:
Brace yourself for my next bullshit paragraph hahhahaha:
“Give it a try! Worst case she goes back to foster. Maybe it works out but you never know til you try. She could be amazing. Chows aren’t Rottweillers you know. And isn’t your son’s happiness worth the effort?
Oh wait one more platitude:
“Maybe you’re her only chance, and there’s an amazing safe and confident doggo in there!”
I have done my civic duty to help place that dog. 🐶
I loathe me sometimes when I have to say that to strangers.
