SaffieTheGrey19

@manbestfriend thank you for replying. I will definitely try that thank you! It’s all been a learn in process for both of us so will start back with the quiet walks and see how we get on. Thanks again!

Hello there, I am new to this group and it seems like the perfect place to seek advice over my concerns! I adopted my girl, Saffie, about two months ago. She came to me very very timid and shy, had never been in a house before and could tell instantly she had a dislike for men (I have a male flatmate). I knew it would be a long settling in process, firstly wouldn't leave my bedroom, had to teach her how to go up and down stairs (I live on the fourth floor), traffic and noise was very scary for her. Getting her to go out was a battle in the early days, we would walk around the gardens of our complex constantly as this is the only quiet place, we then went on to walk her out in the country when her confidence built and she was more settled in. I then started very slowly to try and get her used to walking near traffic and noises by walking at night, with another dog etc etc and she was great! Ended up being able to walk her along the road no problem. Her progress was amazing recently and she was beginning to act like an actual dog! I was so so happy with her progress! But now all of a sudden she has drastically regressed. She has started just stopping on our usual walks, will not move, I have been stuck for 30 mins before. I know what her fear response is like as she showed it many times in the beginning and she does not display any type of fear. She doesn't care at all about treats outside of the house (not even high value like cheese or sausages) so that doesn't help, I have tried doing the tight circles, nudging with my knee behind her leg and pulling does not help whatsoever. She does this at the most inconvenient time and I end up having to turn back and then she's fine. This was never an issue until last week. Whenever she didn't want to go anywhere I would pick up her front end for a few steps, put her down and she would walk along fine. She also doesn't show any excitement for walks anymore (she used to get up and wag her tail when she heard the lead and me putting my shoes on). I have to force her out the door and down the stairs for the toilet again and I just feel so mean but cannot for the life of me understand why she has gone back to acting the way she was before when we had made so much progress together. She no longer looks like the happy dog she had become. Also I think I should add she has been spending a lot more time with another dog, joint walks and I look after her once a week. She then spent the whole day with the other dog and away from me for the first time (she knows the dogs owner and has been around her since the start), it is after this that her behaviour completely changed. I was thinking maybe she is missing having another dog around, being used to always being with other dogs. But I'm not sure that would affect her this much though. Thank you for reading! Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!