The emotionally sensitive dog

[CHT]

In early 2020 (just before Covid hit here), DH brought home a “sad little puppy” which turned out to be a not so little 2-3 year old Husky cross. She had been scavenging at a gas station in northern Alberta, so the gas station owner took her in, but couldn’t keep her. The story is she belonged to the local drug dealer, and was often left to fend for herself…so yes, he basically stole the dog. We had her spayed and vaccinated (she had had a few litters according to the vet) and I spent the first year just working to keep her exhausted so she stopped looking at the cats like they were her next meal.

But…she is a VERY emotionally sensitive dog. I am sure she has attachment issues as she literally acts like every new person she meets is her person (sitting on their feet, following them everywhere) so visitors to the barn love her. But…if we have any household stress, she starts to cower and act afraid. I am not even talking yelling, just any anxiety. Like when I was in the hospital this fall, or recently we had water issues which were stressful, but again, no yelling.

Now if we every do actually yell, not at her, just in general, she hides and cowers and it is hard to get her to eat - she just wants to sit outside or hide in the bedroom.

What can we do to help her? I feel badly for her - we can’t protect her from stressed humans, and I want to take a vacation one day, and I can’t imagine both DH and I abandoning her will go well.

[widge]

I have a sensitive and generally anxious dog. What has worked to keep her behavior roughly normal is a lot of consistency (same schedule every day as much as possible, yes you have to do this thing I asked you to do), an herbal supplement, and a lot of deep breaths. Hilton Herbs Tranquility works for her, it takes the edge off. It all seems very earthy crunchy but it has given her results
I would also recommend getting in touch with a dog behaviorist for some tips or general evaluation.

[GraceLikeRain]

I have an 11 year old who has been with me since 16 weeks. He isn’t as sensitive as yours but likely would have been without a lot of work. A huge thing for him over his life has been building his confidence and toy drive. I taught him how to tug with treats as he innately didn’t really have much of a toy drive. Once I had a firmly installed tug, I could use it as a tool to engage and redirect when I saw him start to shut down.

In situations where he wants to go internal, I have a high success rate using an obnoxiously happy voice and engaging him in play. He is one where if I “follow him” into the stress by changing my body language or coddle him in any way he completely falls apart and becomes super timid. I also found that introducing louder voices and sounds in happy times built in more resilience to bounce back from a raised voice or unexpected noise. He will never be impervious but he’s got a toolbox to handle stress.

Another thing that may be helpful for her is to gently encourage new people to ignore her. People fawning over her can encourage that anxious attachment mindset. I really have to keep firm boundaries with mine. New people want to pick him up, hold him, let him sit on their feet, etc. and it really brings out a needy and unconfident side of him. All of the fawning is really for the people not the dog in the end.

[stargzng386]

It might be worth talking to your vet. My extra sensitive dog went on meds when Covid stress was very high and we had a bad dog fight. We worked with the vet and behaviorist. The other way less sensitive pup went off the meds after a few months but the very emotional one is SO much happier staying on them. She’s a normal happy go lucky dog on them and an anxious clingy mess without them. She has a lot of training and isn’t destructive just very anxious.

[ThreeWishes]

I have the most empathic dog that ever existed. Found him 13 years ago on the side of the road. He can read my emotions without words. Just my body language. It’s almost unnerving. I have no idea how to fix it. Oliver is just completely devoted to being my protector and he is the must serious dog that ever lived. He never takes his eyes off me. I call him my secret service. He’s not destructive or aggressive. Just completely plugged into whatever I am feeling and dealing with. It’s uncanny. Your dog is really lovely.

[QuestionMark]

I have a very very sensitive female dog too (she is mostly husky), although I don’t think she cares as much about human emotions as yours does. She has taught me a lot about both letting things go and thinking ahead to set her up for success as much as possible. She is afraid of basically everything at first and some things forever. I try to strike a balance between making her do stuff (we joke that I’m her emotional support animal because if she’s with me she really is capable of navigating lots of scary stuff) like go lots of places and meet various people–which has given her much more confidence to help her deal in general–and not expecting her to do what most dogs would do, especially at home. She prefers to have her own quiet space and will go there very routinely. I never get pulled into comforting her and having a “oh no poor scared dog” voice because it absolutely makes her more scared. Matter-of-fact as much as possible, a lot of “this is fine, you’re fine” because over time she really has become more fine and a little braver.

[QuestionMark]

WOW I have tears in my eyes just looking into this very good boy’s eyes in a photo!

[jherold]

You might try an herbal supplement. My sensitive soul gets a capsule of Stress j from Natures Sunshine twice a day. Rescue Remedy might also help.

[Bonnie2]

He loves you. That doesn’t need to be fixed.

[eightpondfarm]

If this were my dog, living within my family, i would consider her as much as i would anyone else in the house. If an argument were brewing, if discord was afoot, i would look to her and be sensitive to her needs as well as my own. I would let her know that all is OK for HER by taking a breath and talking to her in person… Then resume argument. Just involve her as you go along. She is afraid she will be tossed out, hit, put in a closet and not fed. She is afraid. And she always will be. All you can do is build up her feeling of security as best you can.

You can do that by involving her. By considering her.

[sunkistbey]

This times 1000

[candyappy]

@CHT

What can we do to help her? I feel badly for her - we can’t protect her from stressed humans, and I want to take a vacation one day, and I can’t imagine both DH and I abandoning her will go well.

She obviously can pick up on the " vibes" you guys are sending out even when not yelling and just feeling stressed and really there isn’t a lot you can do about that except don’t fight or feel anxious and that is hard to do sometimes.

She is just a product of her environment/ upbringing and while time in a stable , loving home can help she most likely will always be this way. She is just a special needs girl.

My in-laws took in a stay 4 years ago who is a very sensitive soul --like your girl. He still needs constant reassurance and is the most loving boy and he is worth the effort it takes to keep him…

Sounds like she is too.