I'm in desperate need of some advice about my new puppy. I just adopted him yesturday from a shelter called care. I have never brought home a dog who was so scared. I think he might have been abused. The reason why I think he was abused is because he runs away when I try to come near him, his tail is between his legs. It broke my heart this morning when I was cleaning the mess this morning he was shaking the hole time I was in there with him. And when I walked over to him to calm him down he peed all over himself and the blanket he was sleeping on. I'm afraid he was abuse and for some odd reason I think I might look, smell, or talk like the person who might have abused him. What do I do? How can I calm him down?

It is highly unlikely that your puppy is mistaking you for someone else. Dogs' sense of smell and hearing is far greater than a human's, and he can both smell and hear any differences. Dogs can generally even tell the difference bewteen identical twins with no difficulty. I agree that he sounds like he was abused; soiling his blanket was done out of fear. But remember that he is in an entirely new environment, and is naturally wary of everything right now. I took in a puppy that displayed many of the behaviors that you describe. Patience, soft talk, and love are the best things you can do, but be prepared for a long period of mistrust. Your tone of voice is very important. I have had mine over 10 years, and she still cowers if I raise my voice. However, she knows that she is safe now, always has food and water, and that she has a home. When I found her, none of that was true.
Good luck.

She may have been abused or neglected but any puppy you bring home will be very nervous in the first 24 hours. Give her lots of love and affection and let her feel secure with you and she'll likely come around. My friends just brought home a pound dog about 6 months ago... she has settled down quite a bit since then and is turning into an excellent pet, but it's not always easy to take on the problems that some other dog owner created... it is the right thing to do though.

A couple things you can do... give the dog a place that is her place. Put a blanket there. Try to establish a routine and stick to it as far as feedings and walks go. Try to keep your home calm and quiet in the first week you have her... over stimulation will not help her get adjusted. Personally, I would try to stay in physical contact with her as much as possible... hold her, pet her and just keep her close to you. She'll settle down over time even if she was abused.

My cat was abused before I got her and she is the best pet in the world after spending a lot of time showing her that not all humans are mean and cruel. Good luck!

Ohhh this is definitely MY forte!

I adore animals ALL OF THEM! I have trained MANY dogs! I know EXACTLY what the problem is here!

Your puppy has probably been shipped from once place to the other and right now doesn’t know what to expect. He doesn’t have a ‘pack’ to lean on and is scared of not having one at all EVER!

In addition he/she may have been spanked for messing on the floor. That seems to be one of the BIGGEST mistakes new dog owners do with their puppies! NEVER EVER SPANK A PUPPY!!!

First off, when approaching your pup since he/she seems wary get on your knees and lean back a bit. Don’t lean back so far your backaches or you topple over just enough to show that you’re not intimidating the puppy. Do NOT stand over the pup! That means you are showing him who is top dog. When reaching out don’t got straight for the pups nose, instead go under as if you’re going to rub the bottom of his muzzle. This is a less intimidating gesture; on your part it is saying ‘I am your friend and I want to be nice.’

After you gain his trust then and only then start the potty training. When the pup messes in the house and you don’t see him/her doing it just clean it up and don’t say a word about it. If you catch him doing it then pick him up say NO (firmly does not include LOUD!) and take him outside to finish, remember to keep treats he absolutely LOVES on hand for these moments! (I put these kinds of treats in candy dishes right next to the front and back doors) You will need to grab a treat QUICKLY and take it WITH you while taking the puppy outside. While the pup does his biz out side pet him and praise him while feeding the treat all at the same time. (acting like a fool and getting really excited and happy works wonders!) If you ever need to punish him take him by the back of his neck say NO firmly and give him a little shake, then drop him, but don’t drop him from high up! Just 6 inches to a foot off the ground is all that is required. This is what mama doggies do and they understand it a lot better than a rolled up newspaper or hand on the backside.

How old is your puppy? That is a HUGE factor in training as well. What breed? Different breeds respond to training techniques differently.

Always always always have good yummy treats on hand when you want to socialize with him! Eventually you wont need them but with what you have stated in your post above your going to need them!

I hope this helps! Let us know how things work out!

Oh I forgot to add that when training my dogs I used small bits of cheese and hot dogs cut into tiny pieces for treats. They LOVE these! My dog Heidi knows what cheese is and if you say ‘CHEESE’ she will run to the fridge, sit and wait for her commands to do her ‘tricks’. Heidi will do ANYTHING for a piece of cheese! LOL

Feeling safe and secure is paramount for your new family member. I have found the a kennel with enough room for a blanket makes house breaking easier. If you purchase a kennel to put in your home make sure it is big enough for your dog when it is fully grown. While it is a puppy, limit the amount of space inside by using a box covered up with a blanket (to keep your puppy from gnawing on the cardboard. Limited space will help keep your puppy from soiling its sleeping space. Learnig to trust takes time, just be patient with accidents in the kennel, they will pass very quickly as your puppy learns that the kennel is a safe and warm place to sleep. When I first heard of kennel training I didn't think it would work, or that it was like punishing the pup, but after having done this more than once, I found out the dogs actually like their kennels, and now prefer to eat there as well. Good Luck, I hope this helps!