Many dogs who enter the shelter are vulnerable due to the possible trauma that they experienced outside or the new environment that they’re in. While they’re finally safe from the harsh outside world, many of them still feel frightened, which could sometimes take a toll on their mental health. One of the many puppies who felt such a way is Ellie, who’s quite noticeably distant from other dogs and shelter employees.
Some dogs are lucky to have been born with loving owners who provide for their needs. But this isn’t the case with Ellie, as she never had a place to sleep in, toys to play with, and food to fill her hungry stomach since she was a stray dog.
Whenever the shelter employees took her into the playroom, she would cower in the corner, avoiding contact. No one knew why Ellie would react in such a way; all the staff knew she was just a stray dog before rescuing her, with no known history of abuse or traumatic experience that she encountered as a stray puppy.
Luck Found Ellie
However, Ellie’s life took a turn for the better after a couple named Suzanne Perez and Dillion James fell in love with her when they visited the shelter. Since they were looking for a dog to adopt, they spotted the frightened Ellie and that was when they knew that they had to get her.
On the car ride home, Ellie looks frightened and confused as ever. It took her a while to adjust and be comfortable with her new family until she gradually felt secure. Ellie just knew that she could trust the family that chose to adopt her and save her from the possible trauma that she was caged in.
Transitioning from puppy to dog, Ellie was different from what she used to look before when the couple adopted her from the shelter. Her eyes are now sparkling, especially when she faces her owners. She has her own TikTok page where her owners post her videos and photos looking adorable. She even has a cat best friend with whom she always plays.
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Understanding Fearful Dogs
Many people, especially those who have mental challenges, stick to adopting dogs to cope and help ease their feelings. However, it comes as a surprise that some dogs you adopt from shelters may show signs of anxiety, too, as they are either aggressive or scared. In Ellie’s case, she was frightened of everything.
Now, what causes fear among dogs? Figuring out why your dog is scared can come off as useless because they are afraid of everything — strangers, other dogs, sounds, and even the light. Often, lack of exposure causes a dog to be fearful and become scared of new things and the environment. But in Ellie’s case, she was a stray dog, so she should be used to the outside world.
This is when traumatic experiences come into play. Neither the shelter nor the owners know about Ellie’s traumatic experience of Ellie during those days that she was outside. It could also be because they’re genetically predisposed to being fearful by their breed. Still, these could possibly be the explanation for why your dog is scared of everything.
What Can I Do?
While recognizing the reason why your dog is scared may be helpful, don’t spend much of your time trying to figure it all out. What’s important is you get them out of such a state by doing the following solutions:
- Rule out medical issues by visiting a veterinary clinic
- Determine what triggers your dog’s scared behavior and create a plan to reduce their exposure if possible
- Try pairing those triggers with their favorite treats and see how they work. Remember to be patient and give them time.
- If nothing improves, then it’s time to ask help from a professional dog trainer. Research and contact a potential trainer with whom you can trust your dog and try to schedule an appointment.
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From The Club
It’s sad to think that Ellie had it rough when she used to live in the streets. It breaks my heart to think that she may have encountered something bad leading up to her trauma. It’s good that she was adopted right away by this beautiful couple who promised her love and care. Now, it can be seen from Ellie’s aura that she is living a good life together with her owners and her cat friend who became her companion.
