Hello all,
You all have been such a wonderful source of information and tips that I would like to put three more questions out to you for your expert opinions and suggestions.
Question #1 - Our rescue dog, Wrigley, has been with us for about six weeks (we got him from BRAT). All we know about his past is that he was found on the side of a busy highway. Anyway, when we first got him he was very very anxious. He paced and paced around the living room etc. He has gotten better about that but another anxious behavior has not gotten very much better. Wrigley will not come in the french doors from our backyard unless he is very uncomfortable outside (rainy, extremely cold etc.). He will sit on the steps looking in, shivering, which of course makes us feel soooooooooo bad. Eventually if we leave the door cracked he will come in but watches to make sure we dont shut the door again. We have to sneek over to it to get it shut. With the weather getting worse and worse we cant just leave the door cracked all the time. We have tried putting leash on him and dragging him in but we would really like for him just to come in like the other two b's we have (he doesnt like running in our backyard with the long lead on). Also, we have tried putting treats down to try to get him to come in and he just sits there and looks at them or , in true b fashion will find the one time we look away to sneak in and get his goody! Any suggestions – have we not given it enough time --- should we just leave him out there until he really wants to come in?????
Question #2 Wrigley is very scared of men. He will not let my hubby touch him without flinching and running away. My DH had a few friends over for poker the other night and I ended up taking all the dogs upstairs because Wrigley became so anxious. Should we have made him stay in the room with them or did I do the right thing by taking him out of the situation that scared him so much? What can my DH do to build that trust up with him ( he has been the one to hold his leash on our walks but even then Wrigley wants to be close to me).
Question #3 Wrigley has been growling at my son when he enters the room. We have been telling him no in a stern way but it has gotten to the point where my son stays in his room (more than usual for a 17 year old) because it upsets Wrigley so much when he is in the family room iwth us. Any suggestions?????