I'm volunteering at a shelter. How do I approach nervous animals?

While working at a shelter you will almost certainly be around larger dogs. As long as you are still able to perform the duties required of your job you should be fine. Take this as an opportunity to learn and grow and become more comfortable with larger dogs. It may be challenging at first but with you can learn to become comfortable with them. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

The best thing you can do is not to force him. Just be nice to him, talk calmly and give him small treats of something he likes a lot. In time he will come around. Forcing him will just make it worse. Most dogs do better if you ignore them at first so they don't feel threatened. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hi there! I'm so sorry to hear about Smokey's troubles. It can be difficult when we adopt pets from shelters, because we don't know their history, or what happened to them before they came home with us. It is important to be patient and work with Smokey daily. A great idea would be to call his veterinarian, and get some recommendations for a veterinary behaviorist in the area. Veterinary behaviorists are veterinary doctors who are board certified in behavior. They could evaluate Smokey, and give you the best advice as to how to work with him. If a veterinary behaviorist isn't available, your veterinarian may know of some good trainers in the area, who are skilled in working with fearful dogs. In general, I would not push Smokey, let him come to you. Let him get acclimated to his new home. 3 weeks isn't very long in a dog's mind. He still needs to settle in. As long as he isn't showing any signs of aggression, you can try some natural calming supplements like zylkene or canine compsure. They can help him relax and get to feeling more comfortable more quickly. If he is showing any signs of aggression, like biting, nipping, or growling when you get close to his personal space, dog bowl, or toys, then I would avoid the supplements, and call your veterinarian right away. Giving calming agents can sometimes make aggression worse. I hope you find this answer helpful! Best of luck!

Adopting a new dog is so much fun! Whenever bringing a new dog into the home, it should be done slowly with the existing animals already there to make the transition smoothly. The new dog should be kept separated from the other animals when home alone to avoid any problems, and their interactions should be monitored when you are home so you can separate them at any problem. I'm not sure if you have any additional animals in the home, but if you have cats for example, it's normal they will hiss at the dog. Do not allow them to swipe at the dog, separating them right away if you notice the cat getting upset. Also do not allow the dog to chase the cats. If you don't have any other animals in your home, then just be patient with the dog as it acclimates to his new house. Moving into a new home can be stressful, and some dogs may not eat or drink at first. This will pass in time. Shelter dogs should be taken care of just like any other dog: Fed twice a day, make sure they are up to date on their vaccines, flea and deworming treatments, and feed them a high quality dog food :-)

Time and patience! If Princess is skittish in your new home it may just be she needs some time to settle in and relax. If she was abused or not handled much before coming to your home, she may also take longer to bond or just never be quite as cuddly. A few things you can do: Let her approach you instead of forcing interactions. This can help her gain trust and make things less stressful. If she does approach, offering your hand for her to sniff before petting, giving a favorite treat, or just talking in a calming voice can help. Pheromone diffusers and collars are great for reducing stress and anxiety and may help her to relax some and settle in. Treats are friends! Hand feeding her meals, giving treats when she approaches, and rewarding her for when she is calm and not nervous can help build trust as well. Playing with toys, if she likes them, such as a feather on a string can help increase bond and interactions without petting that may be too stressful for her, while still letting her interact and have fun.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Cats, like people, have different personalities; some are very sociable and always want to cuddle, while others can be more reserved and independent. It may be partly personality contributing to his behavior, as well as adjusting to his new environment. A pheromone collar (they can be found on amazon, such as nurturecalm) may be a good option instead of feliway spray, as it is a continuous release for a full month. While the response is variable among cats, it is definitely something I would recommend giving a try. Additionally, if there is a type of treat that Vin really enjoys, I would recommend putting some down by you when you are sitting on the couch watching TV, etc. When he comes to eat them, don't force an interaction, but allow him to nibble on them and then decide where he wants to go. Over time, they can be moved closer and closer to you to encourage him to be more comfortable in close proximity. When he seems playful, play with him with a toy, etc and then allow him to leave when he is done. If he is on a feeding schedule, get his attention by opening a can or shaking food into his bowl, allow him to stand next to you and have a short interaction before you set it down. If he still seems uncomfortable after these suggestions, I would recommend either setting up a consult or reaching out to your regular veterinarian for further advice. Good luck!

Poor thing! I think it is important for him to get out of that environment. I strongly suspect his progress will be limited while he remains in that environment. Greyhounds in particular tend to be very sensitive, and that is likely a very stressful environment for him. In regards to medications, in his case, I would recommend Trazodone or something similar. The effect would increase serotonin in the brain and likely reduce his anxiety. Other than that, however, I would remove any sedatives or other medication as they may confuse his recovery. If he is food motivated, I would focus on positive reinforcement with food. If not, it is a bit more difficult, and can be very frustrating. The most important thing for him will be to move slowly, remain patient, and use the reward that best suits him- affection, food etc. I hope there is a way that you can get him out of the shelter without a collar and leash. Perhaps he would do better with a harness. I just believe that once he is in your home and can begin to trust you bit by bit that he will improve over time. An alternative would be to have the shelter crate train him. If he can learn that a crate is a safe and comforting place, then you could more easily transport him. It could also be a place in your home that he could have to himself.