Second Dog as Comfort/Confidence Builder? People-shy Doxie

[hmb87]

Hello!

I'm hoping someone has had a similar experience or has some advice for me and my husband regarding our 8-month-old mini dachshund Riley.

We got Riley from a rescue at 5 months old (we've had her for 3 months now) and it seems to me that she was severely undersocialized as she is very shy and uncomfortable around any people she doesn't know extremely well. We have been working very hard with her on counter-conditioning and desensitization, and she's made a LOT of progress in the few months we've had her. She is fine out in public (we live in a city) as long as people don't try to bend down suddenly and pet her head or do threatening things like that. The bigger issues are when people come to our apartment - she will bark at them at first, then seem to calm down and play with her toys near them, take treats from them etc. but then will start barking if they make movements, stand up from a seated position, make eye contact with her etc. We have been trying to go slowly and at her own pace to get her comfortable with people and have been doing "touch" etc. to get her more comfortable with human movements and hands near her head/face. We of course instruct guests and family members to ignore her at first and to let her come to them, sniff them, and never pursue her or try to pet her.

We've been working with a trainer on this and he has us treat and praise/reassure, have the guests ignore her while tossing treats or doing "touch" with her and feeding her treats from their hands, and then take her out of the room for a "time out" if she continues barking or starts up again (this is usually a last resort, we give her a long time to settle down before giving her any time outs).

My question for you is this - Riley LOVES being with other dogs. She is never happier than when she is running at the dog park, playing at her doggie daycare, or even when friends with dogs come over to visit or we visit them. When another dog is around, Riley is much more calm and confident with the presence of humans and will often even be affectionate with them and ask to be pet. Similarly, if a stranger has a dog with them she does not seem to be afraid or insecure at all when greeting them. We did a four-week puppy class with her and she was perfectly happy to be among all of the strange humans because they all had dogs with them, and it's the same when we're at the dog park or out and about in the city.

Because of this, my husband and I are seriously considering adding another dog to our home, likely an older, calmer and more friendly dog (we would do as much as possible to insure this temperament when selecting the dog). We of course will wait at least a few more months if not a year or more for her to fully acclimate first, and will continue to work hard on her shyness and obedience training, we won't be using a second dog as a quick fix to the problem.

Has anyone had an experience like this where a dog was perhaps just happier in a two-dog home? And it helped with shyness or fear issues?

Thanks so much for your help!
Hannah

P.S. Here is Riley's detailed routine, I know that helps with any advice or thoughts you may have -

She eats Eukanuba small breed puppy food twice a day, usually out of a Busy Buddy to give her some mental exercise, she sits for her food.

6:30 or 7 AM - wakes up for potty break

7:30 AM - breakfast

8 AM - 30 to 40 minute walk/off-leash running and playing, often with at least one other dog from our neighborhood

1 PM - 30 minute walk and some training

6 PM - 30 minute walk/off-leash running and playing

7 PM - dinner

9:30 or 10 PM - short walk or just potty break and then bed

We usually do several short training sessions with her in the evenings also, she knows sit, lie down and is working on stay, leave it, etc.

On weekends we always try to take her to a dog park or somewhere she can socialize with other dogs, and also to new and novel places where she will be exposed to people, sounds etc. so we can work on the counter-conditioning. We always try to stay within her comfort zone and set her up for success and try never to overwhelm her.

[emmabeth]

You are doing all the right things (and thankyou for the detailed post setting out what you are doing, SO helpful!)..

I can TOTALLY see why you are contemplating another dog. However there is a very real risk that she could 'teach' a happy, confident dog, to be fearful, merely by being fearful herself and then you would have two fearful dogs.

I think there are a few options I would try first. First would be going back to a training class, one that has happy confident dogs and is obviously a v positive class - doesnt really matter what level of training they are at (may be better if its a younger puppy class than she actually is) because you;d really be going for the socialisation with people than the actual training.

I would try clicker training her to do more stuff - silly tricks, new behaviours, it doesnt really matter what. I would also increase her confidence with visitors by starting having well known ones clicker train her too (or you can be in charge of the clicking but shes working with them, receiving the rewards from them).

Do you have any friends with dogs she likes who could come and visit her at home and spend half an hour or so on a 'play date' where it just happens that one or two other people come over too, there you get the benefit of her boosted confidence when other dogs are about without the full term commitment/risk of another dog of your own.

Finally - well two things. It may be worth discussing the use of either a food supplement such as Zylkene, or a drug like Clomicalm - however this IS a known 'fear stage' age for older puppies, and also shes into the 'adolescent' stage too, stuff DOES often take a backward step here, and often just 'marking time', staying at the level you already are and aiming to not backslide is the key, and then when they come out of the fear stage and adolescent period they get much better.

Ponder over all those things but I do not think at this point, another dog is the solution.

[hmb87]

Thanks so much for your response!

I will definitely look into a second training class. My husband will be loathe to spend the money since we already did one class but I think he'll come around to the idea.

I'll also plan to incorporate the clicker into our training and see how she does with it. Do you have a recommendation for type of clicker or where to buy them?

We did speak to our vet about the possibility of anti-anxiety meds and supplements after our trainer suggested it, and she said she feels that Riley is still too young to consider it, but maybe I will bring it up again in a few months if she still seems as fearful & nervous.

And we will have some dinner parties with friendly dogs and their owners as well as new people! That's a great idea.

Thank you again for your help!

[cinnywatches]

can you tell me more about the fear stage in older dogs? What age does it occur? how long could it last? thanks

[jakesmom]

Hello

If you look under the 'Dog Training Articles' section there is a fixed topic on puppies 0 - 2 years. The second fear period is from 6 - 14 months.

[Nettle]

You are a super thoughtful owner, and she is very lucky to have you helping her.

One change does need to be made - please do not feed and then exercise - instead, exercise and then feed. Otherwise you risk your dog getting bloat at worst (which can kill) and bellyache at best - plus dogs are much more responsive to training before they have been fed - afterwards, like us, they just want to snooze.

Otherwise you are doing SO well.