Rescue Your Dog from Fear: Tried-and-True Techniques to Help Your Dog Feel Secure

by Peggy O. Swager

When dealing with previously abused or naturally skittish dogs, it’s easy to get frustrated. Often, all we want is to tell our beloved pets there is no need to be afraid. When Peggy Swager adopted two mill dogs from her local rescue center, all the books in the world couldn’t help her ease her new pups. But what she was able to accomplish using her past experience training horses was astounding. This book brings to dog owners and dog trainers newer and proven ways to help resolve fear issues in their dogs, from being around people to aversion to being in a crate or traveling in a car. From explaining the root of his timid behavior, to handling aggression and adjusting your own tone of voice, you’ll have all the information needed to make your companion feel safe and loved. Valuable for the average dog owner, rescue organizations, and dog trainers who have not had success with their fearful dogs.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Dogs

224 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2015

Reviews

[Minna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this book since the author espouses positive training techniques and a patient, repetitive approach that I can get behind. However, I felt like the bulk of the book was aimed at rehabilitating submissive fearful dogs. The majority of the dogs described in case studies furthermore were small breed dogs (terriers, toys, etc).

I did not find any case studies or examples relating to the dogs I have, which are large breed hounds, who are not shy, reserved or sensitive. One of my two dogs has pretty significant fear issues: one of thunder (the author never addresses thunder specifically [even though it is a very common canine fear from what I understand] although she does mention "noise") and of loose dogs following being attacked by a loose dog on two separate occasions.

Interestingly, the author does have a section on how to deal with fear of loose dogs and it involves... how to correctly pick up and carry away your dog. UM. My dog is 90 pounds. Carrying her away is just not going to happen. Furthermore the author suggests to get between the two dogs and look big and imposing. This is okay, and has worked for me in the past. However, it does not solve my dog's fear issue specifically and, if the loose dog were to ignore me and get around me (as has happened once), I feel that it erodes my dog's trust in me as her leader even more. So, that section was not helpful at all.

My other dog has fear issues a) regarding strangers approaching him, instead of him approaching them and b) with the nail grinder. The author's suggestions regarding the nail grinder were excellent and I plan to work on that. I was not all that impressed with the section regarding strangers because it seems to be addressed to shy or submissive dogs. My dog is not. I am not sure how the approach would need to be modified for him, and the book does not really focus on the idea that non-shy and non-submissive dogs can be fearful too.

This book is NOT bad. It is excellent advice, if the personality of your dog matches those of the dogs she describes. My dogs don't, and so I did not find it as helpful as I had hoped. It is a very useful book for others however.

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this because we rescued a puppy mill mom who, after a year, is still dealing with fear issues. The book helped a great deal, not always to know how to fix things but to know how to deal with it or more about puppy mills and what happened to cause this fear.
I got this book from my local library but am going to purchase it to read again and again as we try to help this dog.
An essential choice for anyone wanting to help a fearful dog.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to get this book because the dog I adopted a dog who happens to be fearful of pretty much everything. Slightly unusual bird songs will startle him, he can't walk by parked bicycles. I knew there was no quick fix. I wanted to make sure I understood the basic and see if there is any creative ways to desensitize him. And every dog is different. My dog happens to thrive in doggy daycare where he pretty much lived in his former life. But he probably had very little exposure to the outside world. I'm going to keep trying using her techniques.

[Berta Rios · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gave me faith

This books is the one that helped me the most in the process of rescuing Francis. I will re-read it again. The author help me understand the complexitis of fear in rescue dogs.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely helpful for my situation with a rescue dog from Romania.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good and practical guide.

[Deena Scintilla]

I'm hoping to win this one since my 12 yr old Lab has developed unreasonable fears and I feel helpless at times to calm her.

[Marcy Graybill · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a little disappointed in this book. I was hoping for some new and wonderful advice, and I really felt there are other books that are much better written.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a useful book for anyone who has adopted a very fearful cowering people avoiding skittish rescue as we have.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read - very insightful - gave me some great ideas to help me with my fearful dog -- hoping to put it all to work!