Hi all! I took in a foster dog yesterday from a small rescue that takes in dogs on euthanasia lists. As I took her in they told me she was an anxious dog, and had actually been returned to them in the past because she panted and paced for 2 weeks at her last home.
She’s even more anxious than I expected, and seems to be terrified of strangers (so me, currently), pretty much all noise/movement, & had a full blown panic attack just getting out of the car and into my closed off living room which has been set up for her.
Obviously this is still very new, and I’m aware of the 3-3-3 rule and have went through the fear section of the linked Wiki. But I’m getting a bit nervous about the fact that she hasn’t eaten at all since I brought her back (kibble, wet, or hot dog/chicken treats). I tried to take her out on a walk to use the bathroom and it seems that leaving the living room is currently a no-go for her as well. And most concerning, I can’t tell if it’s normal for her anxiety to cause her to still have rapid breathing even while laying down.
At this point I’m wondering if I should be attempting to set up a large pee mat for her and allow her to stay inside the living room until she feels ready to at least be coaxed outside by treats, and if I should be spending more/less time in the room for her peace of mind. Currently I’ve just been walking inside every couple hours and sitting/laying on my back on the opposite side of the room from her w/o making eye contact, but even that seems to spur her into panting and stressing.
If anyone has any advice, it’s welcomed!
submitted by /u/GuardOk6521
[link] [comments]