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Jennifer Shryock
Jennifer Shryock is a certified dog behavior consultant, who specializes in helping families keep things safe and fun between children and the family dog/s. She has a duo bachelor’s degree in Special Education and Elementary Education from Kutztown University. She combined her passion for working with families, children and dogs into a career in dog behavior, and founded Family Paws in 2002. She developed Dogs & Storks™, an original and complete program for new and expecting parents (and grandparents) who have a family dog.

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One Timid Chow [Edit]
8/3/2005

Hi I just rescued a 9 mo. female Chow Chow. She was abused and is very timid. She will play with me but I cannot get her to come. She will have nothing to do with anyone including my husband. She likes to destroy potted plants however has toys of her own. She loves my older Chow and the cats but they really don't want to play. I have however been able to make her sit, shake and lay down but with treats only. She will not perform if anybody is around. How do I make her more social? She is not aggressive at all but will hide for hours. I have bred and had Chows all my life but this one is DIFFICULT. Please help! Thank you, Shawn & Rebel (shawn, California)

Congratulations Shawn on your new addition! It sounds like your dog found the perfect home to help her gain confidence and become more social. I am assuming from your email that this is a very recent adoption. I will address each of your points and hopefully this will assist you in getting things moving.

She will play with me but I can not get her to come. Sometimes our posture can prevent a dog from approaching. Try to squat down and turn your head to the side and see if this helps her to approach. Often we call facing the dog and bend over when calling. This might lead to her moving away. You can also intro

duce a recall command slowly to help her know what is expected.

Begin very slowly here. Work with her independent of the other dogs. Work with HIGH VALUE treats or her dinner when she is hungry. Set small goals. Begin in a small room so that she is limited of escape routes and you are both successful. Show her the treat and let her sniff it. Back up calling her name and saying, “Come” as she moves to follow you. Saying, “come” as she moves towards you shows her the exact behavior you want her to associate with the command. Move from one room to the next etc. It is also really great to offer her tiny bits of HIGH value (hot dog) one at a time for about 10 seconds to make this really really worth her coming and following this cue.

The key is to not do this when you cannot follow through or make it happen. Often this command gets worn out due to our lack of follow through. Attaching a short lead to her helps you to prevent her from moving away once the command is given.

She will have nothing to do with anyone including my husband. I would recommend having him feed her. He can hand feed her or drop a couple of pieces on the floor. Allow her to eat those and when she looks up or away for more he can say “yes” and drop another. Eventually offering more only when she looks up at him.

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