Clicker can help traumatized dog overcome her fears

Dear Cathy: Three months ago, we rescued a 2-year-old German Shepherd mix. She was found hanging upside down on a fence. She was skinny and had lost two or three toes, part of the foot pad and a piece of her right ear, all of which had healed. The poor thing was terrified. We’ve been extremely gentle and caring with her. She is a quick learner and grasped “sit,” “stay” and “come” in no time. She is very treat-motivated.

The problem is she isn’t sure about taking a walk. When we go outside, she sits and stares at everything before we can start our walk. If she sees or smells something or someone, she freezes, sits and stares. She will usually start walking again if we toss treats ahead of her, but that requires a lot of treats for each walk. We would appreciate any suggestions. — Corinne, Tucson, Arizona

Dear Corinne: When a dog experiences something traumatic, all the sights, scents and sounds associated with the experience have the power to trigger fear.

Her hesitancy in walking on a leash may be triggered by the leash tugging at her collar and reminding her of what it felt like to be hung upside down. So, my first suggestion is to walk her on a harness or head collar instead. That change may be enough for her to move forward. If it’s not, then training is key to helping her overcome her fears and learn she can always trust you.

Start by introducing her to a clicker and teaching her the clicker marks the correct behavior, which is always followed by a treat. To do this, say her name, and when she makes eye contact, click, and give her a treat. Do this about 20 times a day, twice a day to begin. Then, retrain her to “sit,” “stay,” or “come” with the clicker. As she learns what the clicker means, she will focus more on you and less on the outside world, which scares her.

Next, walk her on a leash in an area with few distractions. Ask her to “sit” and “stay” while placing treats about 2 feet in front of her.

Then, say “heel” and start walking toward the treat. The moment she takes a step in that direction, click the clicker, and give her a treat. Then walk back to the original spot and repeat the exercise. The treat on the ground is her motivation, so don’t let her eat it. Instead, click and give her a treat from your hand, so she is paying attention to you. If her mind is focused on you, she will not be as affected by everything around her.