Helping puppy mill dog learn to trust

Dear Cathy: We adopted the sweetest Shih Tzu/ Yorkie mix, puppy-mill survivor. She is 5 years old. She had no social skills at all. She is very submissive and easily frightened but has come a long way. She has become very attached to me but is frightened of my husband. She won’t touch her food unless I’m present.

She no longer shakes when my husband carries her through our apartment building to walk her. He holds her leash. He speaks softly to her, and pets her when she’s sitting next to me. He offers her the tastiest treat, and she’ll carefully take them, as long as I’m present.

Do you have advice? — Cheryl, Long Beach, New York

Dear Cheryl: If she is a puppy mill survivor and spent all her days in a crate, I assume she was the mother dog to many puppy-mill litters. If that is the case, she was probably never socialized with people, let alone other animals. Your husband also may represent someone from her past that she was very afraid to be around.

While she may never be fully confident about the world around her, you can help her become more comfortable. Step back from providing her daily care and let your husband take over feeding her, brushing her, and giving her treats. Even if you must be present for her to eat and take treats from your husband, over time, she should begin to trust your husband, so long as he follows a routine and is consistent. Dogs thrive on routine, and if their caregivers are consistent with that routine as well as with their behavior, the dog will start to trust.

In addition, buy a canine pheromone collar for her to wear and canine pheromone spray to spritz on your husband’s clothes. Pheromones mimic the natural pheromones mother dogs produce to calm their puppies. Routine, consistency, and canine pheromones will help create the environment your husband needs.