Paranoid

I would take it slow...

I know during my obedience training I had issues with Laddie being scared of objects like trash cans and any large objects he had not seen before.

Two or three times a day I would walk by objects that I knew he was worried about. At first, keeping distance and gradually moving closer. Over time he became less stressed and he now knows there is nothing to worry about. My instructor explained that I was helping to 'proof' Laddie and making him stronger when I would go to obedience competitions.

It will take time and patience... But, keeping moving forward showing her you are confident ... that will help her. Slow and steady...

 

Cleo is only a few days older than my Keiran (12/3/14) and I've notice lately that he'll bark and react to strange things - a chew toy poking out from under his bed, a gas meter, a downed tree branch in the yard, fire hydrants, etc. Honestly, some of this is normal. Puppies go through a second fear stage and react to things that didn't bother them before. Unfortunately for you, this is coinciding with an attack at the dog park.

What I've been doing with Keiran is walking over to what his spooking him and touch it and interact with it myself. I allow him to approach at his own pace, rewarding each step with verbal praise (Yes, good boy). When he sniffs at it on his own, I give him a food reward and lots of praise. I don't push him but I do let him figure it out. I stay calm and interact with whatever he's nervous about as if it's an old friend.

 

If you have a yard of your own, try taking items like garbage pails that she is fearful around...smear some PB on them and just leave them sitting in your yard off in a corner. Most Shelties are food oriented enough that they will eventually creep up to the fearful item to get to something tasty...and after repeated tasty rewards from that item they will no longer see it as dangerous.

Obviously you can't do this with cars or trucks...but any item that is small enough is fair game. I often used this technique with fosters who came into rescue terrified of items...often of anything with a stick handle like rakes, brooms, etc...and it does work. Never force the interaction between your dog and the feared item...the interaction has to be done on the dog's "schedule".

Stay calm when she shows fear...and don't try to verbally comfort her (which is our natural human reaction when we see a dog we love upset by something). When we try to sooth/reassure a frightened dog it translates in their minds to our agreeing that they really do have something to fear and we are protecting them from that something. Ignoring the fear and staying normally upbeat will send the signal that you don't see anything to fear and all is OK.

Trini

 

I've also found that a tiny, tiny dab of Cheese Whiz (YUCK - but Spirit LOVES it!!!!!) will motivate Spirit to do just about anything, including the teeter, which she is a little bit apprehensive about.