Adopted six year old...Help

How food motivated is this dog ? Can you try to feed him by hand? So when your dog is hungry, try sitting on the floor with the bowl, and take a small bit of food out and offer it to the dog. (stinky canned food is good for this, although very messy, or some pieces of cooked chicken). Don't make eye contact, keep your body relaxed, don't be threateing, go slow. Just do this with one family member at first.

If you can get the dog to eat out of your hand, he will realize that people mean Good Things.

If he won't eat out of your hand, then try putting the bowl down and sitting nearby, then slowly try decreasing the distance as he's comfortable. Don't look at the dog, keep calm and quiet. The idea is to teach the dog to relax and that Good Things happen when he's near you.

Also, this dog has lived in a kennel with not a lot of contact for 6 years of his life. Change may take longer than a month.
 
Hi
We got our dog from a breeder at 5 years old. She was a breeding dog.
She was great on the leash but similar to others she was scared of a lot - mostly all the city noises. Like others have said it takes time. The best advice I got from my vet was to take her to training. Three years later we have competed in Rally and gotten almost our Excellent AKc title training has really made her more confident. Starting her in agility is what really made her happy. In addition in the beginning we took her to meet other shelties, to any local dog events, etc.. She really still does not play with other dogs, or toys but she is the sweetest dog you could ever meet. Everyone that meets her loves her.
We also got a dog walker when we first got her. the dog walker was wonderful and is still her best friend.
Don't give up - it is well worth the time when you look back
 
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