my very shy Sheltie.

You are such a good Sheltie mommy :biggrin2: Thanks so much for being so good to little Belle. I have a lot of confidence that she will be the dog of your dreams in no time.

In regards to the hand feeding, that was just a general suggestion. If you don't think it will work in your situation, then by all means don't do it. You want to make things easier for you all and you don't want to do anything that will create anxiety. If she is a really slow eater, and your husband might get anxious waiting for her to finish, then I wouldn't use that technique. You want to try and avoid any situations that might cause tension at all.

Thanks again and keep the updates coming! I have high hopes for your baby girl :cool:
 
I just phoned the vet regarding the rescue remedy in the water and she said it would probably be OK up to the surgery on Jan 3, but if I wanted to I could stop it a day or two before..

I just put some in her water and she had a good drink, thank goodness. I thought maybe the smell might put her off but it didn't seem to.
 
this dog is such a good little Sheltie trying so hard for you :)
I am so happy you guys aren't giving up.
I think maybe the breeder had the dog out MUCH more than you know, if she is a different dog outside than inside...

As for the feeding, just get your hubby to give her the special treats, like the hot dogs when you have them and the super dooper yummy stuff, like liver!!
Also cat food is a good treat I sometimes use as training treats when I train a new behaviour...

It's sad to see a dog shut down... but it does give you hints what is too much for her, and gives you thresholds so you know when she is going to shut down, and you can gauge when to stop the training or exercize before it gets to that stage... and slowly build her confidence that way.
 
Bellesmom said:
we are going to put into practice the suggestions given.. the biggest obstacle I see is the hand feeding. Feeding Belle is another thing where we have a big issue. I feed her Wellness Super 5 chicken and I don't know if it is that she doesn't like the taste, but if she hears any noise while she is eating, she stops eating. a squeaky chair, a sneeze, the cat meowing, she stops eating. Should I be hand-feeding her her daily food? My husband can give her the treats during the day, but I know he won't have patience to hand feed her her daily food.
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Sounds as though she is on hyper alert and stressed by these sounds. Are you crating her ? If so, you might try feeding her in the crate or some other place in the house where she seems secure. I had a neighbor's nervous sheltie in my care for a while and realized that she would eat the remainder of her meals after bedtime when no one else was stirring. The "crunching" sound gave her away!

You can always postpone hand feeding to a later time or when it is more convenient, such as a weekend night. In the meantime, I'd be generous with nutritious treats.
 
Belle is used to a crate, and we have a large one where she goes when we have to go out for a short time.. she is very comfortable in it. I haven't tried feeding her in the crate but it might be worth a try. Yes, she is for sure on hyper alert.. and our cat can be very distracting.. I have to lock her up or she is on a chair above Belle poking at her (thus her name "Pokey") or else she is galloping back and forth while Belle is trying to eat.
 
Bellesmom said:
Belle is used to a crate, and we have a large one where she goes when we have to go out for a short time.. she is very comfortable in it. I haven't tried feeding her in the crate but it might be worth a try. Yes, she is for sure on hyper alert.. and our cat can be very distracting.. I have to lock her up or she is on a chair above Belle poking at her (thus her name "Pokey") or else she is galloping back and forth while Belle is trying to eat.
Click to expand...

LOL
and THAT is why I love cats!
Poor little Belle, but you gotta love kitteh's too! lol
 
Regarding the Rescue Remedy, you can also put a drop or two under her tongue when she's feeling particularly stressed. I've been doing this with Toby and find it helps him VERY quickly.

If she's anxious when she's eating, you might want to try feeding her in her crate, so that she feels safer.

If hand feeding her won't work now, just have your husband drop treats or kibble when he's near her. Hand feeding her might be a good idea later on, when she's more comfortable around him.

I think having her on umbilical with him would be really helpful in getting her used to being close to him. Just make sure that he ignores her and drops treats when she looks at him or seeks attention from him.

Its so great that you're doing so much to help her, I'm sure she'll come around quickly with all the love and compassion you and your husband are showing her. :smile2:
 
The rescue remedy in the water already seems to be helping.. plus the fact that husband has been giving her treats like weiners and Wellnes Turkey Jerky.. :yes: this morning she was in the kitchen while he was eating his breakfast and she didn't run wildly into the living room when he entered the kitchen.. first time for that.

and best of all, I have found the secret to feeding her :biggrin2: .. last night I opened a can of Merrick canned food claiming to have real chicken thighs in it.. that's another story, but anyway, there was some real chicken in it so I put it in Belle's food last night and she gobbled it down. Then this morning, husband put Pokey the cat into the bedroom and I opened a can of Costco chicken breast pieces. we use it for sandwiches, it is pure chicken. I put a piece in with her dry food, mixed it in good, and she was for the first time, bouncing to receive her food. I made her sit, put the food down in front of her, and she ate it faster than she ever has before. Costco canned chicken is just chicken, chicken broth, and a little salt. probably the salt isn't the best for her, but surely a little bit in the amount of the chicken I gave her isn't going to hurt.
 
My two love cooked squash, sweet potatoes, or pumpkin mixed in with their kibble. They will eat this first before the kibble (Taste of the Wild). Emma used to be picky with how and when she ate. No more.

Glad you have found success with the food and with her getting used to her husband. She has come a lot way in such a short time.

Merry Christmas.
 
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