Jayden is a complicated, anxious little chap who is trying to adjust to huge changes in his life.
He had been in rescue in 
Australia for two years and a young couple brought him over here just a week or so ago. After a long flight he is becoming used to living in a house.
A year ago the lady worked in those kennels. She made friends with the anxious terrier by sitting with him in her lunch breaks. She has undoubtedly made considerable headway already, by simply giving him love.
Background
She is now a vet nurse and this is from her original message to me: “…he has been previously abused or terribly socialised. I have worked with many rescue dogs and he is the most anxious I have ever met. He has some aggression problems. He chair guards so he is no longer allowed on the sofa, he has food aggression which we are working on. The problem I have is the times he unexpectedly snaps at us. He will come on my lap for a cuddle, and when I stroke him sometimes he goes for me. It is very disheartening as I cannot see what has triggers it…..
He is too scared to go for a proper walk. He will only go to the end of the road and back at the moment, although this is an improvement”.
Trying to understand the anxious Jayden
What wonderful people this little dog now lives with. The time has come, however, for them to have an objective view. They are giving him far too much attention, to the extent that every time he moves he’s asked ‘are you okay?’
It shouldn’t be assumed that just because he jumps on them that he’s come for a cuddle. He may just like the comfy closeness and cuddles will be a novelty to him.
Jayden is often motionless and inscrutable, but every now and then his inner stressed state may manifest itself with lip-licking, shaking off, paw lifting and yawning. He may simply stare at them from a doorway, motionless and anxious. He drags a blanket to his food bowl to bury it under. When they come home he crawls towards them on his tummy, and in his excitement this is the only time he allows petting. He takes his stress out on his blanket – ripping or humping it.
A dog of contradictions
Jayden is a little dog of contradictions. He is unnaturally quiet – the only thing he has barked at (so far) is vapour trails from planes in the sky. Perhaps the sound the aircraft reminds him of his long journey?
When I entered, surprisingly he just sniffed me. He settled down in his bed until later, when the pressure of human attention was focussed on him.
We isolated some of the issues – snapping when touched, snapping around food, growling and snapping when approached and on a sofa or chair. Fear of the car and hoover, and cowering when approached with his harness or lead.
This is the story of Staffie Cas. Another dog who is permanently hypervigilant and anxious.
Tiny increments
Each of these things can be broken down into tiny increments and worked on – just as they are already doing on the walks. For instance, they can start touching parts of his body he’s okay with, using treats. Then keep it at no more than just one touch with the back of the hand whilst watching very carefully for any signals – freezing or looking away for instance – that show he’s unhappy. This would mean they have gone too far, so should immediately backtrack. He can eventually be taught, as a food-rewarded ‘touch’ game, to approach hands himself.
They will do everything they possibly can to lower his stress levels and take pressure off him.
Just imagine, being in kennels for two years after a past life we can’t even guess at. Then having at five years of age to adjust to the sort of normal loving home life he has probably never known.
The couple desperately want to compensate for his past, and I think they now see that they may be overdoing it a bit. Hand feeding and leaving his food about, waiting on him, being on his case all the time and so wanting to cuddle him, are all notions that need to be abandoned for the foreseeable future.
He is one little Australian pound dog who has belatedly fallen on his feet.
If your older dog is struggling with anxiety and fears, I offer gentle, effective online behaviour help tailored to your dog.
For the sake of the story and for confidentiality also, this isn’t a complete report. If you listen to ‘other people’ or find instructions on the internet or TV that are not tailored to your own dog, you can do more harm than good. Stories are up to date at time of writing, each one with permission. Click here for help
