Help

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\r\n \r\n <!-' + '- google_ad_section_start -' + '->Hi,
\nAnnabelle\'s fearfulness is not at all surprising, but it will take some time and consistent effort on your part to help her overcome it. Your best bet is to contact a trainer in your area who can help you set up a training program for her. APDT.com is an excellent resource for trainer referrals. Like all professions, there is a range of competence, personal techniques and areas of expertise. You\'ll need to ask some questions to find the right fit for you and Annabelle. Look for a trainer who uses only positive methods - traditional training with pinching, choking, pining and hanging could further (mentally and emotionally) damage your already fragile girl.
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\nMeanwhile, there is lots of excellent literature on the market for puppy training and specifically dealing with fear issues. Check out Paul Owen\'s "The Puppy Whisperer" for basic techniques and anything by Patricia McConnell (I love her writing style and her blog is a charming read, too).
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\nI know you said she has only just started to eat, but frequently associating food (good thing) with something that the dog currently finds frightening can help to change her association with the frightening event. Labs, luckily, tend to love food. A lot of dogs really love those cheap mozzarella string cheese sticks that you pack in kids lunches - just give a little bit at a time. Since she is still a puppy and has a relatively fragile digestive tract still, introduce new treats gradually by mixing a tiny bit in with her regular food, then increasing the amount slowly. Bland treats and/or treats that match the main protein content of her regular food (ie chicken, beef, whatever) are the least likely to upset her stomach. Adult dogs can tolerate minor changes to their diets, such as receiving treats, a little more easily. Once you find a good trainer, you can learn more about the use of treats in training and in creating positive associations with all sorts of life events ("Oh, is the trash truck going by outside? WONDERFUL! Here\'s your favorite treat!" will soon equate to your dog LOVING trash pick-up day, and so forth).
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\nIn the long run, Annabelle will be fine without her sister. Spayed females from the same litter are actually the second least-likely pairing to end up working out (intact females are the first).
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\nYou are correct in thinking that she is currently going through an adjustment period. In addition to starting to change her associations with events that currently frighten her, you can also help her adjust to her new home by keeping her environment calm and quiet and sticking to a predictable daily schedule (as much as realistically possible). Dogs are generally more comfortable when they are able to anticipate what is about to happen, and more stressed when they are uncertain.
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\nHang in there - be patient, as this won\'t come together overnight, stay positive and upbeat - dogs are very good at reading humans and will quickly pick up on the stressed, impatient, OR happy, cheerful and fun signals you are producing (sometimes without even knowing it). You are doing a wonderful thing by giving Annabelle a loving home and the time and effort you are putting in now will pay off hugely in the future as she grows into a happy, confident, well-adjusted member of your family <!-' + '- google_ad_section_end -' + '-><!-' + '- AMS SECOND IN POST -' + '->\r\n \r\n

[Annabelle's mom]

Hello I am new here but I need some help. Annabelle is my lab puppy that I just adopted. She was abandoned and left for dead in the dessert untill she and her sister were picked up by a family. Now that family adopted her to me so not only was she abandoned but now must get used to a new home without her sister. It has taken me 2 days to get her to eat and she's starting to walk around my house and walks to her food now but she won't play she won't go out of my living room she cowers when peoe are over ad she wil not go for walks she is terrified of the leash, I don't know how to train her because I don't want her to feel threatened but I don't want her to always just cower in a corner. She is only comfortable around me and I don't know what to do. Does anyone have any suggestions or is this somthing I just have to wait out??