Animal Welfare Professionals

Hi everyone,

This is my first time posting. I work at a very small animal shelter and yesterday we got a very undersocialized dog in. He is only 10 months old and has no bite history but our manager is being very cautious with him. She doesn't want anyone going in his kennel, taking him on leash, and she just wants us to stay away from him as much as possible while still maintaining his needs for the next couple days. He is a large breed dog ( some type of mastiff). From what the owner says " he doesn't like people" I have not met him yet but will tomorrow. What are your thoughts on first steps to helping this dog? ...after he's had a couple  days to acclimate.

I work at a small shelter in Northern WI. We often get dogs that have been undersocialized and/or are overly stressed by the circumstances that brought them to us. After we give them a couple of days in our isolation area to destress, I start by sitting outside their kennel and put as they get more comfortable I offer treats and my hand against the fencing. Talking to them and just being companionable. Usually after a couple of times doing this throughout the day, they will approach and I can slowly start to turn around and gradually face them. Baby steps are the key and working at their pace.

It's great that you're being cautious and thoughtful with this dog. Undersocialized dogs, especially larger breeds like mastiffs, can be tricky, but with time and patience, they can often improve. Here are some first steps to help him after he's had a couple of days to acclimate:

1. Give him space: Initially, respect his need for space. 

2. Observe from a distance: Spend some time observing his body language before engaging with him. 

3. Positive associations with people: Start by creating positive associations with your presence. You can sit near his kennel, but avoid direct interaction. Use food or treats to help him associate humans with positive experiences.

4. low introductions: Once he's more settled, you can slowly introduce him to a gentle, calm approach. Let him come to you at his own pace, and avoid forcing any contact. It's important that he feels like he has control over the situation.

5. Leash and handling: When he's ready, and only if he's showing signs of comfort, try offering the leash to him in a calm, non-threatening way. 

6. Avoid overwhelming him: Mastiffs can be very sensitive, so make sure any interactions are low-stress and not overwhelming. Start with small, controlled steps and see how he reacts before progressing.

7. Build trust gradually: Every dog is different, so take things slow and let him show you what he's comfortable with. Trust is key to working with undersocialized dogs, and it may take some time for him to feel comfortable enough to allow people to approach him.

By being patient, consistent, and gentle, you can help this dog gain confidence and slowly become more comfortable with human interaction.