jmm - she really doesn’t care for a leash and can't wait for a walk to be over. Always stays to my right and as far back as she can without making the leash taunt. Except whens she sees the house then she takes the lead 
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Eileen, we do have a dog door (actually 2, 1 out to the screen enclosure and another from the enclosure to our fenced yard. She has used both, mainly just for coming back in. We have used pee pads when leaving for a while and she has used them, but also the area rugs so I'd rather not encourage the pad. Thinking about a Potty Patch type thing for the enclosure because the only thing she seems to dislike more than grass is wet grass or rain, which it does a lot here. I also plan on keeping a certain area of the grass cut lower since she seems to be worst the longer the grass is.
jmm - she really doesn’t care for a leash and can't wait for a walk to be over. Always stays to my right and as far back as she can without making the leash taunt. Except whens she sees the house then she takes the lead .
Eileen, we do have a dog door (actually 2, 1 out to the screen enclosure and another from the enclosure to our fenced yard. She has used both, mainly just for coming back in. We have used pee pads when leaving for a while and she has used them, but also the area rugs so I'd rather not encourage the pad. Thinking about a Potty Patch type thing for the enclosure because the only thing she seems to dislike more than grass is wet grass or rain, which it does a lot here. I also plan on keeping a certain area of the grass cut lower since she seems to be worst the longer the grass is.
And like your Pip she has her rare moments, sometimes when I start trying to play with her, she'll run through the house at TOP speed jumping up and down from chairs. Last night in fact was the 1st time since we've had her (over 2 yrs) she "attacked" a toy and shook it, she has laid down and chewed on one occasionally but the attacking and shaking was a 1st. And this morning when I was petting both as they stoop together and while AnnaBelle was giving her kisses instead of snarling she slightly raise a front leg as if to paw at AnnaBelle, never really did it but looked encouraging.
Thanks again for the words of encouragement - like our dogs I guess we need positive reinforcement too .
This brought the HUGEST smile to my face!!!!! :thumbsup: You are doing it right if she is showing little signs like this - huge improvements!!!! :thumbsup::aktion033: It's these milestones that will happen out of the blue that show you she is slowly emerging from her little cocoon - bless her sweet heart!!! You may see nothing again for awhile and then it will start to be more and more as her confidence builds.
Pip Hated walking on the leash at first - it was terrifying to her all the sounds and things she had never heard before. Pulling toward the house is her wanting back in her safe zone - she has to learn to feel safe outside too (that's why you keep up with the walking - just start small around the block or a park.) But keep up with the walking and praising her for being a good dog as she goes along and it will get better...I even hummed and sang little songs to her in the beginning to try to distract her a bit and let her see that I was relaxed lol. I would always take her on a pack walk with AnnaBelle so she can cue off her 'normal' vibes. Now Pip loves walks (although when we go near parking lots she sometimes acts like she wants to climb up under the cars which makes me think she must have been housed in a garage
) - she is learning to love seeing what's going on outside. It's pretty cool.
Oh great that you have a doggy door!!! If she has used potty pads before, I would place a potty pad outside on the area where you would like her to do her business (will have to anchor the corners with rocks or something so it doesn't blow). Take her to that spot and tell her "Go Potty"...she may or may not do it for you, but she will see where you want her to go and hopefully sneak out there and use it herself (they also have a potty motivating spray sold for housebreaking puppies...just a little squirt on the pad to cue her). After awhile you can remove the pad and see if she is still using the same spot. But I always start with the pad that they are used to going on so they can make the link as to what you are wanting them to do. It's pretty normal maltesey for them to not want to get their feet wet/not like going in the rain. Luckily we have a covered patio so when it rains I just put a potty pad under the covered part and Pip will use it. She is associated "Good Potty" with being outside so don't think the pad confused her (where it might inside a house - as the association with area/scatter rugs was mentioned). Don't use the pad for Pip anymore (except when it rains) but it was part of the transitioning training. I just think it's easier if they have a system they are used to that you sort of integrate it into the system you Want them to have until they get it and you can remove that little crutch/bridge.
I am still smiling about her raising her little paw...it WILL come... The puppies always come up and give kisses and Pip is there too but just watches. The other day she forgot herself and gave me one too (she was surrounded by the two others also kissing me). I always give her a warm THANK YOU, PIP when she does something like this to let her know it is a good thing and she seems quite pleased with herself. She is relaxing more and more but still has that haunting "I know the other shoe is going to drop" in the back of her mind I can tell....for example, this morning she about jumped 6 feet off the bed pillow when I reached for her to set her down to go to the kitchen for breakfast. It was just an instinct/instant reaction for her as she came sort of crawling back up to me right away...so sad...she wants to be normal, just can't yet. It will come. We just have to smile and rejoice in the little baby steps and know that even if we will never have a dog who is as normal as a dog who isn't having to come back from such a horror, we have at least given them peace and a sense of safety and love for the rest of their lives
I just
hate the monsters who did this to them and hope I can be a good enough human to let her progress at her own pace and don't do too many things wrong for her along the way.
The good news for you is that you already have a normal dog in the household for her to pattern after. Unfortunately, our rescues had puppies (1 did - she is since rehomed but had I known then what I know now would have separated the puppies at a very early age from the adult rescues...sigh...20/20 hindsight) and they picked up fear patterns/cues in their formative stages so we have a few issues with the puppies too. I just continue working with them and pray they all grow out of it together. It can be quite overwhelming/dismaying at times, so I am really resonating with your posts ((((hugs)))) I have gotten some good advice right here on these forums so hope you stick around
