Any suggestions to introduce a nervous dog to a new camper?

[gemmari]

Our dog is a senior now. We've had him for 5 years but before that, he was in multiple homes and at least one SPCA. I think he probably started out with a generally sensitive temperament but abuse and poor socialization made him into a pretty nervous fearful dog. We've worked hard at training with an experienced trainer, obedience, manners, three rally classes, two agility classes (for fun, not for shows) and at stretching his boundaries. He's gotten much better at settling in to new outdoor places and campgrounds and rest areas BUT he's still kinda freaked out about new indoor places - a pet store he's never been in before, someone's house he's never been to, Motel 6 rooms, etc.

Does anyone have suggestions on his first introduction to the camper that will help him see it as 'home' and speed his adjustment to spending time in it? What do you do to help your dogs adjust when you get an RV or new RV?

[WickedLady]

Does he have a bed/blanket that he uses all the time? Put it in the camper and his food bowls and take him into the camper before you go on any trips. Make it smell like "home" and just hang out for a while. Treats and toys. Maybe that will help.

[BirdbyBird]

You didn't mention size or if he is crate trained. Mine figure out home is where their crate is and the food shows up regular in their crates.....they like that. I would think you could use the same techniques you used to introduce him to all those other environments. It just might take a while and some time training. At least you know ahead of time to put the work in so he can be successful and comfortable.

[Bethers]

What the others have said - but give time - with his favorite things there - to get used to it. Maybe take him out there for dinner for a couple days, then back to the house. Longer stays each time. Just go sit inside with him for an hour or so - take your time and his - and do things at his comfort level. You could also consider trying a thundershirt - might help.

[gemmari]

He is around 25-30 pounds; current weight is 27 but it goes up and down. He's a poodle mix but I don't know what he's mixed with. Ask a dozen people and you'll get a dozen different guesses though pretty much everyone sees the poodle part. I can carry him into the camper (that's what I do at motel 6 if we have to stay in an upstairs outside room) if he doesn't like the steps but I would rather not have to if possible because if I HAVE to carry him in, it takes longer for him to settle down that first time than if he's allowed to go in on his own. Though, to be fair, once he's been in and had enough time to get comfortable a few times, he will usually go in on his own. He hasn't made peace with motel 6 yet but those open metal steps and the balcony just freak him out; I suspect that most dogs don't much like them.

Originally, he was crate trained. I think it may have been the ONE thing previous owners did right with him but we no longer use one since he doesn't need it to keep out of trouble on the rare occasion when he is completely alone; he might be home alone for a MAX of 8-10 hours a week and never more than 2-3 hours at a time. He was comfortable in the crate and well behaved. When tent camping, I use the old crate cue to send him into the tent; he LOVED the tent which is just barely big enough for a queen air mattress and too low to stand up in from day one for some reason. I guess it's crate like? He usually sleeps on my bed or occasionally the couch. He pretty much ignores dog beds though he does have a 14"x14" bandanna that I can put anywhere on the ground within 10 or so feet of me and he will "go to bed" laying down with part of his body on it - he then expects treats to fly towards him at regular intervals. We never did finish learning that particular trick but it keeps him out from underfoot while I'm cooking. Otherwise, he is a velcro dog that just wants to be attached to my side.

With new outdoor places, I made it my mission in life to take him to 6 places a week for something like 6 months solid. We tried to do 2-3 new places and the rest repeat places. Eventually, he generalized that new outdoor areas were okay. We got out of the car and I walked somewhere and sat down on the grass or on a bench and started to read. I ignored all signs of nervousness (on the recommendation of a trainer who said that when I tried to soothe him, I was reinforcing that there was a reason to fear). When he settled, I pet him and gave him treats. If he settled fast in a particular place, we walked for a bit and then I started to read somewhere else, closer to the action of other people moving around. If there was a particular type of place that he had a lot of trouble with, I borrowed my sister's dog (who was super socialized from puppyhood) or a retired seeing eye dog that a friend of mine owns. Being with a confident dog instantly made him comfortable. Now, if the place is outdoors as long as he can get 20-30 feet from where the cars are parked, he's a happy fluffball. I never did find enough indoor places where he could go to get him to generalize that. He picks up new tricks and commands super fast but new places are a whole other problem.

[retiredhappy]

Sounds like a crate would be helpful and he's safer when driving in a crate. From your description of how happy he is when there is another calm dog around it sounds to me like you should consider getting him a buddy. I travel with two dogs about the size of your's in a Roadtrek. The bed is a little crowded but we're all happy campers and I never get cold.

[Redetotry]

I understand what your are going through as I have a nervous poodle. Mine was sold by the breeder and the people sent him back. I have a feeling they didn't know how to train a puppy and maybe was too harsh on him. He was not good with strangers but getting better and is bad (aggressive) with most other dogs. He is very timid and easily frightened. He is also very smart and learns quickly.
I like Karen's idea of getting a buddy. The other thing you might try is putting him on a long leash, go out to the camper and you go inside leaving him outside, keeping hold of the leash. Don't pay any attention to him but put a tasty treat on the inside right by the door, be sure he sees you do this. Then have a seat somewhere and ignore him, I'm thinking if he is like my poodle he won't want you that far away and will also want that treat, maybe he will venture inside on his own.
I am going to hire a young neighborhood girl to come over and try to get him to respond to her. He needs more socialization and especially around kids. I'm anxious to see how it goes. I think the first day I'll just have her sit and play on her iPad and see if he will approach her and go slowly from there.
Good luck and keep us posted of your progress.

[gemmari]

I grew up with low-mid content wolfdogs and german shepherds, one of which was partially grown when I got him and flunked out of schutzhund training because he wasn't clear headed enough when he was working. Living and working with those personalities of dogs required a certain set of skills. We had a trainer that worked with the family, teaching us how to work through issues when we had them, primarily issues of dominance and aggression. I thought I knew about working with difficult dogs. LOL. I knew about working with those types of difficult dogs. I didn't know a thing about working with such a nervous abused fluffy. It's been a learning process, especially making corrections super-mild or just ignoring. Now the worst correction in my arsenal is a hard stare and a quiet "phooey" in a normal speaking tone which is essentially just a 'no treat' marker word and the removal of my attention. And I'm still a little stunned when that's enough, just knowing that I'm displeased and even the 'no treat' marker is ONLY for when I know he knows the correct response and chose to ignore me. I expect him to keep all his feet on the ground unless he's invited to jump and expect him to sit on cue no matter how nervous or excited he gets. I like the idea of tying him so he could be inside or outside of the camper and then going inside myself. He doesn't like me out of sight, even lays on the bathmat while I shower.

RetiredHappy - We have considered getting him a buddy but it would need to be one who is already well socialized with people, dogs, and new places. That's hard to find in an adult dog. Most people who take the time to socialize their dogs well as puppies don't give them up later. We are on the list for a retired or flunked service dog but it's a really really long wait list, like years. Two adult dogs isn't really much more work than one adult dog but a puppy young enough for me to do the critical socialization and training periods is a lot of work to take care of and train. And while I'm normally physically with my dog, I'm usually doing my own things except the times I have set aside for walks and/or training. I have my eye on a large-breed doodle pup as my next dog if I get impatient on the waiting list but so far, I'm not quite ready to put in the puppy raising time.


Retetotry - When we got the fluffball, he was afraid of all new people until they ignored him long enough for him to check them out on his own. Our teen part-time-child was 8 years old then. And when she was here, she had friends in and out a lot. Plus, my friends have kids. I inadvertently taught him to jump on kids searching for treats because I gave every kid who came into the house strict orders not to chase after him AND pepperoni slices or hot dogs or some other really high-value treat and told them to give him treats when he was willing to let them pet him. They would come in and be playing video games or watching a movie or whatever and he would be searching their pockets and purses for the hidden treats. When out walking, I would have my treat pouch full of things like shredded cheese or pieces of hot dogs and every one who asked to pet the fluffy was given treats so every person he tolerated touching him magically had awesome food for him until he was more willing to sit still for it, even curious whether strangers were hiding stuff in their pockets if their hands seemed empty. Eventually, we then retrained him to greet people politely but the first thing was getting him past the automatic fear response. I think getting the neighborhood girl to play games on her ipad on your floor (maybe with a REALLY good SUPER yummy smelling treat, if he's very reluctant) is a great start.

[Gentleladybear]

When I got my new motorhome, my two older ones couldn't figure where they were, they ran up and down, peed on everything, then settled down, figured okay this is where we belong. I got my bottle of cleaner, cleaned and they have been happy ever since. So glad there is no carpet in here. LOL

[BayouLady]

Marie, just let him get used to the camper before an actual trip. Have at least two overnight backyard trips to help him get used to it. Part of the reason I got mine is in case we need to evacuate. My Beck isn't good with new places and the person I would stay with sold her home and moved to New Orleans. Thunder shirts are also a help and maybe some melantonin to help ease the mind if needed.