Why we need YOU
Shy dogs need a chance at finding a loving family but often, they are overlooked. They don't greet new people with a tail wag, and they are nervous when being petted. They may cower at the back of the kennel, avoiding eye contact, frightened of what might happen to them.
If HARTT is called in to rescue a dog, it usually means that someone first tried to coax or leash the dog, with no success, because the dog is so insecure and nervous. This is why we often use humane traps, which allow us to safely rescue the dog without them needing to approach a person. Once rescued, those feelings of insecurity continue.
Many of our dedicated HARTT volunteers have adopted shy dogs, and they have filled our hearts with joy! Seeing them gradually come out of their shell, stand a few feet closer to their person, keep their gaze on you just a second longer, finally accept a treat from your hand, and eventually follow you around like you are their whole world, is an amazing gift.
Shy dogs need a chance at finding a loving family but often, they are overlooked. They don't greet new people with a tail wag, and they are nervous when being petted. They may cower at the back of the kennel, avoiding eye contact, frightened of what might happen to them. They desperately want to be loved, but they aren’t good at marketing themselves!
If HARTT is called in to rescue a dog, it usually means that someone first tried to coax or leash the dog, with no success, because the dog was insecure and nervous. This is why we often use humane traps which allow us to safely rescue the dog without them needing to approach a person. Once rescued, those feelings of insecurity continue.
Many of our dedicated HARTT volunteers have adopted shy dogs, and they have filled our hearts with joy! Seeing them gradually come out of their shell, stand a few feet closer to their person, keep their gaze on you just a second longer, finally accept a treat from your hand, and eventually follow you around like you are their whole world, is an amazing gift.
Could YOU be the person who gives a dog the life they have never had? Someone who will be their courage when they are scared, their confidence when they feel insecure, and their hope when they've lost all hope? Our "Confident Companion" adoption program pairs compassionate, patient people (“Confident Companions”) with gentle, shy and under-socialized dogs. We are looking for kind-hearted people with a QUIET household, preferably an adults-only home, and a very secure yard (because when shy dogs are scared, they try to escape).
Our Confident Companion program dogs are available at a discounted adoption fee for the right family. We, in turn, will maintain regular communication with you and be your guide as you embark upon this very rewarding journey.
Before and after transformations
Scroll through these images and check out the “before and after” amazing transformations of shy dogs who came to us nervous, insecure and broken – after time in a new home, they have flourished. We are so excited to see how their personalities continue to evolve over time!
Meet our available dogs
Meet JJ
A 3-year old Chihuahua/Pug (“Chug”) mix, JJ has been waiting for more than 800 days for a home of his own!
SAMPLE TEXT:
If you want a dog that looks cute, makes you laugh… looks up at you with pretty puppy dog eyes.. JJ is your guy.
If you want a cuddly, in your face, pet me non-stop kind of dog.. keep on looking.. JJ isn’t your guy!
You want a dog that gets along with other dogs…of all sizes? A doggy that knows how to use the doggy door, a doggy you can smother with treats!? Look no further!
A dog that loves to chew whatever toy gets in his way?! A dog that loves to make every toy his by…well, peeing on it mostly… COME SEE JJ!
He has a long road to go…but has already come so far! Be a part of JJ’s journey! He needs a patient hero!!
Meet Tom and Jerry
Tom and Jerry are 3 year old Havanese/Maltese mixes – an adorable duo that would do best in a quiet household with no children. They would thrive with a mentor dog to help them learn that they do not have to be on alert all of the time and that they should learn to relax and have fun!
When they came to us both were very fearful of people and touch. It was so sad to see them this way. We have been working on confidence and leash walking. Tom has made amazing progress! Jerry has made progress, but he is still working on his confidence.
They are very curious but do take a while to warm up to new people. Both are still very shy. but will allow you to pet them. They can walk on a leash they just need a little more work to fine-tune their skills. Patience and positive reinforcement are a must to win them over. Once you have won them over you will have 2 new best friends! You will never be lonely again!
They have the cutest personalities! They LOVE to run and play! They get along with other dogs.
They will need a family that has the time and patience to continue working with them. They would do best in a home with no children. They are bonded so they need to stay together.
Meet Liam
This is Liam, an adorable young poodle mix who was first spotted in the Sun City area running with 4 other dogs of various shapes and sizes – he seemed to be the “man in charge”. Over time, his buddies were captured but Liam was a hold-out. In fact, he had no real interest in our regular trap – wouldn’t enter. He did, however, love to accompany Sun City Grand residents as they walked their dogs around the neighborhood.
Finally, we successfully rescued Liam using a large corral-type trap. He was a hot mess! Years of neglect showed in the tight, filthy mats covering his body. After he was neutered, shaved, vaccinated and cleaned up, he went to practice becoming a pet at HARTT’s foster home. He LOVES other dogs but doesn’t seem to have much, if any, experience with people. He will take time to warm up, which he will do quicker if he is in a stable, loving home.
Meet Penny
Penny is a 1-year old Viszla who has already been handed off from owner, to a high intake shelter, to a rescue, to a foster, to an out of state adopter, to a new foster, and now to HARTT. She is SO shy but she finds comfort in other dogs. We need to call a time-out on more home changes – we need to find her a patient, loving, quiet home where she can FINALLY feel like she is wanted and loved!
FAQs
While some shy and skittish dogs may have been abused, many may have just been IGNORED. They may have lived in a backyard, been bred for profit, or housed in an environment with far too many pets, only interacting with people when they received their daily meal. Or, they may have been lost by their family at a young age and have been living on their own, so their experience with people has been very limited.
Every pet is different, but most of these dogs will hide or avoid people for a period of time as they acclimate to their new environment. That's ok; it's fine for them to "observe" from what they feel is a safe distance, as they gradually realize that no one is going to hurt them! They will often find a safe spot, away from the action, where they feel the most comfortable – this spot may be under a table, in a closet, or in a room that isn’t heavily used. It usually takes some time - weeks, or months - for a shy dog to approach someone. When they do, it's wonderful!
You can expect that new sounds (a washing machine, a TV), new experiences (walking around inside, or on carpet or tile) and new people (men, children) will be unsettling for these dogs. We encourage you to go about your life, but maybe with a tad more "quietness" than usual. We try not to unnecessarily startle them for the first few weeks. After that, we begin gently exposing them to the more normal sounds that are typical in a household.
In many cases, we find that dogs who haven't lived as part of a family in a home before tend to be quite easy to housetrain - they don't really understand concept of going potty inside anyway (since they haven’t been inside much), which is good! Others may be too nervous to go outside on their own, so they may have a few accidents. We will help you navigate the needs of your new family member and help you make sure we set your dog up for success.
Some shy dogs won't have experience with a leash - they don't yet understand that a leash is their golden ticket to lots of future fun! So, you may have to spend small amounts of time each day, for several weeks, getting them accustomed to a leash and teaching them how to walk beside a person without becoming frightened.
Shy dogs typically won't come running for dinner (they may have to be fed occasionally in their "safe spot"), and they may have never seen a toy before! You will be their guide, and you'll teach them all of these wonderful things that will help them on their career journey to become a "professional pet."
YES! Shy and under-socialized dogs, once they feel comfortable, tend to bond very powerfully to their person. Usually, it's one person at first and then others. But they may always have a preference for one person in the home. Just remember that they are more socially awkward than some other dogs, and it will take time for you to see their full personality.
Once this bond occurs though, their world will come to revolve around you, and you will feel the gratitude they feel toward you for saving their life.
Each shy dog is different, but here's what we know. First, a secure home with an escape-proof yard and a vigilant family who is careful with gates and doors is essential. Because of their fears, these dogs are flight risks. You also have to be ok with not taking them out of the home (except for emergency vet care), or even for walks, for at least a few months. And, while it's tempting to want your dog to experience the "fun" that comes from going with you to a café or a pet store, please understand that these types of outings are NOT "fun" for a shy dog for quite some time. They are very frightening, and they really just want to be in a familiar environment, at your home, until they become more comfortable and relaxed.
Because shy dogs tend to door dash pretty easily, typically adults-only homes are best. Homes with small children, or with adults who can't move very fast in response to an open door, may not be suitable. If frightened by a random sound, these dogs can sneak past someone super-fast!
In most cases, VERY GOOD! These shy dogs tend to be far more fluent in "speaking dog" than they are in "speaking human". We LOVE our shy dogs to go to a home with another "mentor dog" who can show them the ropes. The perfect role model for these dogs is a confident, happy, people-friendly dog who can show them that people are awesome!
HARTT will have taken care of all initial vet care including a veterinary exam, spay or neuter, vaccines and treatment for any illnesses or injury that were identified during your dog's time with us - these services are all included in the discounted Confident Companion adoption fee.
Our team will have conducted an initial evaluation of your dog's temperament, so that we can give you a decent picture of their temperament, tendencies, likes and dislikes.
For the first 6 months following adoption, HARTT will cover the cost of any veterinary care necessary for any illness or previously undiagnosed preexisting medical conditions, as well as any related medications.
Our team will communicate with you at least monthly (more frequently at first) to check in and see how things are going. Since most of our volunteers have a shy HARTT alumni dog at home, we can give you advice, tips and tricks to help your dog progress toward greater confidence.
We require that all adopters follow ALL our safety, barrier and behavior protocols in order to assure your dog will acclimate most successfully to your home.
We require regular, at least monthly, photos, videos and progress reports - the steps we take early in this dog's experience in your home will set him or her up for success.
We will want you to have regular communications with one of our Confident Companion program volunteers who will be your own personal mentor and guide you through life with a shy dog.
We expect that you will fulfill all of the commitments and representations you made when you signed your adoption application.
And, our goal is that this dog will have no further transitions – these dogs desperately need stability, therefore we are only seeking adopters, not fosters. So, we ask that our Confident Companions carefully consider their future plans and give us reasonable assurance that the dog we place in the home will remain part of their family for the rest of their lives.