Emotional trauma?

Question
Dear Vantressa Brown,

My wife and I recently adopted two labradors from a rescue.  The yellow is healthy, vibrant and emotionally stable.  The black, on the other hand, is petrified to go outdoors.  And I mean petrified.  We literally have to drag him outdoors for him to relieve himself.  After he relieves himself, he drags me back indoors.  Once in a great while, he'll comes out of his shell and go out on command.  But this may have been four times out of dozens.  The rescue organization is unsure of his history, for he was found as a stray.  My wife and I are very patient and loving to him.  We're not sure what to do though to get him to change his behavior.  He responds to my wife and me the same way.  So, we don't think it's a gender thing.  Any suggestions on how to go at this one?

Thanks...Marco  

Answer
Hello Marco,

I just wanted to say congratulations on adopting the Labradors. I have 4 Labs.

I think that since he was found as a stray, I would assume that he was probably abused and mistreated by his previous guardians.

Labs are sensitive, smart and full of energy animals. They get VERY depressed when one one gives them attention such as petting them, playing with them and/or talking to them. I know this from experience because I have a Lab that was mistreated and beaten by his previous guardians. He was very scary and didn't like to be around people or animals.

He just needs to gain your trust...that may take awhile for an abused animal to gain someone's trust if he has been abused. I suggest you spend time with him alone with no other animals present. Talk to him and pet him and show him that he will never be abused again. I spent alot of "alone" time with my Lab and he started trusting me and getting hyperactive. Now he soooo hyperactive I just dont know what to do with him.

Hope this helps you. If it doesn't help.....let me know because I have connections with alot of animal shelters and I can get in touch with some of them and they can probably give you some good/better information.


Vantressa Brown