extremely frightened chihuahua

Question
thanks for your time... In April of 2008 my husband and I brought our little Abigail (a longcoat chihuahua, six years old, previously in a puppy mill situation i would guess)into our home. I have never seen a dog that is as terrified of people as she is. She has never bitten any of us or even growled and is not at all aggressive. When we brought her home she was expecting and later delivered 3 healthy, beautiful puppies. It was the happiest I've ever seen her while they were tiny and she was a great Mommy to them. Here is what is goin on with her... We have had her for 8 months now and she has never come to us when we try to coax her. She cowers down and freezes or walks or runs the other way. I have to pick her up and carry her outside to go potty and when she's finished I have to pick her up and carry her back into the house as well, then off she goes to hide in the hall bathroom where it is dark. She has never played with us, only the puppies. While outside she runs and plays kicking up her heals and havin a great time with the puppies and our outside dogs, as long as she thinks we're not looking that is. When she sees us she cowers and freezes. We have made absolutely NO progress with gaining her trust. NONE. Is she miserable around us? Would it be best for her if we just let her keep to herself all the time or should we hold her and pet her against her will and eventually she will come to trust us?She is so afraid of people. when i try to walk her on a leash, she will just cower down and not move. This is why we let her run loose in our large secluded yard when we take her out to potty. Then carry her inside when she is done. Can you offer any suggestions as to how to help her not to be so afraid of us. I'm out of ideas. thank you for your willingness to help.

Answer
WOW you have really bent over backward for this sad little girl!  Congratulations!

What you're seeing is the result of extreme lack of socialization to humans and most likely abusive treatment by the "breeder" (who should be chained by the neck to a railroad track.)  Fortunately for Homo Sapiens, there are people like you.

Picking a dog up is an extremely DOMINANT behavior and most likely terrifies this dog (she may also associate it with abuse in her past.)  Rather than do that, you can fit her for a body harness and use a very lightweight leash; this may or may not work (the dog may refuse to walk with leash restraint) and she may be so stressed that she won't even accept food treat (cheese, hot dog, etc. to lure her forward and teach her it's okay to follow you.)  I can't see that from here; you'll have to experiment.  It's worth the effort to spend hours (first try) luring the dog forward on leash restraint so she can voluntarily follow you both outdoors, and back indoors.  Leash restraint is not only physical (bad enough if she's terrified and now can't get away from the object of her fear) but also psychological.  I've seen dogs so terrified of leash restraint that (as you described) they literally FLATTEN to the floor and won't budge.  THIS CAN BE REHABILITATED. It takes time, patience, effort and (if the dog will accept treats) some special tidbits, but it can be done.  You have to stick with it.

It's been eight months since she's lived with you, but during that period of time there has been a great deal of hormonal influence and the responsibilities of "motherhood"; she's obviously bonded ONLY to dogs and not at all to humans.  I very much doubt this was her FIRST pregnancy; in fact, it may have been her twelfth.  Forcing her interaction (accepting being petted, etc.) is not helping.  It may take many, many more months of patience, consistent and fair leadership and educated observation on your part to allow this dog to trust.  Interacting with 'strangers' who visit is absolutely out of the question; she has to be protected from this, regardless of how well meaning those people might be.  This dog will (most likely) never be a relaxed companion, but she certainly can learn to trust the humans with whom she lives.  Dogs learn by observing other dogs; your interacting with your other dogs in her sight (positive reinforcement training, playing, giving and receiving affection) will help her (in the long run).  Also, medication may help this dog to relax.  You need to discuss the possibility of using it with your veterinarian.  I also suggest you do a lot of reading: patricia McConnell, Ph.D., John Fisher, John Rogerson, these are especially informed people in dog psychology.  The more you know about the dog's fear state, the more you can help her.  This dog may be quasi-feral (never touched at all by a human except for what was absolutely necessary and perhaps painful).  It may be too late to really reach this dog, but you can certainly help her to be more comfortable, and to feel safer, in your care.  Just give it as much time as it takes.