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I’d focus on all around confidence building at home - obedience group class is probably overwhelming for a shy dog, so set your expectations low for slow progress in a class environment.

First of all, I’d implement a Nothing in Life is Free regime at home for now. It sounds harsh but for a fearful dog, knowing what your expectations are can reduce her anxiety and earning affection/privileges successfully by doing what you want her to will help her build confidence and trust in you - which should translate to her looking to you for leadership in all situations.

Work on reinforcing/teaching basic commands at home with really high value treats, lots of short training sessions (90 seconds to 5 minutes each session multiple times a day if possible) and way more reps than you think necessary. Once she has a command down, you can work on transitioning it to the world outside your home.

Puzzle toys are also an effective way to help build confidence. With shy/fearful dogs, we typically feed all meals in puzzle toys - solving them helps boost their morale. The Starmark Bob-a-lot is my favorite for meals, but Kongs are a good option too and the Planet Dog Orbee-Tuff Snoop Dog Toy is another great one.

Nina Ottosson makes great puzzle toys for treat puzzles (too small to feed full meals), with varying levels of difficulty. There are also tons of DIY puzzle toys on the internet. Anything that works her brain and requires her to think through to solve will help her become a more focused, confident dog.

Hopefully all of the above will translate into increased focus and confidence in class too, but if not, you might want to consider doing some in home training if you can (obviously with the caveat that in home training is expensive af, especially compared to group classes, so I totally understand if this isn’t an option). If group classes are your best option, don’t worry too much about her performance IN class, just focus on doing the homework and building up her responsiveness at home and then slowly transition to the outside world.

With regards to men, it’s probably not something you can completely “solve,” but if she’s food motivated and you have male friends she doesn’t know, ask them to come over and hand feed her. This is one of the most effective ways to build a bond. When men are around, have them give her high value treats and ignore her as best you can, so all good things come from men. But let her take it on her own terms and don’t push her either. Contractors can be scary - generally they’re wearing work boots, carrying big/loud/heavy objects, etc., so that may be a situation you just want to manage instead of trying to train her to be more comfortable - just keep her crated or confined to an area where your contractor won’t be, maybe put on a noise machine or the radio and give her a frozen Kong or bully stick to keep her calm when they’re around.

Not all of this will be helpful or apply to you and your dog, I’m sure, but these are some of the things I find the most successful with my fearful fosters! Best of luck to you and your pupper! You sound like a very dedicated owner 💕

> Can an adopted adult dog be successfully socialized if he isn’t already?

Depends on what level of social deprivation the dog has encountered, and what you mean by 'successfully'. Can the dog learn to be fully accepting and relaxed around all of the things that it did not encounter in its early months (the sensitive period)? Probably not. Can it learn to be sufficiently accepting and relaxed around the things that it NEEDS to encounter in the course of its life in a human world? Depends a lot on the temperament of the individual dog and the expectations / commitment of the owner.

Taking on an dog with lack of general socialisation is not something I would attempt personally, because I need my dog to be able to go outside to toilet, travel in a car, walk down the street to exercise, and encounter other dogs. I could perhaps help a dog work through one of these fears if it was well socialised to humans and showed a willingness to trust me and work for treats. But not more than one: it would just be too hard on the dog (and on me). I would also worry about separation anxiety once the dog was bonded to me.

> On adoption applications they ask for a recommendation from a veterinarian. What if you do not currently have a pet or a veterinarian?

Speak to a local vet. Ask intelligent questions about vaccinations, healthchecks, and other routine health care you would need to undertake - and be prepared to answer questions about your home and lifestyle and listen to their opinion about whether you are well set up to be a dog parent.

> What resources should I be looking at either to find a dog or learn more about having a dog?

Finding a rescue dog: https://www.petfinder.com

Dog training: https://www.reddit.com/r/Dogtraining/wiki/index

Getting a puppy:

Sophia Yin's books, such as How to behave so your dog behaves :https://www.amazon.com/Behave-Behaves-Revised-Updated-Editon-ebook/dp/B004GUSDK4/

Patricia McConnell's The other end of the leash https://www.amazon.com/Other-End-Leash-What-Around/dp/034544678X

> Does it confuse a dog to be trained to go outside and on puppy pads

Yes. But if the dog has a fear of going outside, grass based pet loos can be a good substitute.

> For nyc adopters- without a car how do you get your new pet home

In our city, I would call for a taxi which accepts dogs (they are more expensive than a regular taxi). I'm not sure if this is possible with e.g. uber, though.

> What sort of questions should I expect?

Questions about your home, lifestyle, daily routine, how you will care for/ exercise the dog, finances for care and emergencies, future plans (travel, study, children) people who live in or visit your home etc. https://www.aspca.org/adopt-pet/adoption-tips

See also the questions in this survey: http://survey.bark.science/

> I would like a smooth coat miniature dachshund of either gender, ideally with a black and tan coat, but I’m open to all colors and patterns.

This seems very specific if you are looking for a rescue dog. What is the main reason you want a miniature dachshund? There are many factors which are FAR more important than cuteness and your preferred 'look' of dog: think about what you want to do with the dog, what your dog needs to be able to do to be happy living with you, preferred energy levels, how much time you will put into your dog, etc. Additionally, there is a lot of variety within breeds, so one dachshund which meets your needs might be very different from the next which does not. If you are happy to adopt a small mixed breed dog then you will find it much easer to find a dog that suits your needs.

What a sweet looking dog! She looks like she could be part Shiba Inu, which is supposed to be a more reserved breed. I would want to know mainly how she comfortable she is with other people and other dogs. Sometimes dogs that have been homeless can be more selective in who they trust. In some cases, it can go as far as the dog being considered reactive, or dog-aggressive. Or, she might just take a while to warm up to strangers. Also, she might have irrational fears or preferences that are hard to explain, but she might not.

I read a story about a rescue dog that was terrified of everything at first. She overcame so much and is a normal, happy dog now, but still afraid of shadows in doorways. This is the book. (Notes from a Dog Rescue in Progress by Brian Beker.)

Even if you don't have cats or kids, it's good to know how she reacts to them, so you know what to look out for. It looks like she is ok with cats, since there's one behind her in the pic. Some people come across issues like resource guarding or separation anxiety, which are not unique to strays. However, a dog that has a higher anxiety level, might be more likely to act out. So I would look for a balanced temperament, unless you have experience or are willing to deal with these types of things.

She might not have good leash manners either. A lot of former strays aren't used to it, so they pull a lot when you're walking. It's something you should train, even if you have a large yard, since it's useful. You might try checking /r/dogs too, since there are a lot of different types of dog owners there.

I would recommend the following (and you clearly already know about them):

Nutramax Cosequin DS

Phycox

Dermaquin

You can actually get the Cosequin and the Dermaquin is free

I'd also recommend a high quality senior food like Wellness Just for Seniors

Wellness uses all human grade food.

It can be spendy taking care of an older dog but it's well worth it.

Amazon is a good source for the stuff I linked above but I'm not sure that store I linked to has the best prices (I have ordered from them and others) so shop around for better prices.

Oh man, I don't really have great advice for this either, but I did come here to say that you can apply CLEAR aloe gel to your dog safely to help soothe the damaged skin while he tries to heal up, assuming there are no other issues. Check with your vet to ensure there's no conflict with his medications.

Also if you wanna try the booties route again, the only way I could get Sport Pawks to actually stay on my dog was to tie shoelaces over them just above the ankle, snug enough so that her foot wouldn't slip out, but loose enough that it wouldn't cut the circulation. I used flat nylon shoelaces since they have a little stretch and won't feel lumpy, and if you double-knot them, you'r dog may enjoy the challenge of trying to undo the knot. I also fold the top of the sock down over the laces to keep them from snagging on something and to help keep the laces in place.

Good luck =[

Please don't return her - her odds of being adopted after that are extremely low. I would suggest a few things: whenever you take her out for walks, put a special leash on her that's kind, but more restraining (dog collar) - dogs seem to obey more when they're on it https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/are-head-collars-on-dogs-dangerous-or-safe/, and dog training (I'd also recommend watching "It's me or the Dog" - excellent show on animal planet by a wonderful, kind dog trainer that never shouts or hits the dogs. She's an amazing dog trainer & you'll learn alot by watching her: https://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/its-me-or-the-dog/ she also has a book on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Its-Me-Dog-Have-Perfect/dp/1401308554

This is great advice OP. I foster so have new dogs in the home all the time. Best to make the first week or two low key, get your schedule down so the dog has time to get used to it before you throw surprises in the mix. I also recommend starting off with whatever "rules of the house" you want from day one. ie if you don't want the dog in the kitchen or on the furniture, start that from the beginning so it's not confusing later.

Also, this is a great book if interested. https://www.amazon.com/Love-Limit-Welcoming-Adopted-into-Your/dp/1891767143

My boy was the extreme example of fear. A friend sat outside his crate with her back to him for four hours before he got the courage to come out and sniff her. It took him 6 months to leave my kitchen and go down the hall to the family room. As slow as you think you're going, go slower. Don't try to move ahead until she leads the way. If she's willing, hand feed her meals, not just treats. Don't pet her until she isn't stress around you. Lay on the floor and let her come to you. Don't face her directly, turn to the side and get low to the ground or sit down when she approaches. Hang in there. It takes time to over come what seems to be deep seated fears.

I'd recommend this book. It help me understand his moods and gave me the language cues to help him relax.

http://www.amazon.com/Talking-Terms-Dogs-Calming-Signals/dp/1929242360/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Leash walking takes time to train, I’m talking minimum months, frequently a year or more.

>but what "nose work" can I give her that doesn't involve her wanting to pull me into someone yard?


That’s what you are going to train. You can play find with treats and toys. If you use a soft toy, I suggest storing it with your dog’s food so that it absorbs the smell.

You can also use a snuffle mat at home to hide treats, or kibble at meals. Using it for meals is great for active, nose driven dogs.

If she pulls you into a yard, stand firm and practice good leash manners.

aw...reminds me of my little Gracie. She would hide under the bed when we first got her. Now, every day, she hangs out right next to me when I am working. It's incredible what time, love and dedication can do.

We wrote a story about Gracie, it's an illustrated book about her rescue story and happy ending: https://amazon.com/dp/1733177000

Three dogs and five cats home here. Thank you so taking in this dog. You and you wife deserve praise for being so caring. Your new dog will want to check out everything, most probably the kitties. I think the main thing you will need to do is train him not to chase kitties. I dog sit for a friend of mine when they go on vacation, and when Sam first came here he was fascinated with the kitties. He also had to deal with my two Labs and German Shepherd. Just give him some time and scold him if he chases the cats. He will learn fast enough. I wouldn't be surprised if one of the kitties likes to play with him. I am also going to tell you a toy that my dog was given and every dog seems to love.
This is the amazon link but you can get them elsewhere.http://www.amazon.com/Kyjen-PP01056-Hide-A-Squirrel-Squeak-4-Piece/dp/B0002I0O60/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405262415&sr=8-1&keywords=squirrel+in+a+stump+dog+toy
Stay in touch and tell us how things are going.

We did this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EHX2BH0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_8.bxDb0MC3T2Q with our rescue puppy and found out he was 50% gsd, 25% staffy, and 25% mixed terrier breeds. We were able to use that information with training. Hope this helps!

SEARCH: Hygena Scoop on Amazon OR GO DIRECTLY TO PAGE HERE: https://www.amazon.com/HGT-azx-45-d4-77/dp/B07D45RJV3