Why is my adopted dog so skittish?
Ok so here goes nothing.. I'm posting again but this time on another dog. I have a lab/goldenretriever mixed that we acquired from a couple who raised him about a year ago the wife was going back to work full time and felt he desereved a family with kids and a big yard. He's the sweetest thing and plays well with the other dogs although he was raised with toy dogs so he sometimes forgets his own strength. But ever since he came to live with us he's sooo jumpy and nervous, I know the couple even joked saying instead of calling him Luke they'd refer to him as Luke-a-phobia! I think the couple is as sweet as can be and don't believe they harmed him but why is he so scared of everything? Examples: doors opening or closing, bugs that fly at him, sudden movements of any kind, loud noises such as vacuum cleaners and get this.. if the sprinklers are on in our back yard or the water feature on the pool he won't go outside even if he has to go! Any ideas or suggestions? I read the articles about us consoling him when he's scared and how that only enforces his fear so what do I do?