Any doggy psychiatrists on Gubu?

[Apelles]

We 'kinda' rescued a timid and very anxious, 2 year old dog from a back garden pen, he'd been kept there with two of his brothers up until we took him, and during that time he had been fed and looked after by the children of that house.
While living there he had never been properly socialised, walked or introduced to other dogs or people.
We've had him over two years now and he's still a very nervous dog. If I'm sitting down he'll come over to me for pets and treats, however as soon as I go to move or stand up, he runs out of the room, he acts the same with my wife and most (but not all) adults, but he does make friends with women easier.
We've two cats and he's also frightened of those.
He absolutely loves my children though and they adore him.
He's probably the least greedy dog I've ever known, and he loves watching telly, especially nature programmes or anything with any kind of animals, he jumps up and playfully snaps at the screen, even if they're just cartoon animals.
Covid was in full swing when we got him so I had emailed a dog trainer att who advised me to ignore his behaviour and he would settle in after a year or so.
Nearly two and a half years on and he's a little bit better but unfortunately he has more or less still the same temperament.

Is there something we can do to make him less anxious?

Any advice from anyone with a similar 'stressed doggy' experience.

[Jack The Stripper]

What breed dog?

[Apelles]

What breed dog?

He's a bit of a Heinz type of dog.
[img]https://ibb.co/Jc8Kj13[img]
A bit of lab, sheepdog, beagle perhaps, we're not entirely sure of his make up. He's a medium sized dog who sheds a lot of hair if thats any help.

[Apelles]

Just gonna figure out why my image of him isn't posting.

[Apelles]

Here he is.

[isha]

He reminds me of a dog we had long ago. Our post man found her under a hedge as a young pup, abandoned. So we took her in. She spent months regularly hiding under beds and in corners. She was a lovely, affectionate, darling dog til the day she died but she always remained a bit skittish and odd. It got much better but never went fully away.

[Del.Monte]

Thread title reads to me as "Any dodgy psychiatrists on Gubu?" - I immediately think of the Lavhline where the host undoubtedly would fit the bill.

[Hairy-Joe]

Thread title reads to me as "Any dodgy psychiatrists on Gubu?" - I immediately think of the Lavhline where the host undoubtedly would fit the bill.

I also read it as dodgy and I thought that I could throw my two pence in. My advice would normally be the completely wrong thing to do

[CelticRambler]

And me!

What does that say about the Gubu demographic?

[Apelles]

And me!

What does that say about the Gubu demographic?

That you all need eye tests and glasses and possibly a visit to the psychiatrist.

[Hairy-Joe]

That you all need eye tests and glasses and possibly a visit to the psychiatrist.

That's a given......

[Apelles]

The very timid dodgy has been very bold of late, and had started roaming off across the feilds, chasing after the young lady dodgys that live over the hill. Vet recommended neutering him . . . poor thing, his spatial awareness is woeful and he keeps bumping into everything he approaches with his 'treat funnel'.

Screenshot_20230318_152551_Gallery.jpg (274.38 KiB) Viewed 39 times

Not sure what affect if any it will have on his personality, but at least he's two stones lighter now.