Cody was terrified of being touched, extremely hand shy, basically fearful of people in general, when we first got him. He was taken from a horrible breeder situation, never socialized, never been out of a kennel, with lots of other dogs, chain collar grown into his neck, etc. When we got him, I was determined that he was going to be a normal dog, if it killed us both. I would back him into the corner and hold him still, in order to pet him, brush him, etc. He only got to eat, if he took it out of my hand. He had to approach me for what he wanted. I went to him for brushing, petting, loving in general. We had to herd him into the house, when he would go outside. It worked perfectly. Within a week of us getting him, he was greeting everyone, other than Joe and I, at the baby gate going into the kitchen with growls and snarls, barking like the world was ending, guarding my house. He knew what he was supposed to do and figured out he was home, that quickly. He will still startle, if you move too quickly to touch him, but he absolutely loves to have his cheeks scrunched up and rubbed now. Loves to have the bridge of his muzzle, between his eyes rubbed. He is not an overly loving dog and never will be, but he has certainly come a long way from the fraidy cat he was. I would simply treat them like a normal dog, and assume that eventually they will react accordingly.
Kathy
