Insecure dog
I have a Chihuahua mix (Snowie) who is just so insecure. I believe this is due to the treatment of her previous owners (my uncle and his family) who never bothered to take good care of her. Everytime I saw her, she was skin and bone and was covered in dirt. She would be afraid to go near people and always hid under the car. My uncle had 2 other dogs, Snowie's mother, and a Pit-bull terrier puppy he had found. Snowie's mother and the Pit-bull were well fed, as they knew how to get there first, so poor Snowie would miss out a bit. From what I've heard, Snowie was also dropped a few times by my young cousins, and was played with a little too rough by the Pit-bull. I felt sorry for Snowie and adopted her 3 years ago. She seems to be doing fine now, she knows her name and she's not so afraid of people, and she gets along so well with her father/brother Tommy (I got Tommy 6 years ago from the same uncle) and he treats her very well too.
The only problem I have with Snowie now is that she is still very insecure. She can't walk on certain floor surfaces, such as wood or tiles. She would freeze if we put her somewhere she's unfamiliar with. What is strange is that my bedroom floor is also wooden, and she's fine with that, but once she steps out of my room, she panics and runs to her 'safe-spots' - the bathroom door, then under the piano chair where there's carpet. When she goes outside, she fine and seems like any other dog. It's impossible to take her out on walks because she would usually freeze halfway on the paths and I'll end up carrying her the rest of the way. Is there anything I can do to help her get out of this insecurity? I would like to see Snowie around the house like Tommy and not just in my room or under the piano chair. Thanks heaps- A.S.L