Love, love, love.....and time. Your dog sounds a lot like my Luckie..we got her at a year old. She had never set foot in a house and had not been socialized at all. She was terrified of EVERYTHING and everyone. She would hide in a corner of my bathroom when we got her. I would have to gently pull her on a leash feeding her treats to "walk" and a small trip down my front sidewalk was considered a success. She was terrified of a car ride. She was a fear bolter and tried to escape every time the door was opened. Every day I worried that she would never be normal.
A year later, she is crazy over me, my husband, my mother and a lot of adults. She willingy greets people as they come in. She isn't totally trusting of my kids but doesn't run from them. If you say "walk" you better mean it because she freaks out! Jumping, barking, massive tail wagging, major excitement! At school pickup time, she hops in the van with my border collie and takes her place in the backseat. If I'm outside the fence, she's right there by my side off lead. One day she and my other dog found a loose fence panel and got out. Terrified me, but she didn't go anywhere. She's......normal! There are times that we just marvel at the difference time and love made. I didn't seek professional help with her. I'm not a trainer. I just loved her and followed my heart and did what felt right. I was ever gentle and ever loving but I nudged her out of her comfort zone every day by forcing the walks, the rides, the interaction. She is absolutely a different dog. Our only remaining issue is our bully cat, but that's a cat issue, not a dog one.
Best of luck to you, and bless you for rescuing your precious dog.
A year later, she is crazy over me, my husband, my mother and a lot of adults. She willingy greets people as they come in. She isn't totally trusting of my kids but doesn't run from them. If you say "walk" you better mean it because she freaks out! Jumping, barking, massive tail wagging, major excitement! At school pickup time, she hops in the van with my border collie and takes her place in the backseat. If I'm outside the fence, she's right there by my side off lead. One day she and my other dog found a loose fence panel and got out. Terrified me, but she didn't go anywhere. She's......normal! There are times that we just marvel at the difference time and love made. I didn't seek professional help with her. I'm not a trainer. I just loved her and followed my heart and did what felt right. I was ever gentle and ever loving but I nudged her out of her comfort zone every day by forcing the walks, the rides, the interaction. She is absolutely a different dog. Our only remaining issue is our bully cat, but that's a cat issue, not a dog one.
Best of luck to you, and bless you for rescuing your precious dog.