Contradictions

Kali is interesting to me, because she is simultaneously very curious about the outside world, yet frightened to engage with some parts of it.

From working with other initially-scared dogs, I expected Kali to be distrustful of anything new or different. But that isn't the case! She isn't scared by loud noises (trains or car horns) or bad weather and she loves going on walks. While initially the car was scary, she now seems to actively enjoy both the ride, and the promise of new destinations. She's curious about what goes on outside my fence and is the first dog in my pack to approach when it's something new. She likes other dogs and is confident about meeting them - as she settles in, she's increasingly dominant with dogs (but not inappropriate).

Yet she is also wary of new people - I suspect she wasn't treated well in her prior home and so any approach by a new person that seems threatening (eye contact, direct approach, hand over her head) puts her on high alert. She isn't aggressive, but she does give a lot of warnings to stay back (bristling, growling, barking), until she's sure you're a friend. Usually this takes until the second or third meeting, but people who understand scared dogs and don't challenge her often never activate her distrust.

I'm working to desensitize her to new people, which involves outings around people who will ignore her, and rewards for curiosity and non-fearful behavior. That she considers new experiences a reward in themselves is very helpful in this process, and she's become a star of her training class as a result!