Fearful & Feral Dog Rehabilitation

Four previous fearful/feral hoarding case dogs, Alora, Brock, Jade, and Hawkeye, at adoption event hanging out with me. (above)

Want to Truly connect with your Fearful dog?

Do you want to make a real difference in the lives of fearful and feral dogs who have been failed by traditional training methods? I’m Julie Hart, a seasoned expert in rehabilitating and training fearful and feral dogs. I am raising the bar on fearful and feral dog rehab. If you would like your dog to be comfortable with you and other people, be happy to have a leash put on and go for a walk, like to be touched, come when called, not hide in the house or yard, and live a fullfilling life with a higher level of welfare, all within a reasonable amount of time, you are in the right place.

Traditional training methods often fail to address the unique needs of fearful and feral dogs. With scarce resources available in this specialized area, many trainers, rescuers, and dog parents find themselves at a loss when it comes to rehabilitating these vulnerable animals. The typical training advice for fearful and feral dogs fails to build trust and create a deep, meaningful relationship.

From working with fearful and feral dogs, I have developed Nose-Centric Dog Training and Rehabilitation. This approach uniquely optimizes a dog’s natural behaviors, especially sniffing, to aid in recovery. Dogs engaging in their natural activities boost dopamine, serotonin, and other feel-good hormones in the body. By doing these activities WITH your dog, rather than just standing there, you become relatable and important in that dog’s life.

Drawing from extensive hands-on experience in foster, rescue, client, and shelter environments, I've honed in on what truly works in transforming fearful and feral dogs into happy, thriving companions. And it isn’t what you may think! Training alone doesn't equate to trust, especially for dogs who have endured trauma from hoarding situations, abuse, or neglect, or those who were once street dogs or feral roamers. These dogs need compassionate guidance and unwavering support in acting like a dog again.

By working with me, you'll gain invaluable insights and techniques that transcend traditional training dogmas. What trainers, rescuers, and dog parents learn from working with these resilient animals not only transforms the lives of fearful and feral dogs but also enhances their abilities to serve all their clients’ and dog’s needs – including the more "typical" ones. From communication cues to trust-building techniques, the lessons fearful and feral dogs have taught me have personally empowered me to teach all dogs better, resulting in happier, more well-adjusted canine companions.

Many fearful and feral dogs are failed by typical training practices of all methods and dogmas. I get called after people have been unsuccessful in finding help for their dog, and may have hired a trainer who didn’t provide significant improvement. Many people feel hopeless when they contact me, thinking their dog cannot improve. I get the pleasure of reassuring them that indeed their dog can improve, and I can teach them how.

Training does not equal trust. Dogs need their humans to become trustworthy, so they do not have to live in fear. This has little to do with typical “training’ methods, but relies on a trusting relationship between dog and human. I build trust with dogs through safety, authenticity, empathy, and creating fear-less behavior.

My typical timeline for feral dog rehab is walking on a leash in 2-3 30-minute sessions. For a dog to participate freely in my household routine, it takes about three weeks. For a dog to go to places like parks, it takes about four weeks. In about three months, we accomplish vet visits, getting in the car, coming when called, and enjoying having a leash put on. Over the next few months, we expand on this so the dog becomes comfortable with people outside my household, going on trips, pet stores, home improvement stores, and more. My ex-feral dog Tipton has gone to Las Vegas, staying two blocks from The Strip, the Grand Canyon, family road trips, and Yellowstone. Many trainers will not believe this timeline is possible, but that is because they do not understand how to build trust with a fearful or feral dog, nor have the experience I do. The possibilities are endless if we don’t limit our dog’s ability to succeed.

The dogs I rehabilitate are thriving. They are not merely surviving by living in a small world and secluded in a house or yard. The dogs I work with live like normal dogs, going on walks and hikes, to pet stores, and on vacations. They joyfully come when called and enjoy affection from their people.

To bring fearful and feral dogs into a human world, we must first enter theirs. Getting a fearful dog to use its nose is an often-overlooked powerhouse of rehabilitation potential.

How did I get into feral and fearful dog rehab? I live in New Mexico, where there are thousands of free-roaming dogs that are on the feral and fearful spectrum. I was called in to a shelter to help with a large hoarding case and I became fascinated by what these dogs can teach us and the creativity, empathy, and awareness they require to help them. They provide an endless challenge and learning opportunities for me and become some of the best dogs on the planet. These dogs are truly inspirational and have taught me so much. I owe it to them to spread the word on how to help them.

A in-depth video about the Feral Dog Immersion Program from June 2025. This is what can happen in a short amount of time with a feral dog if trust is built with the dog and using Nose-Centric Methods.

How your Fearful & Feral dogs can Thrive

  • Rehab

    Rehabilitation is the action of restoring (a dog) to health or normal life through training and therapy. Rehab cannot happen without trust. Discovering the dog’s interests, and becoming understandable to the dog is a way to earn trust. This does not involve using food or toys, because most fearful dogs will not respond to these. I use the core of DOG to facilitate healing: the nose, exercise, activity, and connection. Trust consists of safety, authenticity, empathy, and fear-less behavior. (Above is Remy, a feral puppy that was at risk for euthanasia at a local shelter, until they called me to help.)

  • Train

    I start training the dog how to live in a home as soon as possible. Delaying formal training until the fearful dog has become more trusting can make the training progress much faster and easier on the dog. Formal training includes coming when called and other obedience such as sitting or laying down. Training may also mean exposing the dog to increasingly “scary” surroundings or new people when the dog is ready. But without the foundation of trust, the dog will question its safety in these situations. (above is DD Domingo a previously feral dog that was hit by a car. DD is now adopted and living with her best buds.)

  • Thrive

    Thriving, not just surviving. This is where following my training methods really pay off. Your (previously) fearful or feral dog’s world starts to expand exponentially. They become happier, confident, and content instead of scared. They enjoy outings and new experiences. (this photo is Tipton, a completely feral and very leash-fearing dog initially, he is now my dog and enjoys life to its fullest. He loves agility and adventures.)