I very much respect Benny's reply about fearful dogs and I'd like to share my experience. I'm not an expert trainer and naively adopted a breeder dog 3 yrs ago and had the same experience. She would not go outside, would not eat or drink for the first few days, would not budge on a leash, and just wanted to hide. But I kept putting her on the couch next to my mother and within a couple of days she stayed. Sallie actually turned out to be a blessing for my sweet, gentle, 86 yr old mother as she stayed at my mother's side who never demanded anything of her (except when I coaxed her outside). She walked beside mother at her pace, countless times a day, from the living room to the bathroom and back again, then to the bedroom at night - 24/7 for a year before mother passed away. She grieved for mother for a long time but since then she is learning to trust me because I've been very calm and slow and quiet with her. I've allowed her to choose personal spaces for her to feel safe away from the commotion of my other active dog. On the other hand, watching and following the other dog has been therapeutic as well. I've slowly challenged her by taking moments to hold her (which she hated at first and still only reluctantly allows it), rub her head in her bed (which she hated at first but now reaches out for and grumbles if I turn out the light without giving her bedtime "lovins". I talk very little and then only quietly with few words, and walking, walking, walking, walking to expose her to other scenery, people and dogs (per Cesar Milan). I believe that alone has contributed to most of her "awakening". After three years, she's still only 99% potty trained because she won't tell me when she needs to go out, but if I maintain a strict routine she does fine. Just this year she's a little braver about eating in the same room with us but any disturbance will cause her to "hide" in her bed until the middle of the night when she goes to eat. In the house she still prefers to maintain distance between us, spending most of the time in her bed in the bedroom, regardless of where the rest of us are. But outside she's more active, happily exploring, tail wagging, barking occasionally. If my understanding of brain development is accurate, dogs who were raised in cages may never become "normal" - so I'm resolved that Sallie may never become the fun or cuddly dog I'd hoped, but she fulfilled her mission as an angel with my mother and I'm happy to repay her just by giving her safe, warm, loving shelter.