Hi, we have recently adopted ruby a small x of many variations, no background as such, thought to be around 2. Very attached to me and warming up to hubby although he still gets the occasional growl which leads me to think of potential background of ill treatment to her. If anyone has had something similar as visitors also get the growls until they are settled, she is also a bit antsy with other dogs and the vet well just forget it so at the moment we have had no jags and I’m not sure if she is neutered. Saying all that tho she is going nowhere as we live her to bits
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The growl is good - love the growl! She's telling hubby she's not comfortable and if she knows he will respect that and back off from what he is doing that she's not happy about, then she will feel safer and won't feel the need to resort to a bite. If this means he can't do things he needs to be able to do with her, say put her lead on, then he can approach that in slow stages, e.g. walk up to her holding the lead, give a treat and walk away, building up to holding the lead near her collar, give a treat and go away... and so on. He should only pet her if she shows she wants to, and only for a few seconds, then withdraw - and continue if she makes it clear she'd like more.
When people come to visit, put her in a room behind a stairgate (one which has a comfy bed and she sees as a 'safe space') before letting them in, so she can see hear and smell them. Let her come in and say hello when they are settled - and you might also want to put her back in her 'safe space' before they get up to go. I still put my dog behind a stairgate when strangers come to the house even now, and I've had him for 10 years! Doors, and the excitement/worry of a new person they don't know can be flashpoints, so best avoided.
Vets - are you saying that she's also scared of the vet, or are you just not able to see one at the moment anyway (or only if she goes in without you)?
There's an article here about reactivity with other dogs: Dog Reactivity Hopefully that will help.
When people come to visit, put her in a room behind a stairgate (one which has a comfy bed and she sees as a 'safe space') before letting them in, so she can see hear and smell them. Let her come in and say hello when they are settled - and you might also want to put her back in her 'safe space' before they get up to go. I still put my dog behind a stairgate when strangers come to the house even now, and I've had him for 10 years! Doors, and the excitement/worry of a new person they don't know can be flashpoints, so best avoided.
Vets - are you saying that she's also scared of the vet, or are you just not able to see one at the moment anyway (or only if she goes in without you)?
There's an article here about reactivity with other dogs: Dog Reactivity Hopefully that will help.
Thank you for the points re visitors, I can put her in her crate, she uses as bed occasionally as has escaped from it whilst using at night time so now sleeps on floor beside our bed.
She is currently sitting on couch cuddled up to hubby(new thing just allowed to help with bonding), she is very fickle with her growls which I sometimes think is a bit of guarding me. Oh the joys, every day is a school day. Always had dogs from pups before, this is a deep learning curve .
She is currently sitting on couch cuddled up to hubby(new thing just allowed to help with bonding), she is very fickle with her growls which I sometimes think is a bit of guarding me. Oh the joys, every day is a school day. Always had dogs from pups before, this is a deep learning curve .
You need to be firm with your visitors too, that they don't eyeball her, get in her space, or touch her if she hasn't initiated contact. If she does and they do, no patting, no head touching. Stroking along the flanks is good. If she rolls on her back, she might be wanting a tummy rub but it is more likely to be her "saying" that she is not a threat, in which case she should not be touched. When she is in her crate, nobody should approach it or try to interact with her.
She'll come round in her own time, and I agree that the growl is a gift.
What should we do when a dog growls? Stop what we are doing, back off, consider how to "rephrase" what we want so we can get the right results in a non-confrontational manner. When dogs realise we'll listen, they don't need to "shout".
She'll come round in her own time, and I agree that the growl is a gift.
What should we do when a dog growls? Stop what we are doing, back off, consider how to "rephrase" what we want so we can get the right results in a non-confrontational manner. When dogs realise we'll listen, they don't need to "shout".
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Lol....I used to have 'second hand dogs' and I always thought of it more a 're-programming' process...and then I had my fist pup..
And yeah...a learning curve. Not any easier..nor difficult..just different mind set of teaching them and how they absorb their information.Older ones is more of two way negotiation..they have their way and you have yours and you will have to win them over to understand and accept.
Growl without further reaction is like saying 'f... off'...if we say it, others will surely stop there and then and it ain't any different when they do it..it is good to respect that as they have bigger teeth
Yeah...it is like trying to work what piece of clock work fits in and where to get to the new relationship to work.
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Has your dog shown signs of playfulness at all? Keen for any toys? Play and 'laughter' is good ice breakers and bond creators.
I was thinking as you said she is slowly warming to your hubby. You know the dog's 'come to play' posture?
It would be great way for your husband to keep bringing more 'I'm harmless and playful human being' message, by just going on one's knees on the floor and with toy in the hand bring front 'paws' on the floor to invite to come bit closer for a play.
But to try that he would have to make sure there is plenty of room around him so the dog doesn't feel trapped have easy access to come and look at this 'weird human who is trying to talk my language' before deciding if to bother with it or walk away...
Just a thought...
I was thinking as you said she is slowly warming to your hubby. You know the dog's 'come to play' posture?
It would be great way for your husband to keep bringing more 'I'm harmless and playful human being' message, by just going on one's knees on the floor and with toy in the hand bring front 'paws' on the floor to invite to come bit closer for a play.
But to try that he would have to make sure there is plenty of room around him so the dog doesn't feel trapped have easy access to come and look at this 'weird human who is trying to talk my language' before deciding if to bother with it or walk away...
Just a thought...
No unfortunately she isn’t showing any interest in her toys at all. I have tried but nothing. The most excited I have seen her in the house is a zoomy running round and out then to garden and back. Hubby managed to get lead on with a treat this morning so getting there with that. Hopefully having a chew on her toys will come, just don’t think she knows what they are for. Will need to get her use to a muzzle before I can get her back to vets so that’s the next challenge
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Ah, that is a shame...interest for toys would have opened some more ways for training and 'trickery'. But not all dogs are interested. And then there some that might eventually come up with one or two objects that are precious to play with..not a traditional toy at all. But keep trying..that object might just be a sock or something else from your washing basket....
I used to find that it took minimum of 3 months before the new dogs started to get settled in and properly start showing their characters. And mine didn't even come with unknown background through rescue places.
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Don't worry about playing with toys - some dogs just aren't interested, and some rescue dogs can take months or longer to settle in properly.
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