Dog Community

Okay, so Trinket has an issue..

Posted : 6/9/2010 8:24:59 PM

That issue is strange dogs coming up to her,. She doesn't lunge at them or try to go after them, but if a dog runs up to her, she will snapand growl.. She snapped my neighbors APBT female twice, and the second time was ready for a fight (but so was the other dog) My neighbor HIT MY DOG. This really didn't help at all, it made Trinkie go from "you wanna fight!?Get out of my face!" to "Now it's ON!" I'm assuming that's the bully breed. regardless, she was hanging out okay with the dog until she charged up to her and put her nose on her rear. This is a whole different problem that y neighbor whacked my dog, and I handled it. We actually ended up putting his dog in the house and Trnket hang out with us for a good hour, and she was very loving to him and to be honest, didn't even seem to KNOW he was the one who put his hand on her!

Dogs bark at us walking, we keep going, no issue. No pulling on the leash. An unleashed dog ran to us, barking and growling, and she barked back. I told it's owner "GET YOUR DOG NOW!" and she called it back before it got to us. She settled the second the dog turned around and let some people love on her.

So why is T-Bone the best thing ever, when he was rude in his greeting, and dogs who come up the same way are not okay? Can part of this be that she's brand new?

I made a promise to Trinket when I signed my name on that paper, I'm going to give her my all. She is NOT going back (and it isn't like she's lunging and going AT dogs, she's reacting) to the shelter. She's mine, I already love her, and her and T-Bone are so close already. She's family now, and that's that. So returning her is 100% out of the question.

Here's my gameplan, guys. Tell me what you think.

Right now Trinkie doesn't listen to any of my commands, I've had her all of 24 hours. I am going to build a super positive bond with her, and teach her a LEAVE IT/management skill instead of trying to force her to want to be friendly with them. Just defer to me, let ME handle it, and accept praise and reward when bogeys are gone (lol)

Thoughts?

ETA: When she does this T-Bone is in the mix being overly excited and pullng against his leash (but to greet) the time period between the first spat and second with the neighbors dog, she was fine. Then everyone started running around and that's when the second one happens. She's by no means a VICIOUS dog or even truly aggressive. I think reactive is the word.

jennie_c_d

Posted : 6/9/2010 8:59:02 PM

Your neighbor HIT HER?!?!?!?!? OMG! You're a better person than I am, because I would be posting from a jail cell. What nerve!!!

IMO, she's new. She's seriously lacking in confidence. Once she learns that she's home, gets some basic training, learns that you're the boss, she'll probably calm down a LOT.

Beejou

Posted : 6/9/2010 9:06:58 PM

Yes, he clocked her in the SIDE OF THE HEAD. I really felt like hitting him back, but he's an elderly guy and we WERE in his yard. I just wanted everything to CALM DOWN! My split second decision was seperate the dogs and keep her friendliness with people intact. I don't want to show Trinket anything but turning the other cheek, so I modeled it for her (even though I was/am livid) I just had to turn the experience around and prefered to have them call a truce than go home angry and her confused. She eventually got in his lap and everything.

I am thinking part of her reaction is based on the fact she doesn't know who I am or what's going on. She was not aggressive to other dogs at the shelter. I am considering taking her back to the sheltr for GENERAL OBEDIENCE (not returning!) they have a special rate for their dogs and I think it would be good for us.

Krissim Klaw

Posted : 6/9/2010 9:10:35 PM

Personally I can't blame her. If some strange human I didn't know suddenly came running right at me, I would be getting ready for a fight too. I would work on letting her know you are going to deal with strange dogs randomly approaching so she doesn't have to. This means you shouldn't be letting strange dogs get into her space. She needs greetings to be taken on a slower level with dogs that are well mannered so she can have possitive experiences. She may ultimately never be a dog willing to take rude behavior.

I would also suggest working with her one on one. My rule with walking dogs is they should never be walked together until you have control over each of them when walking them as individuals. Find her motivation and teach her a strong 'watch me' and 'leave it'. When she sees a strange dog in the distance and doesn't react, praise like crazy. Lots of treats and pets. If she has no problem walking past strange dogs already, than I would be focusing less on trying to make her accept rude behavior, and focus on asking other owners to be responsible and when they aren't, stepping in and body blocking approaching dogs from coming in uninvited.

grab01

Posted : 6/9/2010 9:11:19 PM

I'll let others with more experience chime in on the behavior aspect, but I think I'd stop playdates for at least a week or so. It's her first week in a new home, I'd let her adapt a bit as her personality comes out.

Beejou

Posted : 6/9/2010 9:27:35 PM

She has no reaction to other dogs, even on the same side of street (infront or behind) unless they actually come UP to her. I think number one is teaching her I'M going to deal with it, she doesn't have to. I'm ready for this though, she didn't promise me a rose garden ;) It's really not a dire problem because if everyone is doing their part, it won't even happen in the first place. Unfortunately there's TONS of off leash dogs here and dogs who are just turned outside.

I'm not going to take her to play with oher dogs for awhile, and I will let her greetings be very brief and only with well mannered dogs, AFTER she learns she's part of the fam, I'll deal with it, and she's safe here.

Another good idea, walk her and T-Bone seperate. They are great together at home but he spins her up on walks because HE pulls towards other dogs. I never addressed it because he's not aggressive, and I ask before I let him go to someone elses dog. I don't want her seeing that as okay behavior. As it is she's aswesome on leash. Hmm, maybe as she does basic obedience Mr. Bones will get a refresher in leash manners...

AgileGSD

Posted : 6/9/2010 9:43:20 PM

Not sure what kind of dog Trinket is but IMO you are rushing things way fast for a newly adopted adult dog. You just brought this dog home and she's not nearly adjusted to her new people, situation and home. Newly adopted dogs need to have structure and for their owners to take things slow with them.

I would suggest at the very least putting her on a strict NILIF program for at least the next 6-8 weeks. Even better would be to get Susan Garrett's Ruff Love book. RL is a pretty strict training protocol but I have seen it work wonders for newly adopt adult dogs with issues. Even if you can't/won't follow it 100% (and IMO few people can/will), it is well worth getting, reading and implementing what portions of it you can. It is an easy read and an inexpensive book with lots of good training and behavior info. I would absolutely not do any sort of dog-dog interactions with strange dogs for at least the next 6-8 weeks either. Trinket needs time to bond to you, learn to trust you and learn how life works in her new situation.

This is a case where I would use try to acclimate the dog to a Gentle Leader and use it whenever you take her out and about. It will give you control of her head and may have a subduing sort of effect on her (which for reactive dogs is actually good). When ever you spot other dogs on your walks, say "oh a dog!" in a happy tone and feed her lots of good treats while changing directions so you don't meet the dog face to face. There is no reason Trinket needs to want to play with strange dogs and some dogs never enjoy that. But this is a good first step to desensitizing her to their presence.

BEVOLASVEGAS

Posted : 6/9/2010 11:25:07 PM

AgileGSD

Not sure what kind of dog Trinket is but IMO you are rushing things way fast for a newly adopted adult dog. You just brought this dog home and she's not nearly adjusted to her new people, situation and home. Newly adopted dogs need to have structure and for their owners to take things slow with them.

I would suggest at the very least putting her on a strict NILIF program for at least the next 6-8 weeks. Even better would be to get Susan Garrett's Ruff Love book. RL is a pretty strict training protocol but I have seen it work wonders for newly adopt adult dogs with issues. Even if you can't/won't follow it 100% (and IMO few people can/will), it is well worth getting, reading and implementing what portions of it you can. It is an easy read and an inexpensive book with lots of good training and behavior info. I would absolutely not do any sort of dog-dog interactions with strange dogs for at least the next 6-8 weeks either. Trinket needs time to bond to you, learn to trust you and learn how life works in her new situation

I agree with all of this 110%.

Here is a pretty good article in NILF. This is very similar to the methods that I use to integrate a new, adult dog into our house. I have yet to meet a dog who didn't thrive under NILF.

Liesje

Posted : 6/10/2010 7:22:12 AM

It may just be the way she is. Nikon does NOT accept loose dogs rushing up on us. I don't even bother "dealing" with it because I think he has every right to be selective about which dogs and what behavior is acceptable. I've never had a dog fight or even a major snark among my three dogs, but I think Nikon has a very high pack drive. Just because a dog is a dog does not automatically mean it gets a free pass into the "pack". Nikon is fine with my dogs and a few others he knows well but has less than zero interest in being bum rushed by some random dog on the street. As you can tell I don't appreciate it either and maybe he's reading my attitude. It's not really something that concerns or bothers me, especially considering his breed, his overall temperament, and he's a young intact male.

I like NILIF and there's no harm in that. But if it doesn't fix the "issue", I wouldn't sweat it.

Spazzy

Posted : 6/10/2010 11:46:55 AM

Honestly, I think its way to soon to even call this an "issue". You JUST got her, she doesnt know you or T Bone that well yet, so she is probably a little uncomfortable in that environment right now. I would not walk her other than in your yard for a while, and just work on bonding with her for a week or two before you officially decide if she has an issue that needs to be worked on or not.

tiffy

Posted : 6/10/2010 7:03:31 PM

Spazzy
Honestly, I think its way to soon to even call this an "issue". You JUST got her, she doesnt know you or T Bone that well yet, so she is probably a little uncomfortable in that environment right now. I would not walk her other than in your yard for a while, and just work on bonding with her for a week or two before you officially decide if she has an issue that needs to be worked on or not.

Well said Chelsea. Trinket needs to get to know you and T. This includes her new environment. Back in January, my parents adopted an 8 yr old lab/rottie x. She spent her first 6 weeks at home, inside and out. With a trip to the vet, for a senior work-up and overall check-up. I believe this helped her adjustment period tremendously.

Edit: I don't know why it quoted twice. Sorry.