Dog Community

Another fear agression question

Posted : 9/12/2006 9:32:29 AM

I am looking into possibly getting my own puppy/dog in the near future. My parents have a Jack Russell who is wonderful with other dogs,she has four doggy companions that she loves to play with. The catch though, it is dogs she was raised with. She has extreme fear agression towards strange dogs. Since I am often visiting my parents for weekend stays, my dog would be coming with me. I know one I would get the two of them introduced and Gracie finds out that this dog is no threat to her she would be perfectly happy having a new playmate.

Her being a female terrier is probably making this harder, but she has never shown agression towards any of the dogs she is comforatable and two of those are also female terriers.

She is alway showing signs of being submissive to other dogs (example. she always is licking the face of the other dog when meeting and after play).

I know the introduction would have to be slow, with lots of praise and on her terms, but are there any other tips on how to get Gracie use to the idea of a new dog in her life.

We socialized her with other dogs as a puppy, and she was never attacked or abused by another dog, the only thing I can think of is when she was younger we were walking her and beagle came up behind her wanting to play and scared her into attack mode. There was no fighting but she was growling and warning him off. Oh and she is spayed, thought I would put that in because it can make a difference on behavior.

Sherri

Sherri Johnson

Posted : 9/14/2006 9:24:15 AM

Alright, I talked to my proffessor (I am a vet tech student but only in my third week) and she has a few pointer to help me with Gracie, but if you guys have any suggestions, I would really really like to hear them!

Sherri

luvmyswissy

Posted : 9/14/2006 9:37:39 AM

Here is a web site that you should find helpful. I would also suggest that if you can you bring your mothers dog to an obdience class to begin a process of helping him interact with dogs he dosen't know.

[linkhttp://www.phsspca.org/training/puppy_intro_to_adult_dog.htm]http://www.phsspca.org/training/puppy_intro_to_adult_dog.htm[/link]

Sherri Johnson

Posted : 9/18/2006 5:34:59 PM

Obidence school was something I though about for her, but would you suggest muzzling her so she wont hurt any of the other dogs while she is getting use to being around them. I know it is not good for her, us or any dog that crosses her path to be this fearful, and I try (and I tell my parents to) not to unintentionally incourage (which is easy to do). I know terriers are not known for getting along with other dogs and I would never trust her alone with another dog, but overall she gets along well with the dogs she was raised with, and she is very submissive to all except another jack who my aunt got about 4 weeks after we got Gracie, Angel shows signs of being submissive to Gracie.

She listens really well to us, and she does respond to the be nice command 99% of the time if we spot the dog before she does and starts barking at it, then getting her to stop is all in the matter of getting her attention back on us and telling her to be nice. But that being said, she is near us and does not having direct contact with dog, so I don't know what her reaction would be if she did, but my guess she would fear bite any dog that comes near her that she does not know.

As of right now I wont be looking into getting a puppy as soon as I had hoped, next may (possibly or later) when I graduate from college and move back into my hometown. I talked to the aparment complex, while I knew about the $300 deposite, I did not realize it was non-refundable, and to tell you the truth I think that money would be better spent on the dog then it would be on the apartment complex. As bummed as I am about it, I do get to see Opie my assigned dog in the program and play and take care of him 5 days a week at school, he is just a sweety and this will give me time to save up even more money for the dogs care and well being.

Sherri