Hi
I am new here and am hoping for some advice re my 11 month old rescue puppy.
He is a beautiful dog, very affectionate and came to me as a rescue chappy in September aged 6/7 months.
He has obviously been abused by a man and to my knowledge was sold to a family with four children under 5 and never taken out on a lead or saw a car, pavement etc. until he came to me.
He is very frightened and though I have tried various things, I feel depressed at the moment as he seems to be back-sliding.
Yesterday, he trailed after a woman in the park, growling at her all the time. He is not good on re-call, father an Afghan which I am told is part of the reason, mother agreyhound/border collie mix. He would not come away from her. Last week at the beach he began to circle a man who was walking past us and intimidated him a great deal. Again he would not come when called.
He has today nipped m y hand in the hand and put his teeth around a visitor's elbow an hour ago. He went for his tennage son's girlfriend's wrist when they both took him out for a walk last week.
Help?!
I have given him Pulsatilla 30 which did not good, then went up to 200 which seemed to help a bit and then 1m which seemed to do nothing. In fact it seems to have made him worse.
Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Mo

Begin by giving him Nux Vomica 30C one daily dose for 4-6 weeks if he is the chilly, irritable, type. If he is hot and/or prefers cold, let me know because that calls for another remedy.

This dog has not been properly trained and is acting out not only from abuse but neglect and is slightly unsocial it seems. I am going to share with you the greatest tip I learned about training dogs. Speak their language. Dogs come from wolves, all dogs do, and anyone who owns a dog is the pack leader, ALWAYS. Establish your rank with him and let him know you call the shots. He may be an alpha male with other dogs but you are the leader, period. Use growls, barks, and submission techniques such as making him lay down as you hold him down on his side with your hand. You do this when they are out of line and testing your boundaries. When the won't listen, ignore, avoid you, etc. This dog wants to see where you fit in. Are you leader or follower he is thinking.

In the meantime to help him through his abuse here is a behavioral technique. Your dog is full of fear and anxiety from his past. And men and strangers trigger his aggression. Because he is scared and does not know how to handle that energy. For starters exercise him to the point of fatigue every morning so that all pent up energy is released. Play catch, wrestle, walk/run him. And for the record, whenever he is around anyone other than you, he must be leashed so you can control him. If he goes to bite, squeeze his jaws together not hard, but firm and say NO! Re-direct him to sit.

I assume you are female??? so find a man that you trust to work with you and this dog weekly. Whether it be a beau or family member, someone who loves dogs, is patient and has gentle energy. Maybe begin with a young teenager if the dog is okay with kids.

Whenever this person meets this dog, have the dog on a leash by your side sitting and under your control. Have the person enter the room and sit with their back to this dog. This says, they are not a threat because they are not facing nor making eye contact with this dog. Your dog may bark and freak out. Re-direct him to sit and maintain control. You are the lead dog, keep that in mind.

Command your dog to sit and stay with voice and hand signals. Have treats on hand and reward when he listens. Once he calms down walk your dog past the man again and again and again. Work with treats and commands. Re-direct him to a safe area and make him sit if he barks and flips out. Once he is calm, have him walk past again. Make sure the man stays sitting at all time. Pretty soon your dog will be practicing sit and stay, getting treats and realizing hey every time this guy is here i get to show off and I get treats.

Pretty soon the dog will associate men as not posing a threat. After time, with you always holding the leash, take this dog for a walk with this man by your side or in front of you. Keep the dog behind the both of you when walking to show you are the lead dog. After the dog masters that it's okay to walk near this man, let this man hold the leash and walk the dog with you by his side.

Dog psychology is baby steps and re-direction. He may never ever trust all men or anyone he does not know, but this will help him over come a lot of his fear.

Tune into the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic channel for more priceless info.

NAMASTE

P.S. To teach them to sit with one hand hold the leash and with the other gently push down their rear-end to as you say sit.

Hi Namaste
I was just about to hit the sack after a very long day when I came across your post.
thank you so much. I have just had a very quick scan, have printed it out and will read properly in the morning, it is late her in England and I am waaay past my bedtime because of an unexpected phone call from France.
So good to feel supported.

xx Ossie

ps sorry to confuse, also called Ossie, Mo Osborne

Hi Namaste
Soory for the delay in getting back to you. I am not in good health and have had a few bad days.

Begin by giving him Nux Vomica 30C one daily dose for 4-6 weeks if he is the chilly, irritable, type.

I cannot say that I have noticed chilliness, he has just been in the sea this afternoon and it is very cold here in England.

If he is hot and/or prefers cold, let me know because that calls for another remedy.

I don't know how to guage this in Blondie whether he is hot or cold. Any ideas would be welcome.

This dog has not been properly trained and is acting out not only from abuse but neglect and is slightly unsocial it seems. I am going to share with you the greatest tip I learned about training dogs. Speak their language. Dogs come from wolves, all dogs do, and anyone who owns a dog is the pack leader, ALWAYS. Establish your rank with him and let him know you call the shots. He may be an alpha male with other dogs but you are the leader, period. Use growls, barks, and submission techniques such as making him lay down as you hold him down on his side with your hand.

I agree with you that he needs to accept leadership from me. He is very persistent in trying to boss me. I tried to make him lie down last night when I took him out for a walk. It could not be as long as he would like and when I tried to get him back on the lead he would have none of it and started to snap at my hands. I held him down and he just threw his head back and was able to reach my hands - he is vverrrrrry long and bendy - and he took skin off my knuckes in the process.

You do this when they are out of line and testing your boundaries. When the won't listen, ignore, avoid you, etc.

This canbe difficult as when he wont listen it usually he wont come on recall so getting hold of him to hold him down is an issue here.

This dog wants to see where you fit in. Are you leader or follower he is thinking.

Yes, I agree, you are on the right track here I am sure of it.

In the meantime to help him through his abuse here is a behavioral technique. Your dog is full of fear and anxiety from his past. And men and strangers trigger his aggression. Because he is scared and does not know how to handle that energy. For starters exercise him to the point of fatigue every morning so that all pent up energy is released.

This is not possible really, not most days as I cannot walk that far as I am recovering from many years of being housebound with low energy, no energy and part of the reason I got a dog is because my energy is increasing, bit by bit, and I thought walking a dog would help me and I would help this dog. A win/win situation.

Play catch, wrestle, walk/run him.

He will not bring aball back perhaps because he is a hound? and not a retriver type dog?

I cannot run.

And for the record, whenever he is around anyone other than you, he must be leashed so you can control him.

He seems to desperately need to run free. We did it today when I took him to the beach and he was impeccably behaved. He really needs the stretch.
Yes, of course, it makes sense to keep him on a lead but in another way it works against the situation because he gets more and more frustrated.

If he goes to bite, squeeze his jaws together not hard, but firm and say NO! Re-direct him to sit.

I risk losing my fingers, lol It is virtually impossible to get hold of him when he gets like this but I will try. I got confused earlier and did this when he was barking and said NO in a loud voice. He has been barking every time the poor man who lives upstairs comes in and out, that is a lot of barking and there is nos ign of it dissipating. So today I held his mouth closed and said NO. Oops. I had remembered what you said all wrong.

I assume you are female??? so find a man that you trust to work with you and this dog weekly. Whether it be a beau or family member, someone who loves dogs, is patient and has gentle energy. Maybe begin with a young teenager if the dog is okay with kids.

I have become completely isolated because I moved to this area and have been too ill to build up a social life. There is my son who is 19 but Blondie is easy with him now anyway.

Whenever this person meets this dog, have the dog on a leash by your side sitting and under your control. Have the person enter the room and sit with their back to this dog. This says, they are not a threat because they are not facing nor making eye contact with this dog. Your dog may bark and freak out. Re-direct him to sit and maintain control. You are the lead dog, keep that in mind.

This sounds like a brilliant idea.

Command your dog to sit and stay with voice and hand signals. Have treats on hand and reward when he listens. Once he calms down walk your dog past the man again and again and again. Work with treats and commands. Re-direct him to a safe area and make him sit if he barks and flips out. Once he is calm, have him walk past again. Make sure the man stays sitting at all time. Pretty soon your dog will be practicing sit and stay, getting treats and realizing hey every time this guy is here i get to show off and I get treats.

Pretty soon the dog will associate men as not posing a threat. After time, with you always holding the leash, take this dog for a walk with this man by your side or in front of you. Keep the dog behind the both of you when walking to show you are the lead dog. After the dog masters that it's okay to walk near this man, let this man hold the leash and walk the dog with you by his side.

Dog psychology is baby steps and re-direction. He may never ever trust all men or anyone he does not know, but this will help him over come a lot of his fear.

Tune into the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic channel for more priceless info.

I will have to find out more about this, is it a US station?

Namaste to Namaste!

Mo

Mo,

I completely understand your situation. Yes, that show is on a US station. The Dog Whisperer also does this for exercise. He ties their leash to a tread mill and sets it on a low speed which forces the dog to walk and walk until tired. You have to keep them supervised while they do this.

Greyhounds are obious runners. Border Collies and or mixes are high energy herding dogs. My suggestions are this since I have a border collie mix.

He needs a job to help him feel like he has a purpose.

Give him a job to do starting with one and working from there. My dog's job is to go outside and retrieve her brother from the dog pen every morning. My command is, "Do you wanna go get the pup?" And she goes nuts because she is the one who keeps him in line and walks with pride as we go to fetch her brother. So watch your dog and see what he does that you could turn into a daily job for him. As long as it is not him running the show. He needs to know he has a place.

He needs to be exercised somehow every day so he can burn off his pent up energy/aggression and fear. He needs to get out into the world at least two times weekly. Like you did with the beach. But that was too much freedom for him and he pushed your boundaries. Can you find a private beach or lake/pond to take him to? Can you or your son take him for a weekly car ride? Make a routine out of it and have a destination. Even if you go out for tea or dessert or an errand. Use a command for it and make sure he gets a treat as well. We take our dogs out every week for a car ride and burgers. You would think they died and went to heaven.

Try and find a friend or neighbor that has another dog he can romp around with. He needs to be with another dog that is very playful or a strong leader. One who can speak his language and whom he can hang out with. Like a buddy.

Try and find a rancher who has a fenced in field where you can turn your dog loose to herd goats or cows or sheep. Some ranchers allow this to specifically help owners train dogs and to help dogs burn off steam. See if your son can take the dog once a week. Again this will make your dog feel as if he has a job.

Invest in a zip line or a line that you tie up high that runs from tree to tree and has a lead that comes off of it that you hook your dog to. Walk your dog out to it on a leash, connect him to it and let him run back and forth and burn off steam.

If you have a yard can your fence it in?

As for his aggression when he turns aggressive back off and ignore him. Fold your arms and look up at the ceiling. He will stop what he is doing. If he is on the leash and flipping out, stand back and handle him like a snake. Let him have his tantrum and tire out, then try and put him into submission.

Hot dogs are ones that prefer air conditions, cold floors, cement floors, tile floors, and are worse in the summer and in warm rooms. They overheat easily.

Cold dogs, love the sun and crave it to warm up. They like to be covered with blankets and avoid being outdoors when it is wet, rainy, damp, etc.

NAMASTE

As for the barking goes, keep some treats in your pocket. When the neighbor comes or goes, and he barks, say to your dog, "SHHHH!" As you put your pointer finger to your mouth. If he ignores you say it again and again. At some point he will stop barking regardless if he wants to or not. The minute he stops give him a treat and say, 'GOOD PUP!" Time and time again do this and he will get it.

My border collie mix never shuts-up and barks at everything in sight. But she knows what shhh means and knows that cookies are on the way when she does.

NAMASTE

Hi NaMASTE
I CAN SEE HOW A TREADMILL oops..... would be helpful if I had one. Must be quite a funny sight though, lol



He needs a job to help him feel like he has a purpose.
Give him a job to do starting with one and working from there. My dog's job is to go outside and retrieve her brother from the dog pen every morning. My command is, "Do you wanna go get the pup?" And she goes nuts because she is the one who keeps him in line and walks with pride as we go to fetch her brother. So watch your dog and see what he does that you could turn into a daily job for him. As long as it is not him running the show. He needs to know he has a place.

Yes, precisely, I'll see if I can notice anything.

He needs to be exercised somehow every day so he can burn off his pent up energy/aggression and fear.

The minimum exercise he has is a walk around the block every day, I try to make it two. The park became a no-go zone because of his problems with recall but that is improving. He is just so lovely and BIG but still with his pullyish enthusiasms that other dog walkers in the park tend to grab their darlings to their bosoms when they see him coming. I suppose they think he is too rough but he is just playing and some of the other dogs are older and not into playing so it is understandable. It does not help Blondie that he is seen as anti-social because it puts me off taking him there which is counter-productive because that is where he can get a 'stretch' on a daily basis.

He needs to get out into the world at least two times weekly. Like you did with the beach. But that was too much freedom for him and he pushed your boundaries. Can you find a private beach or lake/pond to take him to?

Nah, I live in the city and don't have a car so getting to the beach is a bit of a business in the first place and more out--of-the-way places are not accessible to me.

Can you or your son take him for a weekly car ride? Make a routine out of it and have a destination. Even if you go out for tea or dessert or an errand. Use a command for it and make sure he gets a treat as well. We take our dogs out every week for a car ride and burgers. You would think they died and went to heaven.

No car I am afraid.

Try and find a friend or neighbor that has another dog he can romp around with. He needs to be with another dog that is very playful or a strong leader. One who can speak his language and whom he can hang out with. Like a buddy.

Yes exactly. I have been keeping my eyes peeled for someone like this. It would be the ideal situation as I could do with a friend also!

Try and find a rancher who has a fenced in field where you can turn your dog loose to herd goats or cows or sheep.

He would probably just chase them - half Afghan? and try to bring them down?

Some ranchers allow this to specifically help owners train dogs and to help dogs burn off steam.

This is dairy country, once outside the city and I am sorry to say that farmers here have the right to shoot stray dogs on their land. Don;t know any farmers I could approach, don;t mean to sound negative.

Invest in a zip line or a line that you tie up high that runs from tree to tree and has a lead that comes off of it that you hook your dog to. Walk your dog out to it on a leash, connect him to it and let him run back and forth and burn off steam.

This sounds interesting, a zip line huh? Can you say more about what this is exactly and with what would i attach the dog to it. The lead would stick i imaginE?

If you have a yard can your fence it in?

i HAVE A TINY GARDEN oops again, out front, maybe 16 ft square where he goes for his early morning wees etc. He wont stay out there unless I stay with him because of his fear of being locked out. He had a terrible fear when he came here of the door being closed on him (which tells me he was locked up in a room). This is dissipating slightly but still there.

As for his aggression when he turns aggressive back off and ignore him. Fold your arms and look up at the ceiling. He will stop what he is doing.

Yes I will do this.

If he is on the leash and flipping out, stand back and handle him like a snake. Let him have his tantrum and tire out, then try and put him into submission.

I will try this also, thank you.

Hot dogs are ones that prefer air conditions, cold floors, cement floors, tile floors, and are worse in the summer and in warm rooms. They overheat easily.

I have not had Blondie in the summertime, got him in late September but maybe he is a hot type.

Cold dogs, love the sun and crave it to warm up. They like to be covered with blankets and avoid being outdoors when it is wet, rainy, damp, etc.

He doesn't seem to notice the rain too much.

Thanks again.

Mo

Hi again people and Namaste
Just back from taking Blondie to the local park.
I was feeling confident as he had been so very well behaved at the beach yesterday. Came on recall every time, did not react at all to anybody body.
So, thinking I should perhaps not be so sensitive to the needs of other dog owners and their older dogs, thinks "Blondie has legitimate needs as a puppy to be playful" I headed off.
All went well for a short while - the park was empty and I felt much relieved.
Then a mother and small child appeared out of nowhere just as Blondie appeared out of nowhere (from the bushes where he was chasing a bird) and both startled each other and Blondie growled and the child cried. I apologised quickly to the mother who was OK about it and then directed Blondie away in a different direction.
I threw sticks for him. He runs after them and picks them up but does not bring them back. So I found another and another.
And then a woman appeared walking through the park, alone. She looked very much like a man and Blondie ran towards her, growling and being threatening.
He would NOT come on recall and the woman said NO very loudly and tried to take control. But he ignored her also. He then started circling her and she shouted to me to get him under control but he would not 'hear' me and I could not catch him. The woman then said she would phone the police. OMG!
I dropped my purse in my panic as I tried to regain control. I got some treats out of my pocket and ran in the opposite direction calling Blondie and, gratefully, he followed me and left the poor woman alone. I then got him to sit, gave him the treat and got him back on the lead.
Phew! I am now thoroughly shaken by the whole experience.
I know you said not to let him off the lead Namaste and I can see that you are right. What I don't understand is why he was fine on the beach and not in the park.
I hagve just been hunting on EBay to try to find a VERY long retractable lead but the largest I can find is 8 metres (28 ft). I had one of these already and it is not really long enough.
I even tried to make a very long lead with parachute cord and tied it around my waist but that was not brilliant either.
oh boy!

Mo

Mo,

If you buy a retractable lead those are long enough. You should only use that when you take him to the beach and use a regular leash for everything else. Otherwise keep the retractable lead clicked so he is only two feet or less away from you. Remember, you are the one that needs to walk him. When you let the lead go, in a safe area that signals to your dog that it is time for him to play. Beaches are more calming with the water. Maybe the park has too many hiding places, bushes, people and your dog easy startles. When he is off the leash, he becomes wild. That is when he wants to play wolfe and threaten others to see if they are alpha or not. He sees people as other dogs.

Zip lines have a swivel that allows the lead to slide back and forth. They do not tangle or get stuck. Petco carries them online I believe.

NAMASTE