tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133051165432144608.post6520367795737293312..comments2023-08-26T20:36:32.078-05:00Comments on We Don't Rent Puppies: I Have a DilemmaCalsidyrosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12556720235543035084noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133051165432144608.post-54656488274882821182010-08-04T10:31:08.155-05:002010-08-04T10:31:08.155-05:00I've worked with a dog that was similar ... co...I've worked with a dog that was similar ... conveniently "forgot" things.<br /><br />My husband would put her in the crate or even the kennel, walk out of the room to fill her water dish, come back with it full and it was like she didn't recognize him. She would go ballistic - throwing herself against the walls to attack him. Total opposite from the dog she was 10 minutes before. She barked for me but I could verbally calm her down by telling her it was me and "knock it off".<br /><br />(Did I mention yet that she was a 100lbs Rottweiler/Ridgeback mix?)<br /><br />She was difficult to housetrain. She was aggressive with dogs. She was fearful of people; especially men. She would snarl at people. <br /><br />Yet, she loved people, wanted to play and enjoyed the company of other animals (including dogs). <br /><br />We thought she would NEVER become adoptable and would live with us forever. <br /><br />I worked with her for a few months at the pound, then took her home. She was with us for 4 months (plus the 3 I worked with her at the pound). I spent every spare moment I had working with her.<br /><br />She seemed to be normal in every other way - except her crazy outbreaks. We couldn't figure out how she would forget things. <br /><br />It was because of her that I met a dog trainer who I worked with for months. Together, we figured out that her fears were so extreme that she would go into a "Survival Mode" where she would stop recognizing people and would "forget" things that she had already learned (like housetraining and basic obedience).<br /><br />We narrowed the issues down to extreme, irrational, rediculous, crazy fearfulness (even though she didn't show "classical" signs of fear).<br /><br />I spent hours teaching her things to build up her confidence. At the same time, I had to be careful not to build it up too quickly or she would become aggressive (so my trainer said - I believe he was right)<br /><br />The best advice I could give is ... <br /><br />- Don't let him get away with anything; the people are top dog in the house<br />- Don't let him on the furniture; act as though it is not his place since he hasn't earned it<br />- Don't baby him or he will learn to manipulate you<br />- Build up his confidence but make sure you do this slowly; couple confidence building with obedience training. If you build it too fast, he will get a big head<br />- If he's reacting to new dogs in the house by marking then he probably doesn't "get it" when it comes to the house's pecking order.<br />- I know some dogs who are simply "leash dumb" and just don't get it without being taught. Or, him getting tangled up in the leash is a manipulative way to get you to pay attention to him (I've seen this before too)<br /><br />This is, of course, all assuming he is not a distemper survivor with wires crossed ... <br /><br />Good luck, no matter what you decide to do!DogsDeserveFreedomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01619788290016287585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1133051165432144608.post-54571053206815463142010-08-03T17:32:36.080-05:002010-08-03T17:32:36.080-05:00I can't think of a single thng you haven't...I can't think of a single thng you haven't already done. But I hope you can find a positive solution. Let us know, for sure!Cyndi and Stumpyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15945219976457829612noreply@blogger.com