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Does my dog have issues or dangerous issues?
A few hours ago, I left a long ended question on Yahoo Answers. I recieved alot of criticism instead of ideas or help (with the exception of a few). I told a month long story, here is a more concise, factual version of the issue I am having with a dog, dixie, i adopted last month. 1. Dixie is a 3 year old female who, from the beginning on 9/24 was housebroken, timid, fearful and loves to cuddle on the couch when one is sitting by her. loves affection. afraid to come to whoever asks and doesnt come....ever. you have to kneel down to get her to come to you slowly, and sometimes with treats only. 2. Within the first 5 days she bit 5 times: 2 times were my 3 year old in the face (no broken skin), once on a 2 1/2 year old on the lip (broke skin), nipped one child on the hand when it reached out for her to smell, and nipped my daughter on the hand when she reached to smell. ALL 5 times were unprovoked. I was there, I wouldn't let the children near her after my daughter got bit. I was bit as well the first week she was here when I went to pick her up. ALL BITING occured the first 5 days...But...i would leash her and keep her close when children were around to try and minimize the dogs fear in children. 3. week1, 2 and 3: she pooped repeatedly on my daughters bed only. This dog showed signs of being house broken by going in the morning first thing and holding it in all night. about 3-6 times a day she was let out and went almost always. She remained semi-comfortable with familiarity (including me, my boyfriend, daughter, and the home....she also loved car rides). I encouraged her to be affectionate and come to me...to this day she doesn't come when called she looks very scared, tuck tails and runs. but when I sit on the couch she comes rushing up to lay by me. If i use a blanket throw, she loves to get under and cuddle. If i walk she follows, but if we make eye contact she books it and panics. Its weird. 4: I praise her when she goes outside or when she comes to me. The first 6 times she's pooped on my daughters bed, I got her to calm down first, because before I could get her attention its as if she thought I was going to kill her she would react fearful and try to run, ears back and tuck tailed, she'd peddal backward, and panic. So i'd try to calm her first, then let her smell while saying "NO POOP" then gently pick her up and put her outside. 5: I called the pound for advice and gave the above info. The manager advised me to bring her back. I expected them to tell me to do something differently. Everyone else I asked (and those who saw her behavior first hand) advised me to do the same and with hesitation and a couple days of long thought, I did. 6: For a week I went to the pound daily with my daughter and boyfriend trying to find a replacement, with no luck. On the 6th day of our search, we saw Dixie in a kennel, my daughter cried saying "I want dixie back"... I did too. 7: On 10/16 we asked the pound if we could have her back and they let us take her home the next day, with the night to think about it. Dixie seemed extra greatful, appreciatiave of being "home"...but as of 5 days ago, it started again, she started pooping ONLY on my daughters bed. She stopped nipping children, and the more she sees children in the home, she's less timid but reserved, and more comfortable each time (remember she is leashed every time by my side for socialization purposes) she is never left alone with my daughter. she is isolated to her crate when i shower or have to leave my daughter alone. my home is overall quiet/quaint with the exception for the roudy min pin pup. we're all loving of animals here. 8: I have done alot of sanatizing in my daughters room, washing all her bedding repeatedly. it seems never ending and is frusterating. 9: Some think Dixie was abused by children due to her fearful ness, some think she is just not socialized enough. She does show signs of abuse, but seems to realize that we dont abuse dogs here. The past 5 days she has pooped 6... yes SIX times on my daughters bed. With each time growing more frusterating. I crate her ON the bed and punish the same way i said above...I got advice from the vet i use to flick her on the nose to show that the seriousness of her pooping there is escalating (no flicking if poop occurs anywhere else, and it hasnt). I have flicked her twice (yesterday and today). I agree it is not a solid method and hate doing it but after 12 times of poop on my daughters bed...WTF else should I do? 10: I have two other dogs (a purebred chihuahua age 1.5 and a purebred min pinscher age 8 mo. ) I've rescued 2 dogs before and they are both doing well and are still in the family. Both of my other dogs are housebroken. All of them are crate trained sometimes they like to share crates. The other dogs learned and are eager to learn more from me....but Dixie doesn't want to learn, she doesn't participate in training time like learning how to sit, while the others do. realize she is a 'special' case and although the bitng stopped. she always cuddles with the humans and dogs alike on the couch. she cuddles with my daughter too. she licks constantly when we're all sitting, if she follows me around, as soon as we make eye contact she takes off running. but as soon as I sit and call her she comes to me. The other dogs always come when called. Dixie also stays real close by while on walks. She stays close even off the leash. There are parts of her I absolutely admire in a dog and parts that I cannot stand but I am trying so hard. I forgot to mention, my daughters door doesn't latch but is always closed. Dixie is not allowed in it and she knows that! We intentionally made her door not latch so she doesn't lock herself in it. So please dont suggest to tell me to buy a doorknob. Also, I do use child gates but she hops right over them like nothing. Today I installed a latch and hook at the adult height level on her door, but my daughter doesn't have
29 Replies
October 30, 2009 5:14 AM
Hi! Well it sounds like you have a really interesting case on your hands :=) One thing that came to my mind is that you crated the dog on your daughters bed.. unfortunately you are using the crate as punishment and the idea of a crate is to lure a safe place for a dog :=( In your local pet store you can buy repellents.. and if I remember correct K-Nine mentioned that they can be used on beds too? I hope he will reply to you soon as well and explain better .=) A dog with fear issues is very dangerous.. so I think you really need help from a professional trainer.. BTW I'm not trying to criticise you at all, just thinking how I would act in this situation :=) I think you are doing well in preventing the dog from going AT ALL in your daughters bedroom.. Rescue dogs unfortunately often have problems from the past :=( But now we need to just concentrate on now and the future :=) I get the feeling and correct me if I'm wrong that you do obedience to all the dog's at the same time? If this is so then maybe you should consider doing obedience with this dog on it's own.. Just you and the dog! If you read about treat or toy (my topic) it might help you in thinking what might make your dog tick :=D Try to keep emotions out when you are with this dog.. if the dog notices that you feel sorry for her she will just get worse not better :=) Though the dog seems scared it doesn't always mean that the dog is actually scared if you get what I mean.. of course in some cases the dog really is scared but if the dog does something wrong I would tell the dog off properly.. just like children the dog needs limits too :=D Ignore her reaction and then after a few minutes calm her down.. this way the dog will understand that she has done wrong but also you will lure trust by making up with her shortly after :=D You need to be firm, strong but of course kind too!Glad that the dog hasn't bit anyone anymore and that you are very careful :=) I still feel strongly about getting advice from a trainer that knows this area well.. and maybe join a club and have obedience lessons..
October 30, 2009 11:51 AM
Hi NickyJ
I think Dixie is the pack leader in your home, not you!
I think honestly, that it was a mistake by you to take her back, unless you are going to get a professional involved ASAP.
She is not biting again YET, but I think it will come to that very soon I’m sorry to say. Dixie sees herself as the pack leader and in the doggy world she now is the only one who can demand obedience by biting if necessary to get her point across!
Going toilet on your daughter’s bed is showing dominance over her and you MUST NOT LET HER HAVE ACCESS to your daughter’s bedroom.
Also as Tracey already mentioned NEVER EVER use a crate as a tool for punishment!
1. Start treating Dixie like a dog, she does NOT need pity or sympathy, to her all those emotions only mean that YOU ARE WEAK.
She MUST NOT be allowed to get on sofa’s, beds easy chairs or on ANY FURNITURE unless you specifically tell her to jump up on furniture!
Show her NO AFFECTION, affection MUST BE EARNED! Don’t feel sorry or pity her, but start basic training NOW. SIT, DOWN, STAY ETC. and make sure she does what you ask of her.
2. Never let her go through doors in front of you!!! You go FIRST and then Dixie follows.
Make sure you and your family eat always before Dixie and the other dogs get their food. Also make them sit and wait until you give the word that they can eat. As you have 2 more dogs, give the one that sits and waits calmly the food first and make Dixie at the moment last.
This will help to lower her ranking in the eyes of the other dogs too.
3 Exercise is VERY IMPORTANT too, not just running around in the yard, they need to go for a good walk each day (at least 45mins). You said she enjoys car rides, take them for walks in different places, which will give them new smells to sniff and explore. It also helps to exercise the brain.
4. You MUST BECOME the pack leader again, your partner and your daughter must be above Dixie in the pack.
Please watch Cesar’s videos on how to be a pack leader or read his books! You should actually contact the “Dog Psychology Centre“ and find info of a good trainer in your area who practices Cesar’s methods.
I hope someone will have the phone number for them and I’m sure you will get some really solid advice from some of our “resident” Pro’s.
I really do wish you good luck with this, but Dixie’s future is in your hands, so make it a success story.
We love happy endings here :=)
October 30, 2009 1:16 PM
Rescues can be difficult but time matters on them. I have had three that showed signs of abuse, two bad abuse, one not so bad. That is my best guess based on how the dogs reacted. One bit me twice, it did not like men at all, loved the wife. My wife was going to take it back and I wouldn't let her. One, currently own, showed no signs of abuse, but did not like being in the house. It became obvious that the dog thought it was a NO to be inside.
On the name and coming to it. Dog had a name, it probably wonders why you don't know it. New name will take some time but dog will be fine once it learns. For now, to get your dog to come to you, try the best human bark you can do. I have found that dogs come to a human bark, and it is an easy way of calling both of my dogs, and better, for me, than their come command.
For my abused dogs, I just became fun to them. That doesn't meen to give up house rules or being a pack leader. Fun it toys and playing with them. Fun it a walk. Fun is a car ride, for most dogs. Fun can be playing chase, if you can run some. Yes fun promotes excitement, but dogs need that also.
My abused dogs like other dogs, they were not abused by them. My other dogs always helped me a great deal with dealing with a dog that was afraid of people. They can also be of great help on teaching the new dog the new house rules. The bitting I mentioned spent a bunch of time trying to teach the one who didn't think it sould be in a house to use a dog door. I should have done that early, walks were done at first. By the time that training started, the dog was afraid of leaving the inside to outside because it was afraid it could not get back in, At least that was my guess.
For your kids, I would keep the dog away from them for now. Your kids are a bit young to be of help. Let the new dog observe the interaction your other dogs have with the children.
Overall, I think you have done well. Just remember a rescue is not always the easiest dog to retrain, but I have always found easier than a puppy. Do walks, and try to socialize when you can. Part of socialization if just being around people and dog finding out that all humans are not going to hurt the dog. Mine all came house broken, and I didn't backstep on that. For whatever the dog learned in a past life, keep as much as you know the dog learned. Mine also came with sit.
You have only had the dog a month, with work, it sould be fine in a few months more. If you have done pups, 4 to 5 months is a verty easy way out with a dog.
BTW, with my current rescues, all know every neighbor we have. All know all the dogs that live close to us. My first rescue, a pup about 4 months old, never got rid of all fears, but it became a great dog. That dog took about a week before it would come to me, and it only did because of my other two dogs.
October 30, 2009 2:25 PM
who said I gave her sympathy? I am really confused why you think I did? and why you think she runs this house? its kind of the opposite...what did i say that made you think that? she's really a wuss. lol. I believe she is not eager to learn because maybe she was taught in harsh ways and vicious methodry? thats my feel on it.
I merely see she is a fearful and is not as happy as my other dogs but I do not show sympathy when workng with her.
Trust me, I watch Ceasar, I know not to let dogs run me, I can't...I have a pack at home and got a pretty good handle on things here. I've only had Dixie a month and she is either really scared, cuddly (she stopped the biting), submissive. She learned real quick about the biting. Its a major red flag. I cannot put my kid in danger. The other dogs know that Eliana comes FIRST. I am also teaching Eliana how to lead, but she is still more playful at this point...shes 3. lol
Meccash - very good point on the 'new names' i never thought of that. Dixie comes, only if the pack comes. If its just me and her she only comes when I kneel. I think she was chased alot by per prev owner? Or maybe she lived on the street alot and had little to no socialization? who knows. but I wonder if she will get worse or better?
October 30, 2009 3:29 PM
I could never guess weather my rescues had socialization or not, but if abused, maybe not proper socialization. The point is to give the dog a new life and try to work the old out of the dog, that takes time.
For the others you got a bit ticked at, give them a bit of a break, they are good with dogs. You did a very long note and did not break it up in PP's. You sould have done a break between your numbers. I will speed read also and will miss important points.
You make a very good point about a dog getting chased. A dog trainer told me long ago not to chase a dog, and asked if anyone ever really caught one, groop class on heet? You run from the dog, and let it catch you. You play the chase game as how you want it to come out. Run after the dog, they are way faster, you run and let them catch you, ya got the dog. It's easy, and effective.
Just think some. For the white dog in my pic I have on my posts, it bit me when I approaced my wife at home. I had met it with our other dog at the time and all was good. Dog and I began to kinda get along together, but I came up to wife and dog after a couple of beers, and dog, after smelling my breath, broke skin the next bite.
So my guess, a wife got a dog, had a drunken husband who hurt her, her dog tried to protect. After about a year, I did feel nobs on two of the dogs ribs. Kicking, and broken ribs? My thought.
For that dog, it was a process. First like me, about a week or so with just being fun, no hitting or any abuse. Then he met Gary, a neigbor who, I learned later, that once had a dog that looked exactly like my dog. Then he probably met Craid, hates dogs, so wants nothing to do with them, so that was OK also. Had a good friend David over, very good with dogs, and by the time he left, dog liked men.
For that one dog, it took maybe a coupld of months to get the dog to fully like men. It took the dog at least two weeks to like me, and I worked at it. Dog no longer has a problem with humans drinking, all he knows now are nice people who chose to tip a toddy or so. Both of my dogs have been to several parties, and they weight people who drink and eat and what they can get from the ground to the chance of having paws stepped on. They decided that distance is best, but be there for any dropped food.
So do what you are doing, time aways helps. One thing you have not given, or I missed it, is how your new addition gets along with your dogs? I am, and have always been, like Cesar, dogs training dogs is a great thing. Prior dogs sure helped me with all new additions to the house. I don't have a large pack, just replace a great dog that it's time came with another.
BTW, goals are good also. I believe you oldest child is 2 1/2 years old. I would make a goal of having the child fully being in control of the dog by 4. Control is some training and walking the dog unsupervised but close walks. I had a 4 year old, a bit older by may 1/2 year walk one of mine, while I watched and up and down the block. Both had fun. Dog was trained, kid took training, For that kid, a cat house, not what some might think, and never had been around a dog. For kids, it takes as much kid training as dog training.
Yes teaching a child to approach a dog with back of hand and smelling is fine but did you teach the child when to back away? Dogs teeth, back away. Tail of dog down, back away. Hair up on the back, back away as quick as possible. Kids can learn also, and that will help them to respect a dog.
I think you have the knowledge, just not the time needed, YET. New dog is a training tool for your kids, they will meet many new dogs over their lives, and what they learn now on a new dog will help them as a full growen human. At 2 1/2 and maybe at 1 1/2. and the kids can say sit, then let them do it with the dog, and supervise until the dog takes commands from them.
Sorry to go on with kids, but dogs, no matter the size can hurt big people. Kids have to learn as early as possible on the dangers along with the fun a dog brining into the house. Comanding and being a pack leader is a great thing to teach a small person.
October 30, 2009 4:27 PM
I only have one child...she's 3 her friend is 2 and 1/2 years old.
The new additions are the min pin pup (8mo) and the chihuahua (1.5)....Dixie came first. Its a funny story how they all came to me...all by chance and all because the owners wanted them to go to a home with kids and dogs.
Dixie loves both dogs. The dogs love her. The min pin tries to run the show. Dixie is submissive to both. The most alert and quick to learn is the pup...she does very well, trusts me, and is respectful. When they are outside, the min pin just wants to play with both the dogs and wrestles for dominance....but the other dogs both know shes a pup and ignore her. Between the chi and Dixie, Dixie is submissive to that dog too. I'd say the Chi runs the pack. its funny really, shes the most experienced, best trained, quick to test me, but I show her not to.
I hope that helps paint a better picture of the scenario
the min pin and chi were well socialized and were raised around young kids.
October 30, 2009 2:27 PM
I REALLY HAVE TO ADD TO MY EARLIER REPLY!!
I only now put two and two together... OMG we are talking about the same dog all the time.. I thought you had taken on a different dog at some stage...so sorry for me being stupid :=(
This changes some of my thoughts.. I agree with Blizz's post..and that the problem is very serious!!! Like we both have mentioned NO MORE PITY..NO MORE LUXURIES..and until the dog really changes.. NO MORE CUDDLES!! Not that dog's understand cuddling like us humans... I think the dog is very unpredictable and you REALLY NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP! You have taken a risk taking the dog back..I have a toddler and I wouldn't take a dog back if it would have bit my daughter..
Once again sorry that I misunderstood some of your post!
Good luck to you!
October 30, 2009 2:34 PM
Blizz...again your post confuses me. no offence. I think Tracy hit this one on the nose. Meccash told a helpfull hopefull story too.
October 30, 2009 2:35 PM
I don't work, I'm full time mom and pack leader here so this is my job.
We all walk about 4 time a day 2 long ones and 2 short ones. my pup tries to go bonkers outside. Pixie and Dixie are always taggin behind prancing and perfect walkers.
October 30, 2009 2:45 PM
she sleeps in her crate at night
October 30, 2009 2:47 PM
keep in mind my post started 9/24 and timelines to today...so she has improved overall because i DONT pamper or reward bad behavior. I dont treat her with sympathy. and id like to know WHY that was said?
October 30, 2009 2:49 PM
im so confused...how have i pittied her? how have I given her sympathy..in fact its the opposite, what did I say to make you guys think that?
October 30, 2009 3:26 PM
hello? Tracey, Meccash, Blizz??
October 30, 2009 3:43 PM
Niki hi,
Your original topic title "Does my dog have issues or Dangerous issues!"
It let me to believe you were having possibly a real concern regarding your dog.
The one page long paragraph was not easy reading (that happens sometimes when you post topic and replies on this forum, annoying, but cant be helped, it's a fault in this NGC site)
I accept that you didn't mention sympathy or pity, but often goes hand in hand with affection, kindred emotions.
Still you don't do that and have pack of 2,4, now soon 5 trained balanced dogs in family.
So overall Dixie is improving and biting no longer a problem, only little concern is the no 2's on the bed, yes? That is soon solved too, just keep door closed.
We have had several topics in the last few days about no:2's in the house and there have been good answers given by the experts here.
Maybe you didnt read any other posts before writing yours? :=)
Anyway, good luck, maybe K-Nine, Dawg Pro, or Doggone will answer you too.
Them being pro's they wont make mistakes like I do :=)(but I'm getting old) LOL
Blizz
The other safe and trustworthy advisers are K-Nine, Dawg Pro, Doggone, Sandie and Tracey
October 30, 2009 3:50 PM
its either craigslist ad for a new home without kids or someone here helps me do something better :(
October 30, 2009 4:06 PM
Tracey and Blizzard live in Finland and it's late night there now. I had written a long reply offline and I agreed with both of them. I just think that you don't realize where your are feeding into it. If you were/are the Pack Leader as you described then you would not be here in the first place. Meaning… that’s it’s is clear that we can see what you can not.
I am now reluctant to post or continue at any length because this has rapidly escalated to being combative and adversarial. We help people here, not do combat.
October 30, 2009 4:30 PM
if anything im willing to recieve help with Dixie....please don't think I am not willing to hear what you have to say.
I've cleared some things up since my post was hard to read and understand.
what can I do differently with Dixie? I'm so close to giving her to a home without kids, and someone who wont be around kids.
October 30, 2009 4:11 PM
Oh hey blizz! thanks for your reply. my pack is currently 3. no 4 or 5 lol. maybe 2 soon.
Although Dixie is BETTER...she is not ideally a family dog. Its frusterating to isolate her everytime my child is around and other kids are too. and i am around alot of kids...I want to rephrase the biting...I simply DONT allow it to happen...she could easily bite a child and sometimes tries, but she is leashed and crated when children are around, except mine, she's okay with mine because she knows I'll check her.
I think the pooping is fixed because I installed a latch and hook latch at the child height level on her door. so my daughter can go in, but the dogs can't. The chihuahua sleeps with her at night and never poops or pees in there. Sometimes the chihuahua sleeps in the crate but loves my daughter.
Yes I read other posts before I posted. They were very helpful and you guys have been too.
Sorry my post was hard to read. When I wrote it I had it bulletted by numbers. I don't know why it did that, NATGEO error i guess.
October 30, 2009 4:15 PM
I may have emotions and show affection because I am human but I still know how to seperate it when I deal with my dogs.
I hope that clears itup.
Dixie recieves affection when she is good, when she is bad she is checked, and shown the right way (minus emotion, even tho i may feel it, i do not show it.)
my other dogs were raised around children and are well socialized and taught.
October 30, 2009 4:31 PM
i mean I AM willing to hear what you have to say. I came here for ideas for what to do with Dixie and her behavior.
I've raised two shelter dogs before and are still in the family....I've never come across a dog quite like dixie who, shows signs of anti social/abused qualities. I merely seek help her her
October 30, 2009 4:51 PM
I'll tell you what. I'll post what I already wrote based on the original information. I believe from experience that some of the core items I described are getting in under the radar in the form of normal "reactive" responses.
In fairness you have to consider that I've been watching this all play out and saw you let your emotions get in your way here. My intuitive, not critical, reaction is that this happens with Dixie too. It's part of who you are.
It's LONG! Get a cup of coffee. Also... Exactly what does getting "checked" mean?
If you want an immediate what is the BEST solution for Dixie then there is no debate. She needs 4-6 weeks with a normal large pack of dogs. She doesn't know how to be a well balanced dog let alone a dog. There just aren't many places to do that though.
October 30, 2009 4:55 PM
I want to know exactly what does getting "checked" means first?
October 31, 2009 7:20 AM
Yes like K-Nine mentioned we live in Finland so yes there is a time difference in between us :=) Not trying to be rude by not answering :=) Human emotions are so easily mixed in with our dogs NO MATTER how we try not to :=( I do it..I cuddle my dogs..talk nicely to them ect...
It took an outsider to tell me about silent problems that I was having with my BC..I just couldn't see them because my emotions were in the way! Nowadays.. my pack seems in my mind well balanced and happy :=D At least I hope so... :=) I too am curious to know what "checked" means?
October 31, 2009 6:21 PM
I have changed my mind and will NOT respond any more to this topic.
I went to Yahoo and read EVERY SINGLE ENTRY on both related topics and it was a nuclear disaster!!! This problem was already solved there and with some very good advice too.
October 31, 2009 6:33 PM
hey Nikki... I'm just an untrained dog owner.
This just reminds me of a pug (we're pug people) that we had once. We have no children at home, But we had an 8 year old pug, a 4 year old lab, and a 6-month old pug. All males. The new addition was 1.5 years old from a family with one toddler and one dog. The only problem they had was him chewing on the kids toys.
It seemed from day one that the others just hounded him, subtley. Things were okay at snuggle time of day and quiet time, but as soon it came to food or potty or playing or even his crate, the other's would nudge him away from them, immediately and repeatedly mark every spot he went on until he wouldn't go out with them at all, even crawl in his crate at different times. None of it was noisy or even noticable to anyone but us.
I tried, but not knowing anything about the pack mentality at the time, I found him a home where he was the only dog and he ended up perfect for that family. it took me a month or two to make the decision. I just always had an easy time with dogs, and my husband is instinctively the pack leader and understands them and all that. I had to learn the hard way. I had to admit my husband was occasionally right :o)
Anywho, best of luck to you. It seems your dog would be lucky to have you as an owner but maybe occasionally a dog just doesn't fit? I've always wondered that.
November 1, 2009 6:01 PM
Thank you for your story about the pug. Those kind of stories are helpful because it shows insite on similar situations.
K-Nine: when I said I check her when she does wrong, it just means I get her attention and let her know that behavior was unacceptable, usually by stern voice, and she usually gets it right away and corrects her bahvior. (AT FIRST: when I checked her before she trusted me, she was very timid and scared, this was right after I got her from the pound)
Also, K-Nine, if you read the Yahoo answers, the first one was a venting session with the wrong question line....it turned out in disaster and i ended up in tears. THE SECOND POST IN Yahoo Answers ended up amazing! I got some of the best advice ever on there! Those people were empathetic and helpful, it was just the exact same topic i started here...with the same words in my first post here.
I admit I've let my emotions go strong with this one, and I'm realizing that and trying to 'keep them in check' because, I realize it doesn't help the dog any! However, it has been a hard road keeping my own emotions in check. I guess because when you have your own flesh and blood child, an innocent and unprovoking child, get bit by a strange dog in the face, its hard to not have emotions. My daughers feelings were hurt and she was hurt physically. But she is a trooper and showed no fear, she got over it. And my daughter continuted to love Dixie...maybe that is why Dixie loves her today. In my mind, I didn't trust Dixie, that jerk bit my daughter and other children...She was a fear biter the first 5 days and then never bit again...it was kind of hard not to keep emotions out of it. I've tried really hard with her, and since the new dogs came along, and more and more days with me and my child...she's warming up and respectable. It seems the other dogs taught her how to be a good dog! I am so happy for that....
In the mean time Im working on keeping my emotions out of it. and i admit greatly, and conceide that they have been a problem. Since I've realized that...and have been working on it, things have improved greatly with dixie and her minding me. Sorry if you decided not to post, I am open to ideas and helpful suggestions, K-nine...I just had a busy weekend and wasn't able to reply to your post right away. I feel i am sincere in trying to seek help. Although I might be a bit deffensive, I've slept on it and realize im deffending my emotions...Again, trying to check that!
But please be sensitive and don't persecute me for how I have felt. I am genuinly trying and really care about dixie. A part of me thinks she would be better in a home without children and with older, slower people.
November 1, 2009 1:01 PM
Did what K-9 did & agree. Complete watse of my time too. Gotta tell ya toots, you're harsh. Makes me look like an angel! Keep it on Yahoo!
November 2, 2009 8:21 PM
Cool, I contacted a dog trainer today. We talked for about 30 minutes. I led her to my yahoo posts and NGC posts. And we talked for about 30 minutes on the phone. She was very understanding and has worked with dogs that are afraid of kids before.
This seems real promising and I am very excited. I will let those of you who care, the outcome after our first couple classes.
Thanks, to those of you who understand, and gave constructive criticism.
November 3, 2009 3:11 PM
I will reply at the end. You mentioned your other dogs, and three is a bit to handle. Not a bad thing, I perfer two after having three.
For the alpha dog in the house, it is not normally the one the human might think it is. I know the alpha dog in our house, I don't think anyone would ever guess what one it is. Now on past dogs, first one was easy, bigger one was. Second dogs, the smaller, smarter, one was. For current, it was again the bigger one, but once alpha was won, she doesn't care anymore.
As I mentioned to you, with rescues, time always works, or mostly will, if you are pack leader. I think your choice in a trainer is probably good. I just hope they work on the kids as much as the dog. For me you don't just let a kid and dog socialize without training both. Kid has to know that a dog is a dog, not another child. Training on that is how the child does all dogs, not the one or more it lives with. Dog, most will not do it, but no bite and no jump is really important. Both can learn.
BTW, I have used my dogs to train children. Biggest thing I correct is the kid running up and hugging my dogs. I will tell the child that that is OK for my dogs but not all dogs are my dogs. They have to appoach slowly, put a hand out to let the dog smell,
Overall, no one needs a child to run up and grab a dog cause doggies are wonderful. All dogs are dangerious, all dogs need respect. Teaching a small person respect for a dog is part of teaching the child pack leadership into the future.
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