Post by andrea on Jul 14, 2008 23:25:49 GMT -5
When on leash, my dog Spirit immediately snaps when she sees another dog she doesn't know. Barking, growling and snarling like she wants to kill. ( It's real embarrassing!) :-[ However, when she is in a crate a dog can come and sniff the door, she could care less. If the dog is on the other side of a fence, she may look, and bark a little, but no killer snarling.
Currently, she lives with my other dogs, a Golden, a St. Bernard, a Border Collie. They haver separate runs, and are together only supervised. She is best buddies with Tonka, my St. Bernard. (SEE photos I posted of Spirit.) They sleep with, groom and and play with each other. She even has begun climbing fences to get in with my other dogs because she doesn't want to be alone. (Yes, tonight we built her a new kennel with a roof, but don't worry, she still sleeps in our bedroom at night!)
Background: There was an animal hoarding situation that local rescues needed to move over 200 dogs out to safety before county came in to handle the situation. There were dogs staked out with chains, no shelter in the winter. There were dead dogs in wheelbarrows and cages. None of the animals were spayed/neutered, females were giving birth with other aggressive dogs in kennels with them. She came with numerous infections and mange.
Since I am in the animal circle here, I received an e-mail and decided to help. She reminded me of my last pit/mix that I had for 11 years before succumbing to Lymphoma. I have done excellent heel work with her, and started taking her out for socialization work. It is like a switch just flips in her brain in those situations, and I can't stop it. I will tell her no, re-direct her, etc. She shows absolutely no aggression towards humans. In fact, she is quite submissive, rolls belly up and wants people to pet her tummy. I have had her for 6 months.
So my choice is to continue to try socializing on leash to an acceptable limit, (which I am at my wits end trying to find a positive way to do it AND actually flip the switch off to get her attention) or just keep her out of the situations and keep her at home. I just want to walk her with out the scene! Although, what if a loose dog came up to her? I am deeply torn. I am fostering her, I will not turn her over to anyone without experience dealing with this type of behavior. I fear for her future if she leaves my home. Yet, at the same time, mixing her with my other dogs is very time consuming and I have to always be very careful. The rest of my dogs are all very mellow, and I have never had to separate any of them.
Initially, I contacted the rescue and told them of the aggression they said they would check their kennel space and I could bring her back. At the time , I contacted them twice. They never replied. At this point, I wouldn't trust that even they would take good care of her. She may sit in a kennel and never be taken out, or worse. She is way too loving and social with people to have that happen. It would kill her! In the 6 months I have had her, they have never checked up on her once. I've never heard from them!
Our family is slowly falling in love with her, she really is a good girl!!! She just doesn't like dogs she doesn't know. I am sorry this is so long, I wanted to give information so many questions would be answered.
I seek your advice and experience. Thank you for your time and response.
Spirit and Andrea
Currently, she lives with my other dogs, a Golden, a St. Bernard, a Border Collie. They haver separate runs, and are together only supervised. She is best buddies with Tonka, my St. Bernard. (SEE photos I posted of Spirit.) They sleep with, groom and and play with each other. She even has begun climbing fences to get in with my other dogs because she doesn't want to be alone. (Yes, tonight we built her a new kennel with a roof, but don't worry, she still sleeps in our bedroom at night!)
Background: There was an animal hoarding situation that local rescues needed to move over 200 dogs out to safety before county came in to handle the situation. There were dogs staked out with chains, no shelter in the winter. There were dead dogs in wheelbarrows and cages. None of the animals were spayed/neutered, females were giving birth with other aggressive dogs in kennels with them. She came with numerous infections and mange.
Since I am in the animal circle here, I received an e-mail and decided to help. She reminded me of my last pit/mix that I had for 11 years before succumbing to Lymphoma. I have done excellent heel work with her, and started taking her out for socialization work. It is like a switch just flips in her brain in those situations, and I can't stop it. I will tell her no, re-direct her, etc. She shows absolutely no aggression towards humans. In fact, she is quite submissive, rolls belly up and wants people to pet her tummy. I have had her for 6 months.
So my choice is to continue to try socializing on leash to an acceptable limit, (which I am at my wits end trying to find a positive way to do it AND actually flip the switch off to get her attention) or just keep her out of the situations and keep her at home. I just want to walk her with out the scene! Although, what if a loose dog came up to her? I am deeply torn. I am fostering her, I will not turn her over to anyone without experience dealing with this type of behavior. I fear for her future if she leaves my home. Yet, at the same time, mixing her with my other dogs is very time consuming and I have to always be very careful. The rest of my dogs are all very mellow, and I have never had to separate any of them.
Initially, I contacted the rescue and told them of the aggression they said they would check their kennel space and I could bring her back. At the time , I contacted them twice. They never replied. At this point, I wouldn't trust that even they would take good care of her. She may sit in a kennel and never be taken out, or worse. She is way too loving and social with people to have that happen. It would kill her! In the 6 months I have had her, they have never checked up on her once. I've never heard from them!
Our family is slowly falling in love with her, she really is a good girl!!! She just doesn't like dogs she doesn't know. I am sorry this is so long, I wanted to give information so many questions would be answered.
I seek your advice and experience. Thank you for your time and response.
Spirit and Andrea