Aggression/nervousness

Kimmikat6487 · 12-20-2011, 12:56 AM

I recently 'rescued' a 1yo GSD female, named Jada. Let me give you a quick preview of her history.

I got her from a friend of mine (actually her mom but whatever) Jada is currently not spayed (and may be in the family way, but thats another issue entirely) and her mother (dog) was picking on her since she is not spayed either. She had been kept outside all her life, with her mom, dad and brother. When they were fed, it was out of one bowl, and everyone else ate before Jada did. She got what was left. The family she was with was made up of all girls, and besides the dogs that picked on her and the family, she has had no socialization what so ever.

I brought her home about a week and a half ago. She has taken to me and my sisters, but she is nervous around my boyfriend, our friend (guy), and my roomie(also a guy). I took her up to the petstore I work at so she could meet the guys. She is nervous around all males. She'll take treats from them, and allow them to pet her for a split second, then she dart off. She likes to "ninja sniff" them: she will sneak up behind them, sniff them, and if they turn to talk to her, she'll dart off again. That's issue #1. #2 is she is scared of my room mates cat, and my 2 dwarf rabbits. But she growled at my mom's senior dog. He's 15 yo and just wanted to meet her. I need to find out if there's anyway to reverse the aversion to guys and curb her aggression towards other dogs. Thanks in advance for your help!

codmaster · 12-20-2011, 02:00 AM

Get to a good trainer and have them take a look at and evaluate her. I would guess that a knowledable trainer/behjaviorist can certainly help with her!

debbiebrown · 12-20-2011, 06:16 AM

yes, i would find a good private trainer to eval and help you with her. nervous fearful dogs are among the hardest to work with. i wouldn't try to do it yourself there are so many things that come into play here, it really is a situation that needs professional help. with that help you will be tons more sucessful in rehabing her.........

BlackPuppy · 12-20-2011, 07:43 AM

Whatever you do, don't say, "It's okay." to her. That will just let her know she is doing the right thing. Ignore her when she's scared and praise her when she accepts treats from people. Tell people who meet her NOT look at her, and ignore her. They can give her a treat without looking at her.

**JeanKBBMMMAAN** · 12-20-2011, 07:46 AM

Can you spay terminate in case she is pregnant - this poor puppy does not need another thing to worry about.

**gsdraven** · 12-20-2011, 08:22 AM

Has she been seen by a vet? Who is she pregnant by... her father or brother? Please consider terminating. She is not old enough or mature enough to have a litter.

Poor girl is scared. She went from a home where she was constantly picked on to a home where she is with all these animals she doesn't understand and put in lots of situations where she doesn't want to do. You are moving way too fast for her.

Slow things down.... way down. Stop having your guy friends try to talk and pet her. They should ignore her and let her "ninja sniff" them without reacting to her. If she has sniffed them for 10 secs or more, they can hold a hand out and offer the best treats you have (cheese, meat etc) without looking at or talking to her and certainly no trying to touch her. This has to be slow, slow, slow until she seems like she wants their attention. No more meet and greets at the busy pet store with so many overwhelming sights, sounds and smells. Lots of quiet walks slowly introducing her to everything. Every encounter she does should be 100% positive and good.

Definitely get a good behaviorist that has rehabilitated dogs before to guide you in this.

Kimmikat6487 · 12-20-2011, 02:29 PM

Thank you for your replies. I don't think she's pregnant. She's not eating more than usual, and her body isn't showing signs that I would expect to see at 1 month along. I will be getting her spayed first week in January. I'm taking her to the vet on Tuesday, and she'll get an actual health check and get her up to date on her vaccines.

My roommates cat stays upstairs. He had come downstairs when I came home from work, and hissed at Jada when I brought her back inside from our daily walk/run. He was laying on my bed, and Jada wanted to meet him. Milton did not feel the same. My bunnies stay in my walkin closet in their cages, and Jada heard them thump their hind legs (they do that when they are displeased with me) when I was feeding them. I took her up to the store 10 minutes to closing, where the only two people were Ryan and AJ and that was it. I let her roam off the leash in there and she was fine. She ninja sniffed them and came back to me. Then she would ninja sniff them again.

I was taking Jada to my mom's house on Christmas Eve so I could stay the nght. But she didn't want to have anything to do with Opie, my mom's GSD/golden mix. I can't remember where I was reading it, but I read that females can be more aggressive if they are pregnant. If this is the case, having her spayed/terminated may help a bit. But I won't know for sure about her being pregnant until next week though.

12-20-2011, 12:56 AM	#1 (permalink)
Kimmikat6487 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 38	Aggression/nervousness I recently 'rescued' a 1yo GSD female, named Jada. Let me give you a quick preview of her history. I got her from a friend of mine (actually her mom but whatever) Jada is currently not spayed (and may be in the family way, but thats another issue entirely) and her mother (dog) was picking on her since she is not spayed either. She had been kept outside all her life, with her mom, dad and brother. When they were fed, it was out of one bowl, and everyone else ate before Jada did. She got what was left. The family she was with was made up of all girls, and besides the dogs that picked on her and the family, she has had no socialization what so ever. I brought her home about a week and a half ago. She has taken to me and my sisters, but she is nervous around my boyfriend, our friend (guy), and my roomie(also a guy). I took her up to the petstore I work at so she could meet the guys. She is nervous around all males. She'll take treats from them, and allow them to pet her for a split second, then she dart off. She likes to "ninja sniff" them: she will sneak up behind them, sniff them, and if they turn to talk to her, she'll dart off again. That's issue #1. #2 is she is scared of my room mates cat, and my 2 dwarf rabbits. But she growled at my mom's senior dog. He's 15 yo and just wanted to meet her. I need to find out if there's anyway to reverse the aversion to guys and curb her aggression towards other dogs. Thanks in advance for your help!

12-20-2011, 06:16 AM	#3 (permalink)
debbiebrown Crowned Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: maine Posts: 7,598	yes, i would find a good private trainer to eval and help you with her. nervous fearful dogs are among the hardest to work with. i wouldn't try to do it yourself there are so many things that come into play here, it really is a situation that needs professional help. with that help you will be tons more sucessful in rehabing her......... __________________ url

12-20-2011, 07:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
JeanKBBMMMAAN The Rescues Rule Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,697	Can you spay terminate in case she is pregnant - this poor puppy does not need another thing to worry about. __________________ Help IMOM help Pets www.imom.org You can help Anna help IMOM help people help pets help people win...

12-20-2011, 08:22 AM	#6 (permalink)
gsdraven Moderator Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Mont Co, PA Posts: 4,625	Has she been seen by a vet? Who is she pregnant by... her father or brother? Please consider terminating. She is not old enough or mature enough to have a litter. Poor girl is scared. She went from a home where she was constantly picked on to a home where she is with all these animals she doesn't understand and put in lots of situations where she doesn't want to do. You are moving way too fast for her. Slow things down.... way down. Stop having your guy friends try to talk and pet her. They should ignore her and let her "ninja sniff" them without reacting to her. If she has sniffed them for 10 secs or more, they can hold a hand out and offer the best treats you have (cheese, meat etc) without looking at or talking to her and certainly no trying to touch her. This has to be slow, slow, slow until she seems like she wants their attention. No more meet and greets at the busy pet store with so many overwhelming sights, sounds and smells. Lots of quiet walks slowly introducing her to everything. Every encounter she does should be 100% positive and good. Definitely get a good behaviorist that has rehabilitated dogs before to guide you in this. __________________ Jamie Raven (GSD) - December 8, 2007 Kaiser (GSD) - November 2009 Lead The Way Life's Abundance

12-20-2011, 02:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
codmaster Crowned Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: California, US Posts: 4,760	Get to a good trainer and have them take a look at and evaluate her. I would guess that a knowledable trainer/behjaviorist can certainly help with her!

12-20-2011, 07:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
BlackPuppy Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 4,420	Whatever you do, don't say, "It's okay." to her. That will just let her know she is doing the right thing. Ignore her when she's scared and praise her when she accepts treats from people. Tell people who meet her NOT look at her, and ignore her. They can give her a treat without looking at her.

12-20-2011, 02:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
Kimmikat6487 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 38	Thank you for your replies. I don't think she's pregnant. She's not eating more than usual, and her body isn't showing signs that I would expect to see at 1 month along. I will be getting her spayed first week in January. I'm taking her to the vet on Tuesday, and she'll get an actual health check and get her up to date on her vaccines. My roommates cat stays upstairs. He had come downstairs when I came home from work, and hissed at Jada when I brought her back inside from our daily walk/run. He was laying on my bed, and Jada wanted to meet him. Milton did not feel the same. My bunnies stay in my walkin closet in their cages, and Jada heard them thump their hind legs (they do that when they are displeased with me) when I was feeding them. I took her up to the store 10 minutes to closing, where the only two people were Ryan and AJ and that was it. I let her roam off the leash in there and she was fine. She ninja sniffed them and came back to me. Then she would ninja sniff them again. I was taking Jada to my mom's house on Christmas Eve so I could stay the nght. But she didn't want to have anything to do with Opie, my mom's GSD/golden mix. I can't remember where I was reading it, but I read that females can be more aggressive if they are pregnant. If this is the case, having her spayed/terminated may help a bit. But I won't know for sure about her being pregnant until next week though.

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