New here with new rescue

[Precision]

Hey everyone!

My wife and I just rescued a GSD from a shelter this weekend. She is a georgious dog with no signs of aggression. On our interview we noticed that she was leash trained and barely tugged at all.

Behavior:

The people at the shelter said that she was found roaming a rural area. Thus they had no background on her what so ever. As far as I can tell she LOVES to go on car rides, but getting her out of the car is a real battle. If I open the back of the SUV she goes to the front seat, if I go to the front she moves to the back. So my wife has to get into position to block her so I can get her out of the truck.

Our first night home she accepted her new bedding and crate exceptionally well. We tried to go on a walk before bed time but she was not about to leave the house (I think the dark makes her a little scared). I woke up very early the next morning to take her on a walk and she had a diarrhea accident in her crate. She was whimpering and winning so I knew she was upset already and with a nervous stomach it wasn't intentional. I went ahead and took her on a walk and she peed a few times so she seems to be house broken.

Over the last couple of days she has really seemed to prefer the garage to the house so we have been letting her stay out there. It is nice and cool and she has a couple of favorite spots picked out. The diarrhea problem has not subsided however. She has had an accident a couple of times a day, every day. She always pees out side, and I think her going in the garage is only because we were not home to walk here when the need to go arrived.

This brings me to one of the biggest problems that we are having with her. She ABSOLUTLY refuses to go on a walk. We have to pull or carry her a good 50 feet away from the drive way to get her to go on a walk. But after that first 50 feet she is great! Rarely pulls and responds most of the time to being called. I don't know if she feels safe in the garage and doesn't want to leave or what.

The other problem is, and I know this will take time....and a lot of it. She seems to be scared that we are gong to yell at her or hit her every time we come out of the house....especially if she had an accident. She will be sitting by the door or in her crate with her ears up and just scoping things out, but the moment she hears my wife or I come in the room her ears go all the way down and her head hits the floor. Other than constant love and affection does anyone have any ideas that would entice her to want to go on walks or even play a little?

Diet:

She really doesn't eat much...at all. She will not touch her dry food the shelter gave us, and she might eat one can of wet food a day. Sometimes she will smell the wet food and cough or sneeze. Just as of last night we started her on some white rice, ground beef, and chicken. She seems to love it and had a cup and a half last night and another cup and a half for breakfast. The first two times I have ever seen her lick her bowl clean or wag her tail.

Please share your thoughts. We are always open to suggestions!

[Veronica]

Congratulations! You're in a good spot - there is so much advice here. Have you tried offering her a treat when you approach her in the garage and when you start your walks?

Pictures when you have a minute, please!

[Hunther's Dad]

The other problem is, and I know this will take time....and a lot of it. She seems to be scared that we are gong to yell at her or hit her every time we come out of the house....especially if she had an accident.

Try this: Every time one of you comes out of the house, crouch down, turn slightly away from her, and throw her a treat. If she doesn't take it, that's okay, but if she does, tell her what a good dog she is (in a low, soothing voice).

Does she have a favorite food treat? Try hot dog, cheese, or whatever else doesn't make the diarrhea problem worse.

If you just got her this weekend, this will take some time. Aren't shelters noisy places? She will need to make the adjustment to relative quiet, and no other dogs around (if you don't have any others). Also. if she was found roaming in a rural area, she might have to get used to interacting with people again.

[Hunther's Dad]

Yes, pictures!

[Precision]

Originally Posted by Veronica

Have you tried offering her a treat when you approach her in the garage and when you start your walks?

Every time, if she is even interested in the treat she will take it but then try to return to the house. When she is in the "I want to go home" mode she will not even look at us. I have to hold the treat in front of her nose to get her attention.

Here is the one I have right now.

[Hunther's Dad]

She's got a lot of new things to get used to. Give her a month to settle in, then let us know how she does.

Pretty good looking dog you've got there!

[Precision]

Originally Posted by Hunther's Dad

Try this: Every time one of you comes out of the house, crouch down, turn slightly away from her, and throw her a treat. If she doesn't take it, that's okay, but if she does, tell her what a good dog she is (in a low, soothing voice).

Does she have a favorite food treat? Try hot dog, cheese, or whatever else doesn't make the diarrhea problem worse.

If you just got her this weekend, this will take some time. Aren't shelters noisy places? She will need to make the adjustment to relative quiet, and no other dogs around (if you don't have any others). Also. if she was found roaming in a rural area, she might have to get used to interacting with people again.

I will try the treat thing, thanks!

In regards to her interacting with people she is great with people of all sizes and ages. My friends 1 year old can pet her and she doesn't care. Heck the only way we could get her to go on a walk last night was to have a friend of mine come over with his whole family and two Dobermans. With constant affection and I believe mimicking the other two dogs she left the house ok.

[Hunther's Dad]

In regards to her interacting with people she is great with people of all sizes and ages. My friends 1 year old can pet her and she doesn't care. Heck the only way we could get her to go on a walk last night was to have a friend of mine come over with his whole family and two Dobermans. With constant affection and I believe mimicking the other two dogs she left the house ok.

There you go! Stick with what works!

[GSDAlphaMom]

You'll need to get some metronidazole from the vet to get the diarrhea cleared up. It could be a number of things, stress, new diet, etc. This should clear it up and give you an opportunity to get her slowing transitioned to a new quality food. I'm guessing the shelter probably used low end stuff. congrats and just give her time to adjust. We'd love to see pictures!

[gsdraven]

Originally Posted by GSDAlphaMom

You'll need to get some metronidazole from the vet to get the diarrhea cleared up. It could be a number of things, stress, new diet, etc. This should clear it up and give you an opportunity to get her slowing transitioned to a new quality food. I'm guessing the shelter probably used low end stuff. congrats and just give her time to adjust. We'd love to see pictures!

Make sure the vet checks for worms or other parasites which could also be causing the diarrhea. You can give her a couple of meals of boiled chicken and rice to calm down her tummy too.