So....its been a year since ive been here. I joined to try to get help for my fiance's german Shepherd and i was delt with very hostile users. Hopefully, ppl will be a little more patient and kinder this go around. This time last year, my then boyfriend had a German Shepherd named Shana. She had really bad anxiety, poorly trained, and listens when she feels like. Now we have bought a house and i now have the dog for about a month. Ive been trying to train and exercise her. Exercise has definatly helped, but it's going to be a long road. Shana is currently almost 5 years old.
A bit of history on her...
His parents teased her when leaving, so she became very fearful and destructive when left alone. I corrected this behavior by putting shoes on and picking up keys, then not leaving. I don't make a big deal out of leaving as his father did. He used to throw treats and while she ran to get the treats would run out the door. You could hear the dog screaming and barking inside the house. I tell her to stay and be a good girl and leave. She no longer cares when we leave the house and nothing has been destroyed.
She is very sensitive to changes in routine. For a long time she would only use the bathroom on a cement patio because she didn't like the feel of grass on her feet(especially if its wet grass all bets are off). I have fixed this for the most part, even though sometimes she reverts back to it briefly.
She would pull you down the street when on walks. I have a harness that when she pulls puts pressure on her chest. Between this and exercise this has gotten better.
She used to bolt out of doors. I have her sitting and staying as i walk out the door until i tell her ok. She still has issues staying sometimes and i have to repeat myself constantly for her to stay. She breaks stay on her own which im working on.
I just ordered an E-collar for her. Even though she knows commands, she sometimes just ignores me. Ive looks up alot of videos on how to use low voltage to where it just feels itchy or weird. They said this along with a gentle tug on the leash should be enough to help with focus and to build on a language for her she has lacked for so long. Her previous owner also used an e-collar to shock or warn(vibrate) her to stop misbehaving...so i'll have to retrain her there too..
I'm also working on her focus issues. She gets so hyper-focused she ignores everything i say or do to try to go after my cats. The more he growls and swats her the more hyper she reacts.
Any opinions...helpful and positive ones would be appreciated. Maybe some encouragement.I need all the help i can get.
A bit of history on her...
His parents teased her when leaving, so she became very fearful and destructive when left alone. I corrected this behavior by putting shoes on and picking up keys, then not leaving. I don't make a big deal out of leaving as his father did. He used to throw treats and while she ran to get the treats would run out the door. You could hear the dog screaming and barking inside the house. I tell her to stay and be a good girl and leave. She no longer cares when we leave the house and nothing has been destroyed.
She is very sensitive to changes in routine. For a long time she would only use the bathroom on a cement patio because she didn't like the feel of grass on her feet(especially if its wet grass all bets are off). I have fixed this for the most part, even though sometimes she reverts back to it briefly.
She would pull you down the street when on walks. I have a harness that when she pulls puts pressure on her chest. Between this and exercise this has gotten better.
She used to bolt out of doors. I have her sitting and staying as i walk out the door until i tell her ok. She still has issues staying sometimes and i have to repeat myself constantly for her to stay. She breaks stay on her own which im working on.
I just ordered an E-collar for her. Even though she knows commands, she sometimes just ignores me. Ive looks up alot of videos on how to use low voltage to where it just feels itchy or weird. They said this along with a gentle tug on the leash should be enough to help with focus and to build on a language for her she has lacked for so long. Her previous owner also used an e-collar to shock or warn(vibrate) her to stop misbehaving...so i'll have to retrain her there too..
I'm also working on her focus issues. She gets so hyper-focused she ignores everything i say or do to try to go after my cats. The more he growls and swats her the more hyper she reacts.
Any opinions...helpful and positive ones would be appreciated. Maybe some encouragement.I need all the help i can get.