Hyper GSD bitch, need advice please! (LONG post!)

[Castlemaid]

Hi Jude,

I hope things go well for you, I'm very happy for Belka that she has you in her life now. She actually sounds like the rescue I adopted from the animal shelter a few years ago. Not a GSD, a mixed breed, but similar in size, behaviour and temperament. I believe she was a hyper, tied dog also prior to me getting her. Working with her at first was VERY frustrating because she could just NOT settle. Everytime I tried to play or work with her, she was just jumping all over, trying to play by jumping at me and nipping, mouthing, grabbing my clothes trying and tugging, getting really amped up, shaking it and growling. It was scary at times, and the more I tried to make her stop, the more I tried to correct the behaviour, the more excited and hyper she got.

Two things changed everything: Since trying to correct her behaviour using force, authority, strenght of voice and body only made her feed off my energy and made her more crazy, I did a 180 degree turn-around in my approach. Everytime she got too excited and unreachable, I went completely still and withdrew my energy, made my body and my mind blank. Turned away, went limp, tuned her out. She would sense the change (not a stupid dog, by any means!), and it would confuse her, and she would tentatively stop. I would turn back to her and praise her calmly, pet her calmy - at first, as soon as I turned my attention back to her, she would resume her hyperness - so I turned my back and went limp again. Waited for her to calm down, turned back to her (very calm) and praised. She soon learned that HER calm behaviour got all the attention she wanted.

The second thing I did is enroll in Obedience classes with her. I learned to use positive, fun and rewarding techniques to train her. Up until then, I was trying to MAKE her mind me, which only caused conflict. Once I changed to positive food-rewards, she turned into a compeltely different dog! Even my trainer was astounded at the change in her. I think that you already have a good grasp on reward-based training, and if you aren't sure about using a clicker, any positive marker ("Good!!!") followed by a treat will work.

Belka does sound like she is full of potential, I doubt you coudl do wrong. But just wanted to give you a bit of insight into what you could expect with a wild dog that has been isolated and untrained all her life. Keep us updated, and good luck.

(by the way, my rescue girl did so well with the training, that we went on to pass a temperament test (BH), and get Obedience and Tracking titles - a long road from those first few frustrating months!)

[aubie]

Like, they're feeding their dogs just treat biscuits? Not kibble?

Is there anyway you could offer to adopt/take/buy her? I don't know about your living situation or if it's feasible, but she sounds like she'd be better if she just got out of where she is. If you can't, I still commend you and your dedication to this poor girl!!

[JudasFm]

Originally Posted By: aubieLike, they're feeding their dogs just treat biscuits? Not kibble?

Showing my ignorance here (or at least my nationality; UK ex-pat!) but I don't know what kibble is. Hang on a minute...

*much research later*

Okay, got it. No, they're feeding them kibble; I don't think those dogs ever get treats (I'm the only person likely to give them out and training exempt, I don't tidbit dogs).

Quote:Is there anyway you could offer to adopt/take/buy her? I don't know about your living situation or if it's feasible, but she sounds like she'd be better if she just got out of where she is.

I'll try and mention it tomorrow. The owner's wife is taking me to the supermarket and then for a walk (she speaks very little English and I speak even less Greek, but this morning we discovered that both of us speak French, so there's hope! I'll have to play it by ear though; I don't want to sound too judgmental and put their backs up (with me, it's a real possibility!)

The hard part is that I'm actually living on the grounds in the caretaker's cottage. If I did manage to get her (and it's clear enough that they don't want her, so if I approached it in the right way, they'd probably be willing to sell her to me) I'd probably have to find another place to live. Don't get me wrong; I'd do it, but it would complicate things.

If I could, I'd take Vulkan as well (the way he follows me around is so sweet, even if I have nearly tripped over the poor guy half a dozen times...still, at least he doesn't insist on walking between my legs like Keito!) Still, although his situation's also not ideal, I'd have far less of a conscience about leaving him than I would leaving Belka.

The sad thing is that the woman and her husband two of the nicest, most caring people you'd ever want to meet. They're not being cruel for the sake of it; they just don't understand. They know it's not an ideal situation for her, but they can't see just how wrong it is. I think as far as they're concerned, if they're feeding and watering her and not actively hurting her, then they're being as responsible as they can under the circumstances.

I think if I wanted to take her into the grounds, the owners wouldn't actually stop me, but she'd be so hyped up and Vulkan and Keito would be so distracting I don't think I'd get a lot done. I think I need some one-on-one time with her when we can just focus on each other with no distractions.

Originally Posted By: CastlemaidHi Jude,
Belka does sound like she is full of potential, I doubt you coudl do wrong. But just wanted to give you a bit of insight into what you could expect with a wild dog that has been isolated and untrained all her life. Keep us updated, and good luck.

(by the way, my rescue girl did so well with the training, that we went on to pass a temperament test (BH), and get Obedience and Tracking titles - a long road from those first few frustrating months!)

Wow, that's great! Congratulations I'd like to get into Agility at some point (alright, I know the border collies have the market cornered, but I'm not serious about it; it would just be a lot of fun for us!)

And yes, I will definitely keep everyone updated. Chances are I'm going to be stopping in regularly asking, "How do I do that?" "How do I do this?" "Why did Belka just eat my sofa?" (I'm not kidding; that one actually happened, which is another reason why she's not allowed in the grounds!)

If I can get my hands on a camera, I'll post pics. Not of the cage, but Vulkan's pretty striking, and once Belka's out (if I do get her) I'll be snapping as many pics as I can get

Jude, Keito, Vulkan and Belka

[Karin]

Thank you so much for helping this poor, sweet girl, Jude. I was so sad to hear about her living conditions, but I felt better as I read on and saw how much you wanted to help her. It would be wonderful if they'd let you adopt her.

This board is full of great info and support. I don't know what I would have done without it when we first got our "wild child," Heidi. With the great advice on this site, plus obedience classes/training, clicker training, and lots of NILF, Heidi is turning into a great dog.

And, yes, we'd love to see pictures of all of them!

[JudasFm]

I hope they do...although this does bring up the problem of where to take her. My sister has a farm on the Isle of Wight...maybe we could stay there for a while. At the very least, if I can't adopt her, I can try and make things better for her.

It's getting worse now though (or at least noisier) as Belka howls after me every time I leave her, and Vulkan howls after me every time I leave him.

This howling lasts until Vulkan jumps the fence to come after me. It's about four foot high...granted that's easily jumpable for a GSD, but it's one of those wrought iron jobs with spikes along the top. I keep thinking he's going to misjudge it one day and impale himself (Keito's alright; he's discovered that he's small enough to wriggle through the bars).

Honestly, these people have no idea how to dog-proof their garden...then again, they have no idea what a GSD's capable of either. The son told me (in tones that said I should be awed and impressed) that Belka could jump two feet in the air and onto the nearby roof (the place is on a steep hill). My response? "Uh...yeah, I can believe it." Now, if he'd said she could jump twenty feet in the air, I might have been more impressed

Believe it or not, it's got to the point where I'm actually starting to dread going up to Belka...it's heartbreaking to hear her howling after me when I leave.

If I can't take her, I want to get her at least into a much bigger run with plenty of toys (the picketing out idea sounded good until I spoke to my father and he pointed out that the first time she slipped her lead, she'd probably just be put back in the cage again).

So I've been here less than a week and I have two GSDs (and one five month old furball) who didn't know me from Adam, but have suddenly seized onto me as Pack Leader. I know GSDs are supposed to be one-person dogs (Vulkan thinks this should work the other way and that I should be a one-dog person as well...although he likes Keito, he's insanely jealous of any attention I give him) but still...I never expected them to bond so fast with a virtual stranger :S Certainly not to the point of howling after them. I heard GSDs suffer separation anxiety, but still...anyone else experienced this kind of thing?

[meisha98]

Some toys you could try are empty plastic bottles from milk, juice, water or tea if you have that there. Just make sure you take off the caps and rings around the neck of them. Give them each their "alone" time with you so they aren't as jealous when one sees the other with you. I crate one dog and let the other have free time with me and then switch them so they understand they are both my dogs and I am equal owner of both dogs. It isn't easy and I wish you luck and success with them!