To those of you who advise the two week shutdown.... do you advise it 100% of the time? Depending on the situation? Depending on the dog?
With my rescued foster, we did a 2 day complete shutdown and a week and a half "mini" shutdown. For the first two days, she was in the kennel in the living room by herself. Rocky was not allowed to go up to her kennel. I let her out to potty on a 30 foot lead and otherwise ignored her.
After two days, her kennel was moved into my room, due to excessive crying every time she heard rocky move. She instantly became a cuddle bunny and became attached to my side. Her and Rocky slept together the second night, curled into balls.
The first week we only walked at 6am when no one else was out. Then we gradually started walking a little later. Yesterday we met my girlfriend out on a walk with her Yorkie, and Roxy walked up, sniffed the Yorkie, then sat next to my girlfriend and scooted over until she was touching her leg, then whined to be pet.
The first week my girlfriend had Roxy, she yelped/screamed/whined/cried/growled/barked and lunged any time she saw a person. On our walk this morning (It has been two weeks now since the transfer) Roxy walked by the college kids waiting for the bus (about 15) and completely ignored all of them. We also walked by the girl next door who has a boxer that Roxy growled at her first day with me, and Roxy calmly walked up, wagging her tail and sniffed at the boxer then we continued walking.
In this dog's case, I feel a two week complete shut down would have done more harm than good. She was not afraid of people, just slightly wary. After being pet by two or three different people, she now loves all people.
(The vet assumes she was living off the streets from 4 months- 10 months)
What is your experience with the shutdown? Is my situation just one of the few exceptions to the rule? Or could it be that some breeds adjust to new homes more easily?
With my rescued foster, we did a 2 day complete shutdown and a week and a half "mini" shutdown. For the first two days, she was in the kennel in the living room by herself. Rocky was not allowed to go up to her kennel. I let her out to potty on a 30 foot lead and otherwise ignored her.
After two days, her kennel was moved into my room, due to excessive crying every time she heard rocky move. She instantly became a cuddle bunny and became attached to my side. Her and Rocky slept together the second night, curled into balls.
The first week we only walked at 6am when no one else was out. Then we gradually started walking a little later. Yesterday we met my girlfriend out on a walk with her Yorkie, and Roxy walked up, sniffed the Yorkie, then sat next to my girlfriend and scooted over until she was touching her leg, then whined to be pet.
The first week my girlfriend had Roxy, she yelped/screamed/whined/cried/growled/barked and lunged any time she saw a person. On our walk this morning (It has been two weeks now since the transfer) Roxy walked by the college kids waiting for the bus (about 15) and completely ignored all of them. We also walked by the girl next door who has a boxer that Roxy growled at her first day with me, and Roxy calmly walked up, wagging her tail and sniffed at the boxer then we continued walking.
In this dog's case, I feel a two week complete shut down would have done more harm than good. She was not afraid of people, just slightly wary. After being pet by two or three different people, she now loves all people.
(The vet assumes she was living off the streets from 4 months- 10 months)
What is your experience with the shutdown? Is my situation just one of the few exceptions to the rule? Or could it be that some breeds adjust to new homes more easily?