Dog problems! Displaced aggression. Prozac? Long post
arlosmom
10 years ago
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Nancy in Mich
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agomudhoney
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
New dog attacks my cats-long post
Comments (36)I know that. It was just a county dog pound, actually. They don't do any testing. I've been asking around and getting advice. I actually volunteer at our no kill facility and will get advice. Lots of resources available, they just will cost me $$. Her former owner lost her home, had to move in w/ friends who were not allowed to have animals.....hid the dog at a friend's house who put the dog outside. It ran away & was picked up twice. Owner finally just surrendered the dog. Such a sad story and she's 9 so I knew she was going to be put down. She is sweet, and yes, I can get her healthy, and then look for a new home. thanks for all the advice....See MoreStrange dog with fear aggression on my land.
Comments (10)Since you volunteered at an SPCA I'm sure you picked up lots of tips and information about not only animals but strays in particular. I understand your fear regarding the risks to your son and dog. It is possible that the dog's primary caregiver was the wife and with her gone the husband does not know how to properly care for his dog. That could be why you're seeing it, perhaps animals can associate a neighbouring female for their missing mother figure. With a change in the animals home it could be this poor animal is confused and fearful, especially if the breakup wasn't pleasant and there was a lot of fighting. This animal's world is falling apart and it doesn't understand why. Its mom and the kids are gone so it is probably lonely and feeling abandoned. I feel sorry for the poor thing. I would write a polite note of your concerns regarding the safety of your family and place it in an envelope and tape it to the neighbour's front door (tape it secure or on the inside door so you know if its gone that he took it and wasn't blown away). I am not great for writing letters and the whole situation is probably painful for him so focus on the concerns that you have regarding your son and dog who may not know how to handle the approach of his dog without your supervision. This man is also going through a tough time and for all we know his wife might have gotten the dog and he had no say in the matter but now is left with it. Try to make the note tactful (something I lack at times but know the necessity of) regarding your feelings and the possibility of his dog's emotions might make the the dog react in a way he normally wouldn't. No matter how many times we tell my dad not to leave the dogs outside, off a lease, he never listens. If he goes into the house because he's absent minded and forgets then they are not out for just a minute anymore and he won't know if they are in trouble. He refuses to listen to us and the possible dangers to the animals. Even though they won't run off another dog could attack them but he does not like to be told what to do. He will even do the opposite to spite people to prove he'll do what he wants. He does love his dogs but he thinks he knows what is best and won't be told by others that he's wrong. Even if something happened to prove his error in judgment, he would find ways to blame someone else. I think of my father as I think of how to approach this gentleman. That is why a note would be better than a face to face discussion unless you were friends and could approach him before. A note describing your concerns without sounding accusing or blaming is, IMO, the best approach. If the note and your message go unanswered and the problem continues then you should contact the authorities. I wouldn't offer any help as he is selling his house and will be moving and you have no idea of what will become of his dog then. Sadly he may leave it behind, especially if he rationalizes that you'll take it in since you offered help. If he asks for help do what you feel comfortable doing. The reality is this poor dog's future is uncertain. If this man is not caring for it properly now will he take it with him when he sells the house? If its a really big dog can he take it if he must move into an apartment? Will the wife take the dog when the house is sold? So many uncertainties for this poor animal. When a family breaks up its not just the people and kids who get hurt but also the pets....See MoreDog aggressive when people are leaving
Comments (31)Being upset and barking as you leave and while you are gone is a symptom of separation anxiety. Do you make a fuss and comfort him before you leave and greet him as you come home? Not good to do that. You have to teach him that it is no big thing for you to leave or to come back. The best way to do that is to just pick up your stuff and walk out the door and when you come home, take off your coat and start your activities and ignore the dog (except to let him out and back in). When he is calm and no longer excited about you coming home, you can talk to him and pet him. Trainers (I am not one - I just read a lot and have dogs) will tell you to practice leaving and coming home several times a day. The first time, pick up your usual things you take with you, walk out, shut the door and then come right back in, set things down, put your coat away, and go about your activities. Leave him alone until he calms down and then just pet him and calmly talk to him. No wrestling or ruffling his neck, just be calm. Later, not close to leaving or coming home, you can play rougher with him and encourage zoomies. Stay away a minute next time, walk to your car and back. The next time, get in the car and get out, and go back in. Next, get in the car and shut the door and open it again and get out and go back in the house. Then go out to the car, shut the door and start the engine. Turn it off and go calmly back in the house. Next time, drive away but return immediately. Each time you go, take with you what you would take to go to work or shopping. Never say goodbye, just stop what you are doing, put on your coat and pick up your stuff and leave. You can sometimes go backwards in this training and not go out as far as you did the last time, but don’t jump ahead. Each step teaches your dog that being alone that long is fine. Continue to extend trips until you are gone long enough to do grocery shopping. You are going to make you coming and going into an everyday thing that he does not have to think much about. It may eventually stop him barking at your leaving. If you crate the dog when you are gone, you start with crating him and letting him right out and work up to longer time and further away from the crate with each practice session before letting him out. Space sessions out, only a few a day. Once you are going away from the crate and toward the door, then do one where you put on your coat and take it off, then let him out. Then put on your coat and wear it a few minutes, then put on your coat and pick up your things. Next, coat, things, carry them around the house a few minutes and then put them away and walk calmly to the crate and let him out with no fuss. Next time, coat, things, open the door. Close the door, put down your things, hang up your coat and calmly walk over and let out the dog. Baby steps! Look for positive training books and videos. Learn clicker training. Use it to teach house manners, walking nicely on leash, all kinds of good behaviors....See MoreDog at the vet again - serious. (long)
Comments (25)Dec. 7, 2006 Actually I got some sort of good news about Elvira. I don't really understand all the medical mumbo jumbo but even though they found mast cells in the biopsy, it isn't full blown cancer yet. I guess it is a pre-cancer. So not much they can do since chemo won't help and can't operate because hard to reach in that palate area. The vet said she could go years like this with it in a semi dormant state. Then she told me the possible bad news. They found a shadow on the chest xray around the trachea. She had a people radiologist (her husband) look at it and he thought it might be an enlarged heart. So she is sending it off to a dog radiologist to get a second opinion. So might have to take her in for a heart ultra sound and she might have something wrong with her valves. They can put her on medication if she does. Dec. 8, 2006 I got another call from the vet and she has to have more tests. She got the results back from the dog radiologist and she does have a mild enlargement of the left aterium of the heart. The vet seemed to think it was nothing to worry about though. He also noticed a "severe liver enlargement" so they are first going to do a blood test then if that indicates something, more xrays of the liver. It could be caused by anything. So it continues and I will do what ever I can to make it a good life for her for however long I have her. Clare...See Moremazer415
10 years agolast modified: 9 years agoDaniela
9 years agoNancy in Mich
9 years agoNancy in Mich
9 years agoDaniela
9 years agoNancy in Mich
9 years ago
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