Need opinion on rescued dog

[Powertec]

We'll i will try and make this short. We rescued a 2.5 yr old Australian Shepherd. We are well experienced in this breed.After a fairly rough 2 months in regards to blowing her coat,not eating and general dislike of our puppy we seemed to get her settled to where all those things were dealt with. She is on quality food(Evo all natural). What i gather is that she was rescued at about a year and then had a few litters of pups and now here she is.She has an appointment to be spayed April 10th.

Sooo all in all she had to fight with the older female dog that the previous owners had on a regular bases for food,attention etc and just basic need to be top dog.I also trully believe this poor girl has been beat..She is very timid and has come out of her shell abit but is still just not an Aussie in any way.She won't really play or chew on anything for that matter...Getting her to eat is still a chore but she does.All she pretty much does is sleep.

So the reason for this is today she has decided that we are afraid of the deck. She was fine with the deck last night but today nope won't do it. She goes out after i pretty much coax her out but she just stands there head down. She has to use the deck as the potty as we are in a brand new house and have no grass front or back yet so it seemed better to replace deck boards than carpet from muddy paws. We have been here a month and never had a problem untill today.

Truly i am at a loss with her. It has been a long couple months trying to get her settled and then this...There was nothing out there last night to scare her no dogs,loud bangs nothing i just don't get it..

Any ideas how to help this girl?

[my2rotties]

I am a firm believer in Cesar Milan, the man is a blessing to help people understand their dogs much better. If you can catch his show on Geographic or borrow his books form the library it would be an asset to you and your dog. Bless you for rescuing a dog in need. I have done it many times and have taken a beaten and cast dog and made them into a stable family member. There is nothing more rewarding then saving a life and making a dog fulfill it's need to be loved by humans.

I am now looking for my next rescue Rottweiler, since my old guy passed away this fall. He was thrown away and to this day I will never understand why someone would have done it to my boy. RIP Sabre... we still miss you so much.

I'm sure you will get a lot of advise but I really do believe in Cesar and have used methods similar to his before he became main stream. Now I watch his show and still get so much enlightenment from what he does and how he does it. Good luck with your girl... I'm sure things will smooth out shortly.

[leezard]

So. She was rescued, and the rescuers let her have a million puppies? Not much of a rescue!!

Off that note... my vote would be to just keep it up.... coax her out and just give her all the love in the world once she's there. Rescues are tough -- some things work better than others. Some need dominance training, and others are so timid that any dominance exerted makes them urinate.

The key is consistency. If you keep changing things and don't have a routine, they're going to become confused and scared. If they can get that routine, however, they'll feel a level of comfort, because they know what to expect next. It just takes time -- sometimes ALOT of time.

Good for you for taking her in. I'm sure she'll come around to you, and I'm especially happy to hear that she's getting spayed soon! That might also help with some of the behavior.

[Aquattro]

For the immediate issue, high value treats tossed onto the deck. Lots of love, listen to the dog. She probably has things to say, your job is to listen and hear her out. Build respect, with it comes trust. 2 months can't undo 2 years. Patience is the key.

[andestang]

For being a high energy breed what exercise routine have you started with her? I imagine with her recent past she probably didn't get what she really needed along with a proper diet. I believe a dog that is in proper physical condition will be a lot more stable mentally and behave like the breed they are.

[Powertec]

So. She was rescued, and the rescuers let her have a million puppies? Not much of a rescue!!

I know a little sickening hey!!! Figured they could make some money apparently :( She has MAJOR dog aggression. Great with people,kids etc..But another dog nope not a good thing.I think that relates back to the older dog they had that she was fighting for dominance with all the time.

[QUOTE=Aquattro;405674]For the immediate issue, high value treats tossed onto the deck. Lots of love, listen to the dog. She probably has things to say, your job is to listen and hear her out. Build respect, with it comes trust. 2 months can't undo 2 years. Patience is the key.

I have tried the treats:) She is trully a very odd dog. Food is a weird spot for her. Sometimes she will eat other times it is a no go.
The sad part with her is like they sucked the puppy right out of her. Locked her in a pen and breed her and that was it. And she is the sweetest dog. Very well behaved just isn't sure of herself in anything she does. Reminds me of a person with low self esteem.

[Powertec]

For being a high energy breed what exercise routine have you started with her? I imagine with her recent past she probably didn't get what she really needed along with a proper diet. I believe a dog that is in proper physical condition will be a lot more stable mentally and behave like the breed they are.

We started with long walks etc at the begginning and then she went into heat. And it was the longest heat i have ever experienced:(
And i wanted to make sure that there was no chance that she would ever have to endure another litter.
So now that we are almost to the safe point we will be going back to daily walks etc...She has no idea what a ball is and has no interest in one. She doesn't seem to have a clue what toys are...
She makes me so sad:( They just sucked everything out of her. I know i can get her back i am just wanting to make sure i do it the right way and not wrong to push her more into herself.

[Aquattro]

My pitty X was like that, not even aware of people when I got her at 8 months. she'd been in the SPCA for 4 months, banging her head on a concrete wall. I almost thought she was deaf because there was no acknowledgement from her when I spoke to her. No obedience, nothing. Now, a year and a bit later, she's the greatest dog. She plays with toys, tugs on a rope, fetches, etc.
If food doesn't work, you need to figure out what is high value to her. I'd try different foods first, greasy chicken, fried liver, etc. Maybe borrow a neighbours cat and put it on the deck (just kidding).
My border collie was weird like that for a while. We run around th elake a lot, and cross a few small bridges. One day, he gets to a bridge, and skids to a halt. There was no way he was crossing the bridge, so I had to go back and carry him. Maybe carry yours onto the deck, don't put her down unless she's relaxed. You have an exciting challenge, you'll both be happy when you figure out the puzzle :)

[Chaloupa]

I wouldn't go with any greasy food treats ... as that can cause pancreatitis...however some tasty snacks for dogs from the local pet shop are a good thing...and ask for the strongest smelling, tastiest ones they carry. Reward by food and encouragement/love, if you can find something she will eat may be the thing for her right now. It's a tough task you've taken on...but good for you for making that choice!

[Aquattro]

I wouldn't go with any greasy food treats ... as that can cause pancreatitis

I don't think 1/2 cup of greasy chicken is going to cause health concerns :)
If it helps a one time challenge, use what works. Yes, wholesome doggie treats ae probably better, but greasy chicken is always a better bribe! You can skip the skin, or heck, use a piece of roast pork, but something real and raw, not pressed into doggie treats.
This is not a recommendation to feed bad food, it's bribery to get a dog to overcome something. For me, a high value reward is a tuggie, my guy loves to tug and forgets what he's being stubborn about. Again, use any tool that gets the task done.

[Chaloupa]

Actually all it takes is a very small amount to flare up a pancreas.......but that's not what this discussion is all about.....if you choose to use meats as a treat, boiled is always better as it does remove the fat from the meat that you are feeding.....you are already feeding a natural diet so are quite concerned on what goes into her. Good luck!

[andestang]

We started with long walks etc at the begginning and then she went into heat. And it was the longest heat i have ever experienced:(
And i wanted to make sure that there was no chance that she would ever have to endure another litter.
So now that we are almost to the safe point we will be going back to daily walks etc...She has no idea what a ball is and has no interest in one. She doesn't seem to have a clue what toys are...
She makes me so sad:( They just sucked everything out of her. I know i can get her back i am just wanting to make sure i do it the right way and not wrong to push her more into herself.

You may have to go with more than walking, if she is good on a leash beside a bike would be better or even if she is a follower behind a vehicle on a nice quite road. A way to a dogs appetite is through high activity. It may take a few days, but it will come. Stay away from human type foods or you will create another problem with eating habits. As far as playing she will probably have to learn from other dogs. Get her involved with other playful/active non-agressive dogs.

[Diana]

I think also you have to forget (in a sense) what happened to her. If you feel sorry for her or baby her in any way because of her previous hardships she will learn to feed off that energy (thank you Cesar Millan!). Do not take her out onto the deck with the thought that she is going to go into 'the red zone'. Take her out like you would any normal dog.... it probably wont work the first time... but persist and she will learn that you are not reacting to her behavior.

Cooked chicken breast is a great treat, fried in a little oil or pam, or boiled, and it is hard for a dog to resist! I cook chicken breast medium-rare for the doggies, and they get raw red meats. Superstore carries an organic brand of dried chicken treats that my dogs just LOVE. It is just pure dried chicken cut into strips. There is also a stress reducing one with lavender and hops (dont ask me if it works or not!).

Lots of reassurance when she does things right, even when she does something so simple like take a step towards the deck. :)


Good luck with your new family member!

[Powertec]

I thank all of you for your suggestions and will use them all.:)

This morning i FINALLY got her back on the deck to go potty..lol
I went out first and then used the most upbeat happy voice i could(im sure my neighbours thought i lost a screw or two) And called her out and she took a step out and then went back in so i called her again and she came out and i walked around the deck with her to show her there was nothing wrong and then sure enough she went...Funny how small things make you so happy:)
She did pee though in like 6 different spots so i wonder if with all the snow we got Sat/sun morning that her scent was gone and that freaked her out.

I agree that i have to stop feeling so sad for her. I do believe that she picks up on that. She has become VERY attached to me. She is right beside me at all times and she has inpeccable manners i just want to see her be the happy Aussie that i know she has in her.

I know everything in time it is just sad to see her sad.

Thanks again for everyones help i appreciate it:)

[Chaloupa]

Do you have pics of her??? We all love pics! And congrats on her going outside again today...a milestone for her and you in a sense!

[traco]

Wow, good for you to take her into your home and love her.

And who figured we'd get support in other parts of our lives not involving fish, heh? lol And I say that in a complimentary way, not in a negative way. Good luck with her and, yes please, to the pics when you get a chance. :)