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Foster dog - issues

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  • 24-03-2020 10:46pm
    #1
    blacklilly
    Registered Users Posts: 2,687 ✭✭✭


    Hi all,

    Just looking for some advice. We decided to foster a dog from a rescue as we are both working from home over the next few weeks so have plenty of time.

    The dog is approx 7 years old and is a big breed which isn’t known for agression.

    The dog is very relaxed and calm and seems to have settled in well with us. The dog doesn’t seem to ever get too excited by anything, I guess you’d say the dog has a relatively flat personality although does wag his tail when he sees us and when he knows he’s going for a walk. The dog also likes being petted and does look for affection on occasion.

    We don’t know much about his back round other then he was possibly mistreated.

    We are only getting to know him and by and large it is all good so far. The problem is that today on my walk with him he went to attack a man who was walking across the road at the same time as us. Before this while we were waiting to cross the road the dog was facing this man and he was wagging his tail so I was very shocked when he went for him. Thankfully I was able to control him and the man was not touched by the dog.
    In addition to this on my walk with him last night he launched himself at a cyclist which was coming towards us.
    My partner has also told me that when he brought the dog for a walk this morning, the dog growled/barked at a man. This man happened to be wearing a flat cap as was the man who the dog went for while we were on our evening walk.
    I’m not sure if we are reading too much into this but would it be possible that the flapcap is a trigger for him?
    He also sometimes plants himself while we are walking him and will not move, total stubbornness but when he does this he doesn’t show any aggression at all just pure stubborn.

    I’ve had plenty of dogs over the years however they were all quite straight forward and most of them I had from the time they were pups.

    As I say everything else is good with the dog but any advice/suggestions would be great.

    We have talked about the possibility of adopting him and brining him to training but obviously with covid-19 that isn’t a possibility right now.


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    #2
    tk123
    Registered Users Posts: 14,027 ✭✭✭✭tk123


    blacklilly wrote: »
    He also sometimes plants himself while we are walking him and will not move, total stubbornness but when he does this he doesn’t show any aggression at all just pure stubborn.

    Could he be overwhelmed.. and maybe not socialised/used to seeing people coming and going and on bikes etc? Can you take him somewhere with some treats and stand off to the side (maintaining social distance of course ;)) and just let him watch the world go by to build up his confidence and treat as stuff happens?


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    #3
    cocker5
    Registered Users Posts: 3,274 ✭✭✭cocker5


    blacklilly wrote: »
    Hi all,

    Just looking for some advice. We decided to foster a dog from a rescue as we are both working from home over the next few weeks so have plenty of time.

    The dog is approx 7 years old and is a big breed which isn’t known for agression.

    The dog is very relaxed and calm and seems to have settled in well with us. The dog doesn’t seem to ever get too excited by anything, I guess you’d say the dog has a relatively flat personality although does wag his tail when he sees us and when he knows he’s going for a walk. The dog also likes being petted and does look for affection on occasion.

    We don’t know much about his back round other then he was possibly mistreated.

    We are only getting to know him and by and large it is all good so far. The problem is that today on my walk with him he went to attack a man who was walking across the road at the same time as us. Before this while we were waiting to cross the road the dog was facing this man and he was wagging his tail so I was very shocked when he went for him. Thankfully I was able to control him and the man was not touched by the dog.
    In addition to this on my walk with him last night he launched himself at a cyclist which was coming towards us.
    My partner has also told me that when he brought the dog for a walk this morning, the dog growled/barked at a man. This man happened to be wearing a flat cap as was the man who the dog went for while we were on our evening walk.
    I’m not sure if we are reading too much into this but would it be possible that the flapcap is a trigger for him?
    He also sometimes plants himself while we are walking him and will not move, total stubbornness but when he does this he doesn’t show any aggression at all just pure stubborn.

    I’ve had plenty of dogs over the years however they were all quite straight forward and most of them I had from the time they were pups.

    As I say everything else is good with the dog but any advice/suggestions would be great.

    We have talked about the possibility of adopting him and brining him to training but obviously with covid-19 that isn’t a possibility right now.

    Def not stubbornness OP

    We have a rescue (10 weeks now yah) and he was absolutely terrified when we tried to bring him out walking at first .. he would freeze / lie down wouldn’t move ... if a car passed, if someone was waking toward him, if a door slammed shut ... everything .. they are completely overwhelmed.. new home, new bed, new people new noises etc

    10 weeks later and he’s a dream BUT here’s what we had to do ...

    Buy frankfurters boil them up and cut them into tiny pieces.. don’t feed him before u walk him..

    Each time he sits down drop a bit of frankfurters 3/4 feet infront of him.. say ‘let’s go’ and get will get up to move towards the treat .. roll 3/4 more and praise .. over and over again

    Don’t get mad when he sits down or stressed .. roll the treat say the word and the praise

    After 3/4 days we didn’t need the treats anymore our guy got up on command .. but it will take time .. it can be a very scarey and unfamiliar world out there for a rescue dog - time and patience is they key he’ll be right as rain in no time!


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    #4
    deadlybuzzman
    Registered Users Posts: 1,874 ✭✭✭deadlybuzzman


    One thing I learned almost the hard way via a neighbours narky dog is that a tail wag isn't just a tail wag!
    Initially I thought he was friendly but I later found out he's far from it.
    I've since learned the difference between a friendly relaxed 'bendy' tail wag and an agitated stiff straight tail wag, recognising it prevents any unpleasant surprises from either your own dog or someone else's dog.
    Caps could very well be a trigger, when I got her from the rescue, my dog HATED walking sticks, old people, baseball hats, hoodies, car horns and squealing tyres!
    On a positive note she's fine around all these things now!


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