I Hoped I Would Never Have To Ask This :(

[Purdie]

''Not being able to concentrate for 2 minutes''has me wondering if it is a medical issue .Find a specialist Vet first up brain scan blood tests the lot.Agree with a muzzle when out walking.

Do not let her anywhere near children.I had a Cocker x that had a brain disorder and she could not be still for 2 seconds.It came down to heavy medication for the rest of her life life or PTS ;i chose the latter for her.

[Nekhbet]

Not being able to concentrate is also a byproduct of a dog that has not been taught to learn. Being calm, concentrating and listening is not a natural ability in most dogs, it has to be taught. The dog has been pushed pillar to post, stressed out and untrained. I'd say this is a natural progression of what haredown whippets has stated.

[Purdie]

Not being able to concentrate is also a byproduct of a dog that has not been taught to learn. Being calm, concentrating and listening is not a natural ability in most dogs, it has to be taught. The dog has been pushed pillar to post, stressed out and untrained. I'd say this is a natural progression of what haredown whippets has stated.

Yes ;However extreme hyperactivity to a point where the dog can not lead a normal life; is not normal.

[cowanbree]

I have had a fear aggressive dog and with the help of a trainer we managed to really help her so that she was a happier less anxious dog. Don't get me wrong she still would have bitten in the wrong circumstance but I managed her and for the main part it wasn't too bad. She went out and about as a normal dog but was never loose with anyone she didn't know well.

The advice I would take from her is get her vet checked, esp thyroid and go to a well recommended trainer. Anything else is just a stab in the dark

[Brandiandwe]

As the above, crating is also an awesome thing. We have a massive one we use for Hermon during thunderstorms and other times when there's change, and all three greys love it. It's a safe place where they can go when they feel like some along time. If you do use it, it may well become a permanent fixture in the home, but you need to be clear about the rules. For it to be her safe place to go when scared, you can't touch her when she's in the crate, or interact with her. It's her quiet room. If you can achieve this, then it will be the space she goes to and is left when you have tradies, or whoever, around the house.

[luvsdogs]

Have sent you a PM.

[hankdog]

Post your general area and people can recommend a good behaviorist, they're not all the same. Unfortunately a dog such as this is going to bring a lot of extra responsibility and an experienced behaviorist will be able to map out and explain to you your management plan. Two years of managing an anxious dog and I can tell you it's hard work and you need to explore all your options including medication and possible PTS but really an experienced person needs to see the dog.

[Inka3095]

Thank you so much everyone, I really appreciate the help and positive comments from people who are dealing/have had dogs like this

My parents are in Eltham, NE suburbs of Melbourne.

Thanks again for your interest and help DOLers <3

[Loving my Oldies]

There are a lot of people posting who seem keen to make excuses for your dog... scared, has been threatened or abused... Everything you've described could be just as easily explained by territorial aggression - especially as she is aggressing now towards someone she knows.

I don't see people making excuses - a dog who has had several homes in a very short time is obviously going to be one confused dog. She may have had all those homes because she is naturally territorial aggressive, but to suggest that people are making excuses is unnecessarily condemnatory of people who feel for the dog and for Inka95.

However I do agree with those who say that the dog should not have been roaming free when there was a tradesman about. I was caught short on this once, too.

[Animal House]

Thank you so much everyone, I really appreciate the help and positive comments from people who are dealing/have had dogs like this

My parents are in Eltham, NE suburbs of Melbourne.

Thanks again for your interest and help DOLers <3

I'd PM Cosmolo (Underdog Training) Or Nekhbet. :)

Edited January 3, 2014 by Cazablanca

[Inka3095]

I'm going to take the vet suggestion sorted out first and get her checked out medically before trying the behaviorist, although I've kindly been pm'd the name of someone who does both! Definitely a good place to start. From what I know, her homes were

Home 1) Animal hoarder

Home 2) Rescued by Pets Haven and fostered for a couple of weeks

Home 3) Adopted by girl about my age (30) living near the city. Kirra was given HEAPS of exercise when owner was home but when she wasn't home it was a tiny terrace house with no backyard and Kirra was going ballistic home alone with nothing to do, so Kirra was rehomed

Home 4) My parents;

All within 4 months. I was naive to think her behaviours such as a complete inability to be separated from my Dad would improve with some TLC. We contacted a trainer before Christmas but they aren't starting up for another couple of weeks and all this happened over Christmas. She was inside when the tradie was there because being outside when my parents aren't with her causes her to bark and claw at the back door with so much hysteria it was quite literally impossible to hear the tradie over the noise. My Dad brought her in (reinforcing the bad behaviour I imagine) and kept her by his side but when the poor tradie stood up suddenly Kirra launched out of my Dad's grip and nipped the guy.

She hasn't displayed any of this type of behaviour when not in the house (not saying she won't in the future though), so I agree there has to be some degree of territory-guarding involved. She's not dog aggressive that we have noticed, and plays with my shiba really well. Just hope we'll have a good outcome for this pup.

Thanks again everyone

[Guest Ams]

It sounds like she has more than a few issues that need sorting and definitely a behaviourist not a trainer will be better placed to help. I hope you and your parents are able to help her. It doesn't sound like she is a candidate for another rehoming.

[Inka3095]

No, we talked about that today. I think another rehoming would just compound all the problems she has unless that home was significantly more well versed in dealing with such problems and wanted to take her on with full disclosure. Given that as a very unlikely possibility we're going to commit to whatever is recommended by a vet/behaviour expert and just take things as they come.

Thankfully she has a lot of great behaviour as well. She's super affectionate with those she trusts, is a very sweet pup, doesn't dig or nuisance bark and is able to rest/relax when she's been given a suitable amount of exercise. In other words, she's not a train-wreck that I can't see improving with the right help. Crossing my fingers.

[persephone]

poor little thing - Sounds like a lot of work ahead!

Keep us posted.

[hankdog]

You may find the Great Dane rescue website helpful. There are useful tips for dealing with sep Anx in particular but I've found it's made it generally easier to live with my boy around the house. Good luck and there's a thread in the training and obedience section where owners of reactive and speshul dogs go for help, advice and general face palming over our norty dogs on bad and good days.

[Perry's Mum]

Perry was like this when I got her and she had been badly abused. She is now nearly 11 and still hates small men in big hats so I would not let her off leash near John Howard in his Akubra but she is fine with everyone else. I took her to K9 Force after having her checked out by a couple of vets who were experienced in fear aggression. It has been constant work since then but she is now a great dog.

[Loving my Oldies]

She is now nearly 11 and still hates small men in big hats so I would not let her off leash near John Howard in his Akubra

So it is all your fault then. Fancy passing up an opportunity like that

Joking aside, I have always thought it remarkable how most rescue dogs take so much in their stride.

Lost or dumped or taken to a pound

Wandering the street afraid, hungry, thirsty

Picked up by either someone in the street or a ranger (sometimes very aggressively)

Transported to the pound

Shut in a run/cage

Surrounded by lots of stressed and afraid strange dogs and strange people coming and going

Adopted by complete strangers, or

Rescued by a rescue organisation/person

Taken to a strange vet

Sent off to foster care and sometimes a few foster carers can be involved

Sometimes being transported across the country passing through several sets of transporters.

Frankly, this would be considered inhumane treatment if dished out to a human being.

Whether a dog has suffered actual abuse or not, just a couple of the above could be enough to traumatise them for life. Given the life Kirra has led, I'm surprised she isn't a complete basket case. Realistically, she will probably need a certain amount of "management" all her life (as do many DOL dogs), but from what Inka3095 says about her, she sounds a great dog and well worth giving her heaps of training and effort to help her to lead a happy life.

[Animal House]

Well Pets Haven is irresponsible to say the least, its all about moving animals through their shop to make money. And your story is one of many

[Christina]

Only wishing you good luck with this dog. So sad that some are passed around like playing pass the parcel. Poor dog she won't know who her owner/pack leader is, where she lives, where & when she is going or how she is supposed to behave.

She may not be a lost cause when she becomes secure in her place & owners as long as she is in situations she can cope with. It can also depend a lot on what owners want & expect from a dog. Hoping for a happy outcome.

[Nekhbet]

Yes two weeks foster with no proper temperament test or help for her situation has probably compounded the problem.

I think the point is to look forward and not dwell on what happened before. Dogs are quite resilient, and the past WILL come back to haunt you if you keep it in your mind with the dogs behavior.

We rescued a Malinois that was beaten severely, dumped out on farms and left to starve. She was in shut down at the pound and when we brought her home she was so afraid she bounced around the house like a pinball in fear (if I had plaster walls she would have literally decimated them)

It took us a few months, but she's now outgoing, confident, plays tug of war, will paw for attention and she's a green Search and Rescue Dog with already 100% success rate in her training. We just didnt accept her fearful behaviour and helped pull her forward.