Getting my head in the right place

[NewfMom]

So we helped our son who is a live at home college student rescue a dog. He is not a newf. He has turned out to have some very serious health issues and is fear aggressive. It turns out he is afraid of a lot.

Because he is so ill we can't do training classes for a long time. He has at one time lived indoors so he is doing well on potty training. We are working on minor things like sit and walking on a leash.

What I am having trouble with is getting my head in a calm place to deal with him when we are in a situation that might trigger his fears. I am sure my being tense is not a help to the situation. Also he likes to be practically in your lap with his face at the same level as yours for petting which makes me uncomfortable given the aggression he has shown a few times.

So my question to you experienced rescuers is how do you get yourself to that calm state that works best for dealing with a dog like this?

 

[chumleysma]

Sharon, you...not calm? Ha! Actually, I do know what you mean. You're just a bit scared, because you don't know him and he doesn't know you. When I got my rescue about 7 yrs. ago, he was so scared of us and any dog. He would growl if we or the dog got too close. I told the family to just ignore him for the first few days which seemed to make him content. It took a LONG time to understand this oddball kind of dog, but now we totally get his ways. To this day, he will do a soft reminder growl if the guys get into his personal space (try to hug him or face to face close-up.) We know him so well, we can even tell when the growl is not a scared growl, but a play growl...it's very subtle.
Do you think his medical problems are helping to make him grumpy?

 

[NewfMom]

The medical problems definitely can't be helping but it will be several months before he recovers if he survives. He has stage 3 heartworm and we haven't gotten into the rough part of the treatment yet. He's still on the initial antibiotics. We are also working on getting his weight up. A combination of lack of food and heartworm have made him very skeletal. He had a mild ear infection when he came but that seems to have cleared up.

I think his main problem is he was not properly socialized and while he loves pets he is afraid to be handled. He is also afraid of many other dogs especially short-haired ones. He is afraid of new people walking towards him, especially if he is not with my son. If he is by my son he will guard bones but away from him does not.

We are only two and a half weeks into this so time will tell his true personality but he really seems to want to please.

Thanks for the encouragement.

 

[DAWNMERIE]

I'm sure the rescuer's will chime in but when I've been in uncomfortable situations, I tend to hum a tune...If you do the same tune each time it actually may begin to possibly calm him. That's just me, I'm sure you'll get some answers soon, good luck and bless your heart for helping him

 

[new_2_newf]

first off, get all high value toys and treats (bones) up off the ground where he can't see or reach them. This little guy has just had his world turned on it's head, so for him to start resource guarding is totally normal, but also totally unacceptable. I know it seems mean since he's coming from such a horrid situation, but I promise you'll have time to spoil the snot out of him once he's through this. Until then, save everyone (including him) the stress and get rid of the high value items for now.

second, baby steps. itty bitty ones. Each dog is unique, but you need to take stress off yourself by keeping him in a situation you feel you can control. This is a battle won in inches, and it can take a long time. Before either of you will start doing well on things like walks, you need to establish some trust in neutral settings like the living room. Just spend some time as close to him as he'll let you be without getting upset and each day move a little closer until you can pet him easily and show him that being touched is a good thing. Go easy with him and he'll be looking to all three of you for guidance in no time.

 

[wrknnwf]

first off, get all high value toys and treats (bones) up off the ground where he can't see or reach them. This little guy has just had his world turned on it's head, so for him to start resource guarding is totally normal, but also totally unacceptable. I know it seems mean since he's coming from such a horrid situation, but I promise you'll have time to spoil the snot out of him once he's through this. Until then, save everyone (including him) the stress and get rid of the high value items for now.

second, baby steps. itty bitty ones. Each dog is unique, but you need to take stress off yourself by keeping him in a situation you feel you can control. This is a battle won in inches, and it can take a long time. Before either of you will start doing well on things like walks, you need to establish some trust in neutral settings like the living room. Just spend some time as close to him as he'll let you be without getting upset and each day move a little closer until you can pet him easily and show him that being touched is a good thing. Go easy with him and he'll be looking to all three of you for guidance in no time.

Good advice. This is a long haul, so be very patient with him. Learn to read his signs of discomfort. They may be subtle. Try not to stare at him or watch him too intently. Don't try to force him into uncomfortable situations. If possible let him work through his fears on his terms. Use lots of incentives, like praise and treats. Learn what makes him happy. Could be anything. If he has any stress appeasing rituals (like jumping up or leaning on you for reassurance), put those on a cue (command) and use whenever needed. You will have to learn how to communicate with him and those may help when other words fail.

 

[BoundlessNewfs]

I tend to hum a tune...If you do the same tune each time it actually may begin to possibly calm him.

Interesting that you should say this. I quite often hum, whistle, or just carry on a calm-voiced conversation with the critters, as I go about my household chores. They can follow me around, or just watch from a "safe" distance.

How is he with your newfs? Does he watch what they do, and how they react to things, and take cues from them yet?

I like the advice about removing all "high value" items and putting them away. We did this with Brenna, because she thought she had to "own" everything (only Mags and Lucy weren't having that!) It was easier to just not have anything around for her to covet.

Keep him off of your lap and off of the sofa. Not worth taking a chance on getting bitten in the face. Don't make a big deal about it. Focus on teaching him to settle on his bed, or in his crate, rather than correcting about getting on your lap or the sofa. Just redirect with the command "bed", and reward with praise or treats when he does as asked.

Good luck to you guys! Hope he recovers.

 

[NewfieMama]

Ronnie suggested singing a silly song, and that works for us. We use the same song she does - Lukey's Boat - since it's a Newf song and my daughter knew it already. I've never been in a situation like yours but it does help to allay tension with us in minor situations.

Good luck!

 

[victoria1140]

We have used various techniques with rescue dogs -everything from body massage or tellington touch ,classical music playing,reading a story to the rescue.
We don't push them into body contact .we always let them learn to come to is and everyone who visits is told to completely ignore the animal unless they initialise contact first and we always keep dishs of treats handy so they get rewarded.

Also keep night lights around the house as a lot of rescues aren't comfortable in the dark especially if you suprise them.

Give them a safe place that is theirs,also practise yoga breathing techniques it helps you learn to relax .

These are just some of the tips we have used-also get a horse training lead for walking as it gives you complete control but allows him space while walking

Also if you have kids visiting then segregate them from him and explain they have to be calm with no screaming or shouting as this really worries dogs

 

[Sierra Newfs]

I would suggest getting in contact with Kathy Sdao, MA, ACAAB for a behavior consultation. Her bio is on her website at http://www.kathysdao.com and while she's located in Tacoma, she also sees clients in Sumner and Gig Harbor.

Kathy is not inexpensive, but she is invaluable. There are plenty of key skills both your family and your son's dog can learn while the dog is recuperating. A good assessment of the dog's behavior and a treatment plan would compliment all of the other health issues you are addressing so thoroughly. I would be happy to see about putting you in touch with a friend who is also one of Kathy's clients (and as a trainer has referred her own students to Kathy and helped continue with the students' "behavioral homework").

Best wishes! This dog certainly found himself very fortunate to be a part of your family!

 

[Popcorn]

When have worked with fearful dogs I have found ignoring them works wonders. I don't know about the aggressive part. I think I would work on lessening the fear a bit, then addressing the aggression. The ways of working with fear and with aggression are so different-- so it's very challenging. Good luck and thanks for helping the poor guy.

 

[blaue_augen]

I just want to offer hugs and support. I have been in your position and I could not calm myself. I think I made it worse for our rescue. My problem was that her fear aggression was directed toward my 8 year old son. Even thinking of it now, I can feel my stress rising. But I will send you very calm vibes!!

 

[NewfMom]

Thank you all. Things are going better. I did take your advice and he is not allowed on the couch anymore. I am waiting for him to sit in front of me before he gets petted. My son now has done the sit to get your food enough that he is now sitting for his food bowl withough being told.

Integrating him with our dogs will be a long time coming I think. He is more interested in Ketala than Kilrain. We have had two marking incidents so far. I had put the newfs out on the back deck and left the just the screen door between them. Kilrain started fussing that he was outside. Both times Valentino's response was to walk over and mark at him. The first time was the screen door and he must have remembered I fussed about that because the next time he did it on the post by the door in the kitchen.
He's playing with dog toys now. We only give him bones when he can have them alone for hours on end.
I'm trying to take him on more car rides now so he can at least see other people. That is going well but he is still getting comfortable. You can tell he is not sure what to think about what he sees.
Thanks for all the tips. We did take him to a training facility that came highly recommended for an evaluation. They said he would be an ideal single person dog but that he needed a lot of intensive training when he is healthy again.

 

[victoria1140]

Just keep working on the baby steps .l have had many fear aggressive dogs in the psst and its just a case of finding the triggers.
My Jessie was unhomable to many but years later she is far more chilled and relaxed in strange situations and even if she is never 100% comfortable with all of them she can cope with them.

Keep perservering and its amazing with a bit of love attention and training what can be achieved