Wallee's sister

[Wallee]

Hi everyone. It's been a challenging week. As some of you know Wallee's sister arrived Tuesday night.
She is doing pretty good considering that her 6 week old puppies were taken from her the day I brought her here. Potty isn't going very good. When I get her out of her crate in the morning, I carry her to the kitchen, put the gates up and put her on a pee pad and she will pee. While we are up, she will not stay in her crate without whining and barking and she jumped over the gates and got out when I left her to go to an appointment. She follows me everywhere and I am ok with that as I know she is trying to get some kind of security. She does like to go for walks but won't pee or poo on the leash. I have to bring her back to the yard to pee. Last night she picked up a pine needle in her foot in the back yard so now when I take here out there I can only get her to pee "sometimes" then she runs back to the door to go in. I can tell she is stressed as she pants. Our fence out back is being torn down and they say it will take up to 5 days to get it rebuilt so that means the dogs will have to be on leash if I take them out there...so...she won't pee..
Also I haven't gotten her to poop today at all even though she has eaten as much as Wallee. I have given her pumpkin twice today.
I can tell she will be needing a dental as well as her breath is terrible.
She has tried to engage Wallee in play a couple times though and he won't have anything to do with her...I sure hope things change for them.

[Buster Brown]

I hope things work out for the whole family and soon Wallee and his sister are playing and cuddling.

[Sukey]

She just went through a heck of a lot of changes.....it'll take some time for her to feel comfortable. For the leash, keep it slack and give treats when you put it on maybe. Tension on the leash will just stress her out.

When we got Ellie she didn't poop for like 2 days and I was about to call the vet, but then she was fine

Just give her some time, be patient and calm, she will come around

[dollydoodle]

It just breaks my heart when I hear about mama dogs losing their babies. The mamas didn't do anything wrong-just loved their babies & then one day they're gone. No wonder your sweet little girl is all mixed up. She needs you now & hopefully Wallee will come around, too. (What is her name?)

Good luck!

[yorkietalkjilly]

Give it all time. Work through each thing as patiently and best you can and in time, she will accommodate to things little by little. Bad timing on the fence but all you can do is maybe buy an outside pen for them to use while the fence is being replaced or buy one of those 25 - 50 foot lines to hook onto between her harness and the end of the leash so she doesn't feel too close to you to relax herself to go.

I'm was too impatient to take Tibbe out and teach him to pee/poo on a leash as he just refused to go with me standing close by and I would have had to stand there too long to wait until nature and gravity took over. The neighbors dogs were both barking through the fence at him on one side and the neighbors kids were out screaming and playing on the other and he was so scared of all things as he'd just spent his whole life in a crate in a shed and was frightened of the entire world it seemed when I got him. He'd just stand there petrified at first! He was just as scared of things in the house!!! We had a hard first 6 months desensitizing him to daily living like a real dog! But now he pees/poos on the leash during walks just fine - he just didn't want to at first due to his immense fear.

But day by day, little by little, we worked it out and he began to relax and see me as his dog-gentler. I was the one constant he could come to trust - though even that took time getting him to come to me. He refused to take treats or food as an incentive at first when he was outside to pee/poo due to his fear so only my watching him like a hawk for signs of needing to go and rushing him out worked but what I quickly went to was just taking him out every 30 minutes - of course that's with a fence in place. He soon learned he'd be going out so he learned to hold it in his crate(where I'd put him if he didn't go pee/potty - whichever it was time for - and I had him on a strict schedule that first two months or so and knew when it was time for each) until the next 30 minute break. He even began accepting a treat when he went and finally, I could gradually lengthen that time between potty sessions out until he could hold himself 4 hours at a time!!! Yahoo!!!

By the time a year had passed, he was spending no time in his crate to avoid accidents, he was holding himself all day long when I was away at work - would refuse to use the potty pads I'd leave down for him. He still had the occasional accident when it would rain and go potty on the fuzzy pad in his airline carrier until he was 2 years old and then he just stopped having accidents - well, unless he's got running diarrhea.

If Summer's sides are really hardened and full and she doesn't poop by tomorrow, you might try asking your vet if you can give her some Milk of Magnesia to help her go before she gets too miserable. But she'll probably poop later tonight or in the morning.

Patience with little Wallee - he's had a big change in his life, too, and likely wonders what happened to his old life. He doesn't yet know Summer will become his best friend. Try those desensitizing exercises where you play with Summer as you toss him treats and treat him anytime she comes into the room. In time, he'll begin to loosen his territorial feelings and accept her as a true pack mate. I think usually within two weeks you begin to see some tiny acceptances by the dog holding himself aloof and by two months time, they are usually fully accepting of one another.

[Wallee]

Thanks again for the reassurance Jeanie. I believe Summer becomes overwhelmed outside too so I let her inside when I see her at the door. She did finally go poop tonight after I fed her some more veggies. I feel so bad for her when I see her stressing and I try to strike a balance between cuddling her and enticing her with squeaky toys to try to build some confidence. It is weird how Wallee immediately started wrestling and running with Anyah. I guess because she was full of confidence and playful. Maybe he is picking up on Summers stress. I haven't taken any pictures yet as the poor girls coat is a nightmare. The lady who had her said she took her to a groomer but I don't believe it. I have been gently cutting out mats in short sessions when she is cuddling and I have a groomer coming in next Thursday to cut her hair down. It all needs to go to make her comfortable. Next will be a checkup and blood work for her revolution. Wallee needs that too.I also found out yesterday that Wallee's poor mommy needs both knees operated on so now I have that worry for him. I appreciate all the help and support through this journey and I will share pictures of pretty Summer after her groom next week.

[Wallee]

Originally Posted by dollydoodle

It just breaks my heart when I hear about mama dogs losing their babies. The mamas didn't do anything wrong-just loved their babies & then one day they're gone. No wonder your sweet little girl is all mixed up. She needs you now & hopefully Wallee will come around, too. (What is her name?)

Good luck!

Thanks so much. She is getting lots of love and exposure to new things to try to ease her sadness. Her name is Summer.

[yorkietalkjilly]

You might try several quick trips outside and back in to begin to show her outside isn't a long, arduous, scary thing but can be quick and rewarding also until she gets used to the sights, scents and smells out there. Say, "Let's go outside!" in a happy, smiling voice and accompany her outside and hold a nice piece of warm boiled chicken out before her nose as you walk out with her and then bring her right back in the house and as soon as she will accept it, give her the treat and tell her you are proud of her. Call her "soldier" and "winner" and other upbeat names. She won't know what they mean but we take on a different persona when we say bold, meaningful words to a dog and they pick up on our demeanor of confidence and pride.

I doubt she will accept the treat outside as long as she's scared and but she should as soon as she's back inside and comfortable. Short trips out and immediately right back inside might begin to show her that outside at her new home isn't that bad and when she does go outside and right back inside, she gets a great reward and a smile and encouraging, power words from you. A few of those quick sessions a few times a day should begin to inure her to being out in your back yard with you and associating it with getting something very, very good when she does it. After a while, she will take the treat when she's out there so reward her for going out and again upon coming back in.

These short little sessions help scared dogs desensitize to what is scaring them in short bouts not really long enough for them to develop a good case of nerves. It's over practically before it begins. Doing this kind of thing over and over with Tibbe is partly how he was made over from a frightened, panicky dog who ran for the hills every chance he got and would shake so hard he'd drool and pant and go in circles and scream like a banshee if I left the room or walked toward him with something strange in my hand, like a hair dryer or a big book or box. He was a wreck of a dog but these types of tactics and time and building up his confidence a bit at a time completely overhauled his persona.

After I'd had him two or three weeks, I began to build up his confidence by introducing him to 5 or 6 different, noisy, strange things in the middle of the den floor and encourage him to approach and nose- or paw-touch them by placing treats in among them or baiting him to approach them with meat treats held before his nose and saying "Get it - go on, nose-touch!!! You can do it." After he was successful inside, we did this outside, using limbs, rocks, bricks, cans, etc. Little by little, he learned to approach anything I put there and touch it and he'd get the power and pride word-praise and his treat and pats, scratching and rubs and in time, he lost much of his fear of things or new situations.

[Wallee]

Yikes!!!!
I have been trying hard to do everything everyone has advised to the best of my ability. She is coming out of her shell more and more..she is a determined little girl..The fence has posed a new difficulty and her being able to jump gates makes it a little tough to contain her at times...lol
Today I went and bought two new toys. One blue fish for Wallee and a pink octopus for Summer. We were having fun for a bit, however as usual, they both decided the pink toy was the favourite.
We quit playing for a bit and then Wallee brought the pink toy over. I threw it accross the floor and Summer ran for it too. When they both got to it, Summer hunched over it and gave Wallee a bad stare. He kept looking at me and whining. She grabbed the toy and ran and then put it down. When Wallee went to take it she once again postured over it and growled. I noticed her do this with a chew thing I tried to give her the other day when she ran into her crate. I believe because of living amongst a pack she is a "resource guarder". I walked towards the toy and when I went to take it she once again lowered herself over it. I told her NO and contined to walk to back her up and took away the toy. She then jumped up on the couch beside me and when Wallee came over like he always does she growled at him. I told her NO once again and she is now sleeping while Wallee plays on the floor with Wallee...

What do I do if she becomes a bad resource guarder?

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Wallee

Yikes!!!!
I have been trying hard to do everything everyone has advised to the best of my ability. She is coming out of her shell more and more..she is a determined little girl..The fence has posed a new difficulty and her being able to jump gates makes it a little tough to contain her at times...lol
Today I went and bought two new toys. One blue fish for Wallee and a pink octopus for Summer. We were having fun for a bit, however as usual, they both decided the pink toy was the favourite.
We quit playing for a bit and then Wallee brought the pink toy over. I threw it accross the floor and Summer ran for it too. When they both got to it, Summer hunched over it and gave Wallee a bad stare. He kept looking at me and whining. She grabbed the toy and ran and then put it down. When Wallee went to take it she once again postured over it and growled. I noticed her do this with a chew thing I tried to give her the other day when she ran into her crate. I believe because of living amongst a pack she is a "resource guarder". I walked towards the toy and when I went to take it she once again lowered herself over it. I told her NO and contined to walk to back her up and took away the toy. She then jumped up on the couch beside me and when Wallee came over like he always does she growled at him. I told her NO once again and she is now sleeping while Wallee plays on the floor with Wallee...

What do I do if she becomes a bad resource guarder?

She sounds like she's doing very well and she is defending what she thinks should be hers and backing off when you make her, though she quickly tends to do it again. She's probably had to contend for and claim what she got and that's all she knows but whatever she was, you will stop any behavior you don't like and you will keep doing it until she gets the idea this won't be allowed. She'll begin to anticipate that you will interfere with her disallowed behavior and, in time, begin to police herself to the extent you train her to. In the worst case with a persistent resource guarder that the owner cannot manage to control(though I've never known one that an owner who was patient and persistent in stopping the behavior in its tracks with a "no!", standing up, pointing and locking eyes with them, walking into them and backing them off until they leave the room and claiming "your" toy(all toys are yours), a owner who can't control the dog will not bring out toys when the resource guarder is in the same room; or they crate the guarder while they play with the other dog, tossing treats into the guarder from time to time.

Some dogs have such a tough history or such a dominant personality that they are hard to break of RS'ing and it all depends on how hard you want to work to rehab the dog from that tendency vs. keeping them away from things they tend to RS when another dog is in the room with them. It takes time to change long-established habits in some dogs but those who work tirelessly at it usually find real rewards for keeping it up. As you see progress, it excites you to keep going and fun and rewarding to see the dog begin to use their brain and think before they act.

You can also work with them using a couple of desensitization exercises for RS'ing which we can get into down the road should she be keeping this behavior up after a few more weeks of your stopping her guarding and backing her off every time, preventing each case. Also, beginning her on a good obedience program will further bring her under your control where merely a "no" or "back off" or "leave it" will make her leave a contested toy be and back off because you told her to - and she'll be happy to do it because she'll have come to understand in working with you - if you are a dedicated, patient and happy trainer who makes it fun - that the reward for doing that is doing to be far greater than the charge she gets out of guarding. It's completely possible if you want to train her to that level.

[Wallee]

Hi Jeanie
Thanks again for stepping in to reassure me. I know the dangers of RG as I have a friend with one and when he comes to visit we have to quickly remove all chew type things and food. Although I know she is still adjusting, I have absolutely no problem firming up my voice to her or Wallee if I see that type of behaviour. I was told she was totally submissive however living in a strong pack like she did, she may have just been low man on the totem pole. I guess cause both her and Wallee have that type of personality there is going to be a challenge to see who is boss. Funny how when she was hovering over the toy he just kept on looking at me and whining.
Also today when I went out and put her in her crate, I must not have pushed the door lock tight as when I got home, she had gotten the door open left my room, jumped a gate and was at the front door.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Originally Posted by Wallee

Hi Jeanie
Thanks again for stepping in to reassure me. I know the dangers of RG as I have a friend with one and when he comes to visit we have to quickly remove all chew type things and food. Although I know she is still adjusting, I have absolutely no problem firming up my voice to her or Wallee if I see that type of behaviour. I was told she was totally submissive however living in a strong pack like she did, she may have just been low man on the totem pole. I guess cause both her and Wallee have that type of personality there is going to be a challenge to see who is boss. Funny how when she was hovering over the toy he just kept on looking at me and whining.
Also today when I went out and put her in her crate, I must not have pushed the door lock tight as when I got home, she had gotten the door open left my room, jumped a gate and was at the front door.

LOL. Well, she may have been submissive in her previous home and will in time be submissive there, or that may have been a bit of a misrepresentation out of desperation to find her an ideal home. She sounds like smart, high-energy little survivor who looks out for herself if she thinks she needs to!!! I'll bet Wallee and she will come to an understanding and in a couple of months be coexisting just fine. Try not to feel too sorry for either of them and just sit by and referee until the contending for hierarchy and rights is more settled.

They'll be far happier if you let Wallee be the Beta if Summer is a true alpha, or vice versa, in their daily interactions. Usually the alpha dog turns out to be the smartest, wisest, fittest, most dominant of the two who expects to be deferred to by the other but in many dog packs or families of two dogs, shared leadership can exist, where one dog is dominant in getting resources first while another is responsible for taking the lead in guarding the household and people - and a few households have dogs that seem to share everything almost equally. But whichever of them seems to take on whatever roles, you are the true pack leader and have the final say on how things run.