Help..adopted an abused dog

shorty1234 · 04-29-2006, 04:28 PM

Hey yall. Please help me if you can. My boyfriend and I moved recently and a female lab came to our fence and played with our boxer. For a couple of days, she stayed by our house so we decided to put her keep her until we found her owner. Well I was playing with her outside and when i went to smoke my ciggerette she kinda backed away like she was in fear and took a couple of steps away from me. Then the other day she we could not get her into the house at all. She would come close but would not step into the house. And as long as she saw our boxer she would come closer. But as soon as he was our of her view she would take off down the steps. We tryed to pick her up but she would just run away from us. We finally got her in the house, but for about 20-30 min. she stayed in one spot in the kitchen. We finally got her to come in the living room but it took a lot of time and patience and it helped having our boxer there to try to get her closer. She seems fine as long as our boxer is fine and there with her. Are these signs that she was abused and if it was can anyone help me to get her to trust and for her to know that she is safe now?

GSD lover · 04-29-2006, 05:33 PM

Two of my dogs are rescue dogs. So, I've been through this. One of them was burned with ciggarettes so it was terrified of any kind of fire. So, when my husband lit one he would freak out and hide. To be honest it is mainly a matter of patience. Most dogs take up to a year to trust people again after going through that. But, one thing to help with the lighters is to light one and give her treats from a distance and slowly work to getting closer to her with the treats. This makes the lighter become a good association. To get her in the house I would get down to her level so she doesn't find you threatening and invite her in. When she comes in praise. And in the house just give her lots of love and attention.

Curbside Prophet · 04-29-2006, 11:26 PM

Hmmmmm....I would almost say the opposite of GSD lover. I would start by ummm...I mean this in the most polite way possible, but stop smoking, those things will kill you. Nevermind. As for the dog, I would say for the first couple of weeks you almost want to ignore the dog. Giving affection (like treats) to a dog that's in the wrong state of mind only perpetuates that state of mind. Plus, the dog will need to learn to trust you first. The quickest way to get the dog to trust you is by giving the dog exercise, and discipline (in that order and with calm energy). She may have only feared the cigarette and house because they are unfamiliar to her. She doesn't know you from Joe Shmoe down the block, so until she understands that you're the pack leader, and her alpha dog, she'll continue to fear you too. Again, exercise by walking her properly, and discipline by correcting her properly, will do wonders to earn her trust. Good luck.

Whirling Dervish · 04-30-2006, 08:55 PM

Curbside, you always have good advice. It's like you were a dog in a past life or something. :-)

What about giving the dog a small treat when she comes close to the house? Would that be an encouragement, or an incentive to back away again so she could get another treat the same way?

Curbside Prophet · 04-30-2006, 11:06 PM

There's a saying that trainers throw around when we go through our puppy school, "nothing in life is free." A dog can't learn to trust you with free gifts. Trust is learned through respect. So I would ask the dog to "come," and if the dog does comes, I treat and praise. The dog earned the reward for trusting you, and the dog learns that hey, "I can follow you because you respect me." Thanks for the kind words Whirling Dervish, I do my best.

RJMARTIN · 05-02-2006, 05:32 PM

I have a 4 year old Rottweiler, but have only had her for 1 year. She was raised to be a breeding dog but that didn’t happen (long boring story). I have noticed she is very very timid and afraid sometimes. I have suspected maybe she was beaten…beyond the normal discipline a dog breeder would use.

I do give her heck when she goes out on the road and things like that, but also lots of love and treats. She has become very friendly with me now but every once in awhile she looks frightened. For example, if I have a shovel or hoe in my hand she backs away or approaches all hunkered down.
It’s a learning process I guess, for both of us. Best of luck with your new friend

Ronald Martin