I need some help...

Your training should start with building the confidence level first and then tackle either the sight or the sound reactiveness but, not both at the same time.

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So I should wait till she is showing much more confidence before doing something like the umbrella thing?


I have been working with her on the sit command. I take a treat and bring it over her head to get her to sit. Sometimes while doing that she will run away as if she decided she dosen't like my hand being there. I've gotten her to sit a few times and give her the treat and praise her. If she doesn't sit I don't give the treat.

In the past couple days she has shown interest in food. She is now even eating her meals soooo fast....I'm concerned. But I thought I would go out on the porch with treats and see if she would come. I stood right outside the door and she went back to her origional behavior of ignoring me. So I moved sideways, and without looking at her, threw one inside the house and stretched my hand out with another. She came and ate both and then went back to her bed. I just didn't want her to think I was going to force her out. I have seen her on her own just step outside the door and jump back in. So maybe she just needs to try somethings on her own.

Another issue that has popped up is.....how to get a dog that hates being outside to let you know they have to go potty. I take her out often. But she will usually just do one or the other and wants back in badly. So there have been a couple times she went in the house. She gives no warning that she needs to go. How do I correct her with her issues?? She seems to know it isn't right which is good. I have just been saying "No...no potty in the house". When I saw her chewing on something that was bad and I said "No" she knows what it means . And she listens. I also give her one of her chew toys so she knows what is okay to chew on. Kind of unfortunately, the only thing or word she understands is "No". I guess that was all she probably heard.

She seems to do better at night. I guess I never realized how noisy my neighborhood was during the day or all of a sudden every kid is outside screaming, there are table saws going and there are like 10 new dogs barking. The air show is in town too, so the Blue Angels are flying overhead. Uuuuugggghhhhhhhhhhhh......! At night she behaves a lot better outside. She also becomes more investigative in the house at night too. She has limited herself to the family room. She will now walk into the kitchen for about 5 seconds. If she isn't sleeping, she is pacing.

There are a few things that we have to figure out. And it may take some time. But the same dog that wouldn't even look at me two weeks ago now gets excited to see me. Will climb into my lap for affection. She gets herself so excited for any of us in the morning or when we come home. Whining and wagging her whole body. Totally different dog, but not 100%. I think it is a good sign.

I decided to pet her while she was eating today. We won't tolerate food aggression with our dogs. We can take anything away fairly easily. I then went to take her bowl, but at the last second decided for some reason it may not be a good idea. I will do that later when my husband is home.


Thanks for the advice...keep it coming. Tricia

Tessa has been doing a lot better. She is not as bad about going outside. If she REALLY has to go she will actually pull us out. During the day she is still alert, but better. She will now try to stand as close as possible to us if something scares her instead of trying to pull back to the door. At night, she really enjoys being outside and will act like a dog sniffing around and being inquisitive. Of course, if something startles her, she wants in. We keep her out there a few minutes at a time and I think she is slowly getting use to it. She is also going out on the porch now. She seems to like it out there.

Her new thing since I posted last is...barking and howling. She finally started barking. I take it as a sign that she is feeling comfortable and at "home". Like she is protecting her home and people. She also makes this sound when we come home. I say "sound" cause it is like a pathetic howl and chirp. Kinda funny. She does it when she is excited.

I also taught her a few commands. She learned sit and down VERY fast. I thought maybe she had already knew them, but she learned other commands just as quickly. Ones that I am pretty sure that no one would have ever worked with her on like "crate". I say crate and she goes right in. I'd like to start teaching her how to walk on a leash but not sure where to start. I've taught puppies before but her behavior throws me off. I guess I should just do it the same way. I do believe she is smart and a quick learner.

Another issue we are dealing with is her comfort level is different with all of us. She is fine with me. I spend the most time with her. She is okay most of the time with hubby. Sometimes if he goes in takes a shower and changes clothes, when he comes out of the bedroom, it is like she doesn't know who he is. Sometimes she just won't respond well to him for no reason I can figure out. If i am not around....he is great. She is fine with my daughter too. Except the other day when she came out with a towel wrapped around her head. She freaked big time. Hair was standing up and barking. The next time I took a shower I came out with the towel on my head. She didn't like it, so I knelt down, undid the towel and she saw what it was and it was fine. Now, she has never gotten comfortable with my son. She is very guarded with him. He isn't around much which is probably the reason. He also tends to be not so calm. His movements are sharp and his voice changes. It is just the age he is at.

There is one really BIG problem I need help with. When she first came home, our dog we have had for 8 years(Monty) would do the typical correction of her behavior. He wasn't agrressive, just showing her how things are. She took it well. Especially for being as nervous as she is. Then a few days in she started going back at him. Which we thought was okay. Nothing got out of hand. It wasn't anything too different from what he use to do with his sister we just lost. It is clear that Tessa is submissive with Monty. She tries to get him to play all the time. When she does she will come at him low on the ground..under his chin and almost sideways. She follows him around the house and shows him respect most of the time. She started showing signs of possesiveness with her toys. She likes to make sure they are all on her bed. If Monty comes and takes one she will chase him in play but when it is over she makes sure it is back in her place. The only reason he takes them is to play. He doesn't sit and play with toys or chew on them. I am now wondering if he is doing it to show dominance. Today, I was offering her a toy and Monty came over and took it. She did her usual play chasing. Tessa had already chewed a whole in it so Monty was ripping the stuffing out. I don't know what started it, but within seconds they were going at one another. Instead of it ending quickly, it started escalating. Tessa was really staying aggressive. I didn't see them actually bite each other. I got in between them but Tessa was still wanting to bark at him. At this point Monty had stopped, he was just standing there. She was going at him the same way as when she plays....with her face basically on the floor under him. I was telling her to get in her crate but she wasn't listening. Monty went in instead. I put her up and checked on Monty. He was shaking....only for a minute. When I went to pet him his neck was wet. I checked him for bites but found none. His hair on his neck is white so I would have seen any blood. She did get him on the inside of his ear though. It looked more like scrapes and it wasn't bleeding that much. At first I was freaking....but I think she may have just got his ear when she was barking and he may have moved. I want to stop this behavior NOW! I can not let her hurt my dog. I am also afraid that if this is just showing 3 weeks in, will she start showing aggression towards us. Right now we can take her food bowl away, any toy or just something she should not have. She is just this way with Monty. He has always been the dominant dog...but not aggressive. I've never dealt with anything like this. I want to help her, but not at my Monty's expense.

Please help....Tricia

Thanks for the reply....


There are only two things Monty is possesive of....food and me. Just now Tessa was sitting up by me and when he saw he jumped up and sat on my lap.

I'm confused about the bullying. Tessa will follow us around constantly and sometimes will get in front of us. I think she is just looking for attention but sometimes we will have to move her to go somewhere. She will block Monty too but it looked like she was just trying to get him to play.


With the playing rough....Monty wants nothing to do with it. Is that why when she gets started he just goes into his crate....cause he knows what she is doing? Just playing rough. The first time they got into it he was just as involved....since then he just walks away.

I do think that she probably just doesn't know how to act with him. All the man said when he dropped her and another dog off at the shelter is that they didn't get along. Can he teach her by his actions??

Thanks again...Tricia