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escampbell
 MH Posts:213


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| 09/22/2010 3:17 PM |
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I used to foster GSPs for my rescue group and, YES, small dog aggression can be an issue. At least one of my fosters was aggressive towards my Sheltie, while just fine with my other GSPs. Just as the breed can be intolerant of cats, some can be intolerant of small dogs. A well brought up and well socialized GSP WILL make the distinction. (One of my dogs saw met a friend's chihuahua many years ago, raced up to it as if to chase. The tiny thing growled and my GSP hit the brakes, backed off and clearly said, "Oh, it's another dog!" ) But, dogs from shelters or in rescue usually have been poorly brought up and are untrained. They may not. I see no reason to encourage such dogs to interact with small dogs. I would focus on ignoring small dogs (and dogs in general) and behaving properly. In time, they may learn that small dogs are dogs, but good manners should come first. Small dogs can indeed trigger prey drive in some dogs. If you have ever competed in agility, you know that a fast moving small bundle of fur, especially one that is white and therefore highly visible, can cause many dogs to alert. Eleanor in NJ |
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Eleanor Campbell New Jersey Sydney, Presto, Price, Ozma and Soleil |
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Sax
Posts:16

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| 09/22/2010 3:23 PM |
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Thanks, Eleanor.
I agree, obedience and manners come first. I'd be more than happy just to teach her to ignore. From what I've seen with her so far, I don't think any previous owners dealt with her behavior, and just let her do whatever she wanted.
She's slowly coming around to the idea that she isn't the boss, this time. Getting her out of that Alpha dog position is going to take some time and perserverance. |
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escampbell
 MH Posts:213


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| 09/22/2010 3:46 PM |
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Fostering is NOT easy, but it is very rewarding. It takes time, patience, structure and improvement comes in baby steps. I am pretty sure your analysis of her background is correct. Obedience school, if you are so inclined, might help. And she may never be reliable with small dogs. Honestly, as long as her enocunters are managed and she is polite, who cares if she is the life of canine society or not? Good luck to you and thanks for fostering! |
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Eleanor Campbell New Jersey Sydney, Presto, Price, Ozma and Soleil |
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Sax
Posts:16

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| 09/22/2010 3:51 PM |
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Well, if she is never reliable with small dogs, I can be OK with that IF she can be 100% reliable with recall. If I can't prevent her from darting off after small animals (and small dogs) through obedience training, it will mean she can never reliably be off-leash. That will be too bad. We attend obedience school together for the first time tomorrow night. |
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Splat Illinois (Northern)
 MH Posts:2583


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| 09/23/2010 6:04 AM |
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So glad to hear you are doing the steps and doing the obedience training...Hopefully she will get the recall you want and can have some off leash freedom, keep it up! I had a boxer that didn't get along with other dogs except my parent's dog cuz she grew up with her. It was horrible not being able to do the fun dog things with her...I never got the recall I wanted with her (though I did not have internet to research and seak advice at that time)...then one day in her old age our neighbor got a blue healer (which is what my parents dog was) and low and behold she played with her! |
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 http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2553 http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2554 |
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Texas Belle Austin, TX
 MH Posts:6941


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| 09/23/2010 7:43 AM |
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| You can get that reliable recall, but it will take allot of work and commitment on your part and probably and ecollar too before you are done. Good luck!! I am glad you are getting her into obedience as I think it will help allot. |
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Bev Quarles, the Pointer Sisters (Belle and Halo), the Outlaw GSP (Johnny Ringo) and the little Princess (Fauna)
Yellow Rose GSPs
  
"A dog has the soul of a philosopher." - Plato |
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pixie bee
 MH Posts:4123


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| 09/23/2010 7:53 AM |
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I see one possible issue with an e-collar. If used at the wrong moment and/or wrong intensity when another dog is involved the situation can actually be hightened with disasterous results at the time and afterwards. If a dog percieves the stimulation/shock as coming from another dog - a dog they are fixating on - this could instill just the opposite of what you are looking to create. Just food for thought. |
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"Time with my dogs clears my mind, renews my faith, and lets me see the world as it is. My only regret loving dogs as I do, is the misery of their early departure." Robert G. Wehle
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therozypozy
 MH Posts:348


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| 09/23/2010 11:31 AM |
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I agree with Beverly you can get a reliable recall with the help of an ecollar, but don't start with the recall training that way. Obedience training will certainly give you that foundation of how to train the come way before you should ever use an ecollar, because pixie bee is right you don't want to start out using it to stop the agression. The dog would be definitely confused on where the stimulation from the ecollar is coming from. |
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Texas Belle Austin, TX
 MH Posts:6941


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Sax
Posts:16

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| 10/01/2010 10:08 AM |
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So, we've been attending basic dog training classes. While it is obvious that Karla has had some training before I still think what we are doing will be valuable for us in developing a bond and a proper hierarchy in the relationship. It is absolutely SURE now that Karla makes a BIG distinction between small dogs and larger dogs, but even then, it seems situationally dependent. The school has separated smaller dogs and larger dogs into two separate classes. When Karla is in the room with the larger dogs, (about a dozen other dogs) she is really quite well behaved. She can get a bit excited at first, especially if some of the other dogs are not that well controlled. But for the most part, she does well in training, is able to focus well on me, and so on. Last night, though, partway through class, someone joined the group with a sheltie, and entered the line right next to us. GONE was the focus on training ,ears went up and forward, tail stiffly up, body tense and straining to go over to where the Sheltie was. She was pointing and making lunges to head that way. After about 10 minutes, I was finally able to get her to refocus on the training, and she relaxed quite a bit, but she continually looked back toward that sheltie at every opportunity. Then again, she went for a car ride last week with a maltese - terrier cross in the front seat, and it was completely a non-issue. I guess it just means control will be a BIG issue for us to develop, because she may react in different ways at different times. A common theme on our walks together is how LITTLE control the average owner has over their pet. Owners commonly enter the local school yard (where we walk) and immediately unhook the leash from their dog. We have been "charged" by about 5 of these dogs now, and I'm getting tired of protecting my dog (actually, possibly protecting THEIR dog from mine) - and disciplining the dogs of other owners...please, get with it, owners. |
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Splat Illinois (Northern)
 MH Posts:2583


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| 10/01/2010 11:50 AM |
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| I know our area has leash laws and unless at a dog park dogs must be on a leash...however I know so many owners that do not folloe the law... |
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 http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2553 http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2554 |
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Splat Illinois (Northern)
 MH Posts:2583


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| 10/01/2010 11:50 AM |
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| I know our area has leash laws and unless at a dog park dogs must be on a leash...however I know so many owners that do not follow the law... |
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 http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2553 http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2554 |
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Pointer Fan Westminster, Colorado
 MH Posts:953


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| 10/03/2010 4:27 PM |
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| The daycare where Molly goes separates dogs by size. Our big dog park has no rules. Molly has never been agressive toward any dog no matter the size but there have been occasions when small dogs come yipping up at her uncontrolled by their owners that I am amazed that she has shown such restraint. |
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Sax
Posts:16

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| 12/06/2010 1:53 PM |
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Well, after 3 1/2 months of fostering Karla, we fully intended to adopt her, but the rescue society that we got her from wants us to give her back. We've been caring for her, training her, excersizing her, and really making her a part of our family. She is really bonding so well with us and us with her. When we fostered her, they knew we worked full time, and that we'd work Karla into being used to spending her days alone. And we've ben working hard at it. She's come a long way. But now, they have another person that wants to adopt her that is home 24/7 - works from home, and they awant to give her to that person. The last 5 homes have given up on Karla - we haven't, and didn't plan to. Why take her away from us? So she can feel abandoned AGAIN? We're pretty disappointed in them. |
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Splat Illinois (Northern)
 MH Posts:2583


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| 12/06/2010 8:27 PM |
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| That is extremely sad for you...I just hope for Karla's sake this new home won't give up on her... |
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 http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2553 http://www.perfectpedigrees.com/4genview.php?id=2554 |
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