Cyprus Sam comes with Issues

[TrasaM]

It's day 4 of Sam living with me here in the UK. A lot of the past two days have been taking up with cleaning up poop as he's got a very upset tummy. I've made him fast today so apart from - 1 scrambled egg this evening he's had nothing. This is not a situation he's happy about but until he sees the vet tomorrow am it's the best solution for now. I'd be more worried if he didn't want to eat.

His main issues behaviour wise, are what I believe, fear agression to other dogs if they show any excitement. Lack of socialising I would think but then being shut in a cage and starved wouldn't do much for one's emotional development. He's been fine with my friends lab x who's older and more sensible.
Also confirmed today (I'd had my suspicions already) is agression towards women and even children if they're wearing loose fitting dresses. Not so good but at least now I'm aware of it. So often it is men that these type of dogs ( hunting /german pointer) have problems with. I've told him that I'm going to get a lady who speaks to dogs so he can tell her what the problems are but he walked out of the room..maybe like me he'd rather not talk about it.
Every so often I see the dog that he can be..the lively happy clown who loves to fetch ball or the gentle expression when he's calm so I need to hold on to that. At a low point today after two days of clearing up I think. Where's Caesar Milan when you need him.
Thank you for reading..

 

[samlf]

Well if it's only day 4 you haven't had him long, it's always a learning curve getting to know a new dog.

I would absolutely never take him out without a muzzle until you are 100% sure he is 'over' the women and children thing.

Have you got hold of a good behaviourist?

 

[TrasaM]

I'm being very careful to warn anyone with loose dogs that he's nervous but only had the dress thing confirmed today do will take avoiding action. It's not women as such as he's got no problem if they're in close fitting skirts to trousers and he's very good with the children he's met .. Was considering a muzzle though

I've heard of a good behaviourist who lives nearby but if anyone lives in the loughborough area I'm grateful for any suggestions.

Sorry..feeling tired and dispirited today.. I'll feel more relaxed once I get his tummy trouble sorted.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

I thought you had him a while in Cyprus before you came back to the UK with him, and that it hopefully is just the travel/relocation that has upset his stomach?

Have you tried using Canikur (available in either tablets or paste), Pro-Kolin (paste) or Pro-Soluble (powder) or similar to settle his stomach?
They're sold by others too, but this place came up on my first search, and had everything I wanted to link to: http://www.vetuk.co.uk/dog-suppleme...canikur-anti-diarrhoeal-tablets-for-dogs-p-81
http://www.vetuk.co.uk/dog-suppleme...oea-c-5_145/canikur-pro-paste-for-dogs-p-4020
http://www.vetuk.co.uk/dog-suppleme...prokolin-antidiarrhoeal-probiotic-paste-p-249
http://www.vetuk.co.uk/dog-suppleme...anion-animal-pro-soluble-for-dogs-150g-p-2383


I can't offer you any suggestions about a good dog behaviourist, but once his stomach problem is solved (fingers crossed

for that it hopefully will be quickly solved), and if you feel that he trusts you, why not try and wear some more loose fitting dresses yourself + pockets full with liver treats?

 

[TrasaM]

Thanks Finnish Lapphund.. Yes I had him for two weeks when in Cyprus so he already knows me. I got growled at when I came in wearing a dress once when we were there but today I went and put one on and he was fine with it..apart from putting his head up it and deciding it was a great game. I'm sure we will work through it though once we get him more relaxed and secure. Am trying to nip all transgressions in the bud without punishing him and exposing him to as many situations as I can to get an idea of what triggers his fear.
Tummy much better tonight and he's had pro-kolin to help. X

 

[AmyMay]

I would do all your exercising in the garden for a week or so, until he's more settled.

 

[TrasaM]

I would do all your exercising in the garden for a week or so, until he's more settled.

Do you think I'm throwing too much at him too soon ?
Our walks are generally very quiet and uneventful and we don't meet many people but he's had an awful lot to take in in a short period of time.

 

[Wella]

Sorry to hear your having problems. Jimmy had an upset stomach. I think he was just worked up it's a lot for them to take in. It's hard some days I think what the hell have I done. Then he looks so sweet when he's asleep lol. He's just so full of energy! He loves men so I don't think anything really bad has happened to him. He thinks everyone loves him. He plays with other dogs but he's quite rough. He won't wee or poo on a short lead. He has to be on the lunge line.

 

[Teaselmeg]

I would definitely back off with the socialising for a few days, let him settle and get his tummy sorted. If he is feeling unwell/uncomfortable then he will not see anything new in a positive light. All socialising should be at his pace, it's a massive change for him.

I don't know where in the midlands you are but Marie Miller and Karen Wild are great positive based trainers and if they are not close enough, they would be able to suggest someone who is.

 

[MyBoyChe]

I have no advice to offer as no experience but just wanted to tell you that I meet a lady most mornings when walking my 3 who has 2 dogs she rehomed from Cyprus. I believe she fell in love with them whilst on holiday and paid to have them brought back with her. She has had them both for 3 years now and they are lovely dogs, both scruffy middle size mongrels but absolutely gorgeous to look at. Her biggest issues were recall with one of them and occasional dog aggressive behaviour with the other. Both are now really well rounded and socialised dogs, when we meet all 5 charge around and play together, they will swim together, love to chase balls and none of them show any aggression to each other. If another dog passes by and joins in that is also just accepted. It brings tears to your eyes when you here of where they came from, she is a very sensible lady of 70 but her heart was taken by these 2. We are not local to you and Im not sure whether she had help or just used basic common sense but she persevered and has been well rewarded. I hope you will be too. I would suggest just taking things very slowly with him and give him lots of time to get used to each new thing, really let him build his trust in you so he knows he can rely on you. Good luck.

 

[TrasaM]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply
Sam has had a very poorly tummy which we are now getting in top of with the help of bland diet and pro-kolin. Yesterday however I gave him a few pieces of his original dried food and the result; Hyperactive horror dog who wouldn't listen and wouldn't sleep and who is itchy all over. Lesson learnt re grains I think! The itching is easing tonight and he volunteered to go to bed.
On Monday friend and I took him out and I let him off the lead with her dog..who he looks up to and follows so I knew he'd come back. Talk about joyous dog. It was so heartening to see him running free with his ears flapping in the wind and maybe it's coincidence but his tummy cleared up at the same time. I'm avoiding dogs who are off leash and I now ask people to not stroke him when were out.

Wella.. Thank you. That's exactly how I've felt some days .. And yes, he's lovely when he's asleep too. Then I feel guilty for thinking it

Teaselmeg. Thank you for the suggestions. Yes we've eased off now and stay on familiar routes that he's familiar with.

MyBoyChe.
Thank you and well done your friend for taking in two. Sam doesn't mean to be horrid it's just that he does not understand how to speak dog very well yet. With more balanced dogs who know their minds he won't try anything and I know he can be sociable because we put him in with a group of dogs in Cyprus and he was clumsy but did not fight with any of them.

Tomorrow is another day ..hopefully the itching will have eased by then..

 

[thewonderhorse]

Do you think I'm throwing too much at him too soon ?
Our walks are generally very quiet and uneventful and we don't meet many people but he's had an awful lot to take in in a short period of time.

Yes I think you would be right to take it slow with him. I would also, for the time being, muzzle (the cage type not nylon) out in public, for his safety as well as others.

Good luck with him though. He has been through a lot and he will come right in time I am sure

 

[TrasaM]

I've just arranged for a behaviourist to come and help us next Wednesday.. Sarafina thank you for the recommendation..we've just spoken on the phone and he sounds lovely.

 

[Alec Swan]

I've only just read your thread, and I'll admit to not reading all the responses. I seem to remember a previous thread about this dog, and I'm not really familiar with the full story. However, this is what I suspect;

Your dog may well have been permitted to form his own stance and from an early age. Depending upon his age, will depend upon how ingrained his 'beliefs' are, and how difficult it will be to perhaps steer him in another direction. It also seems to me that linked to the last sentence, he seems unable to relinquish his 'pack leadership' stance. Yet again, depending upon his age and your experience and abilities, may well depend your success.

I suspect that you have a rocky path ahead, but I would say that if you are able to gain control, then you should be able to make progress. Will you let us know how you progress, whether its' a simple process, or not?

Alec.

 

[TrasaM]

Thanks Alec.. I value your advice as I know you're an experienced dog owner. Sam was very likely kept isolated in a cage or back yard from the time he was taken from his mother so probably no socialising whatsoever with other dogs at the time he needed it most. Therefore his response is usually distrust and fear which then manifests as fear aggression if they get too close to him. He's been ok with my friend's fog who is calm plus she knew what she was doing when they were introduced and kept her dog calm and under control. When they've been out together he looks to her dog for leadership and mimics everything he does..well swimming was a step too far but he wanted to..doesn't realise he's got webbed feet yet. the associated fear he has with certain clothing..loose dresses and men with hoodie type sweatshirts probably gives us a hint as to who mistreated him but we have to get past that and start rebuilding new and positive reactions. He's been a really good boy on his walk this morning am I now make him sit and watch when anything new pops up or if he's getting anxious about another dog being too close. It seems to be helping him. However I need the skills to help him and this us where the behaviourist comes in. It'd be a sorry ending to his story, if after getting him away from death row in Cyprus, he ends up in the same place because he bites someone .. His ideal solution would be integrating with an established pack of dogs who teach him some dog skills but for now that's neither possible nor available.

Oh..age is approx 15-18 months so adolescent but has been neutered as are all Cyprus rescue dogs before rehoming