Got our rescue lurcher a couple of days ago, very nervous

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davrostavros

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Hello all, delighted to join the forum.

We got our rescue lurcher, 2-3 years old, a couple of days ago. She is a staffie cross, relativity small (23inches tts) but strong as hell.

shes great around the house and with the kids and this lockdown period will allow us to do more bonding and focused training. She is also great at telling us when she needs to toilet and only one small accident

she is super anxious around other dogs, she was ok when I met her a couple of times at the shelter and when I did dog to dog training too. Got her home and on the walks she has had if she is near a dog she goes into full on attack, angry devil dog mode.

I only walk her on a short lead and is muzzled. I’m going to get a proper hound collar and one of the lead slips that says nervous dog.

this mornings walk, for about an hour and a half had three incidents, first was a dog on the other side of the road, she just reacted even though I had been offering treats she couldn’t help it, another dog was coming up behind us, she spotted it and had to drag her away.

For some reason I though that cutting through a park would be ok but a spaniel was there off lead and as soon as Abi spotted it it kicked off. The spaniel was off lead and they had a go at each other as I was trying to drag her away. It felt like this went on for ages but in reality it was probably only thirty seconds by the time the other dogs owner was able to recall her. Headed quickly out of the park at that point. Her tail was low all the way round, think she is really stressed and on edge on the walks.

she is a bit barky at home in the garden as we have a JRT next door and no recall or obedience, even ignoring treats and her squeaky balls.

one day I would like to walk her off lead and do some proper running with her letting her run free (without a muzzle) but feels a long way off. I do know it’s very early days and will be taking her to a trainer when this lockdown ends.

not the exercise I think she would enjoy the most But it was a decent 3 mile hour and a half walk and she’s been playing in the garden four or five times.
any advice and help would be amazing as she is like the third picture a lot.
 
Hi and welcome to the forum.
Stop walking and training and just let her settle. She's been with you a matter of days and has undergone a lot of upheaval and you're expecting far too much.
Just let her chill around the house and get used to you before taking her on 90 minute route marches. She needs to relax, not be over-stimulated.
 
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Ok so about the other dogs.

Was she running with other dogs/in a pack at the shelter? As this will have an impact if she feels that she has been removed and 'isolated' from her gang of protective buddies and now feels the need to protect herself.
Your job is eventually to let her know that you'll handle it, she doesn't have to worry about anything.

Some staffies can be reactive so there may be a genetic element.

The muzzle may make her feel more restricted/unable to 'flee' so she has to kick off.

Mind your own body language, if you tense up and keep a tight line and expect a row, there generally will be a row.

If you're going to use food to train you need to put her in a programme where food = work for me in a low stress environment.
If she gets two meals a day and is always full and she is in high anxiety, waving a sausage at her will not trump the need to protect herself from threat and most dogs won't take food if they are stressed.

Teach her that you're a nice person and your house is a great place to be and then in a week or two look at just taking a bimble out and see where you are then.

If at all possible don't let her run the fence or be too distracted by the dog next door, before lockdown I was working with a fencefighter and it leaked into all her interactions with other dogs and is a bit of a pain to train over.
 
Not as far as I know. I think her nerves stopped her but she was ok playing with smaller dogs, bigger ones she just loses her sh*t.

i ok her out on the walk before her breakfast so she would have been hungry but not obviously enough to distract her from the instinct.

the dogs next door are hardly out although you sometimes hear them she seems to be barking at things that aren’t there. There another dog further down so could it be she is getting a scent? She also bimbles around just generally barking, maybe she’s letting other digs around know there’s a new hound in town? Do I just let her go at it for a bit? I’ve found myself standing in the middle of the garden with a ball getting ignored.
 
I don't personally like it as it can be self fulfilling for them to think they are 'seeing off' a perceived threat (wow, I'm a big girl, look at that other dog retreating into the distance) and it can mean that they aren't at ease in their own surroundings, having to be on alert for danger all the time.
For example, there's a dog on the other side of my fence who goes nuts at the slightest noise, my dogs ignore it barking, as they ignore kids on trampolines, people putting bins out etc, because they know it's nothing worth worrying about.

You could try and work out what makes her really into you, a ball on a rope or a flirt pole and make the interaction with you, the fun part, rather than just being a dispenser. Try and be as engaging and interesting as possible, use a high pitched voice, don't be afraid to look like a berk.
The ideal is, you are more interesting and exciting than everything else and she looks to you for guidance rather than taking it upon herself to have to tell other dogs to pizz off.
 
From the sound of it she is far more staffie than sighthound? It’s a myth that sighthounds need shedloads of exercise, for example greyhounds are the laziest dogs you will ever meet and are quite happy with a a couple of 20 minute strolls a day. It is what they are crossed with that matters/counts ?

I totally agree with CC, I’ve always avoided bull lurchers myself but I’ve known a few very well that friends have had - let her chill and settle, get used to her surroundings and you, as with any rescue dog she needs to feel secure and comfortable at home before you start pushing the boundaries ?
 
Never liked Bull lurchers but that’s more of an aesthetic preference. She’s reactive to other dogs. Personally that’s not a big deal to me. When I walk my dogs I’m not interested in socialising either. She’s good in the home, good with children those are big plus-es (sic). Whilst walking her, the key is to distract and in time you will know when to distract her from approaching dogs. Is she food Orientated? Get her used to focusing on you with a cue and then reward. It works in the garden or in the big outdoors. Don’t despair, just get her to focus on you.
 
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CorvusCorax said:
I don't personally like it as it can be self fulfilling for them to think they are 'seeing off' a perceived threat (wow, I'm a big girl, look at that other dog retreating into the distance) and it can mean that they aren't at ease in their own surroundings, having to be on alert for danger all the time.
For example, there's a dog on the other side of my fence who goes nuts at the slightest noise, my dogs ignore it barking, as they ignore kids on trampolines, people putting bins out etc, because they know it's nothing worth worrying about.

You could try and work out what makes her really into you, a ball on a rope or a flirt pole and make the interaction with you, the fun part, rather than just being a dispenser. Try and be as engaging and interesting as possible, use a high pitched voice, don't be afraid to look like a berk.
The ideal is, you are more interesting and exciting than everything else and she looks to you for guidance rather than taking it upon herself to have to tell other dogs to pizz off.
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Her favourite toy (so far) was a tug toy with a tennis ball in the middle. That’s lasted just the day with only the rope rings left (keeping them as they are good for catch). Might have to pick up a new one sharpish, might look into the ball on a rope thing when I’m shopping - she did seems to like the one at the shelter. Any other good toy recommendations? I have a Kong extreme and going to put some meat in it. She seems plot like peanut butter and her kibble
 
Just anything that you can keep 'live' and moving like a prey object. No offence but that and making you the person who makes the toy active and starting the game, will be more interesting than just standing there will a ball in your hand ;)

Again this is personal but I don't like dogs to have these sorts of toys to themselves to run away with and demolish.
The dog and ME play a game with the toy, the dog can win and carry it and release it back to me and the game starts again.
Just letting them win and take it away and destroy it defeats the point IMO.
Chews/chewing to relax toys are different.
 
My mum rescued a staffer/whippet many years ago. It was a knee jerk when she lost her collie. I remember many ‘oh what have I done’ calls in the first couple of weeks but she ended up with a lovely little dog.
Tess was never very good with other dogs, but was manageable if they were polite, but was a delight with the family.
So, CCs the go to training lady but I just wanted to tell a positive tale.
 
Got her from the local SSPCA, she’s a beaut.

seems pretty chilled out. The kids being here the whole time possibly isn’t great, think she was a bit hyper, certainly the day we got her home, just wanted to explore and play.

Think they annoyed her a bit before bed, warned them but when she stared to get a bit ansy they started to understand.
 
davrostavros said:
Got her from the local SSPCA, she’s a beaut.

seems pretty chilled out. The kids being here the whole time possibly isn’t great, think she was a bit hyper, certainly the day we got her home, just wanted to explore and play.

Think they annoyed her a bit before bed, warned them but when she stared to get a bit ansy they started to understand.
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Please don't let it get to the point where the dog has to tell the kids to back off. You must take action before then.

Your dog needs her own space where she can feel safe without being bothered by your children.
 
skinnydipper said:
Please don't let it get to the point where the dog has to tell the kids to back off. You must take action before then.

Your dog needs her own space where she can feel safe without being bothered by your children.
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She didn’t snap at them, I could see she was getting a bit her up and it was time to take her outside anyway but she was obviously a little miffed at the attention the kids were giving her, their dance show probably didn’t help either.
 
davrostavros said:
She didn’t snap at them, I could see she was getting a bit her up and it was time to take her outside anyway but she was obviously a little miffed at the attention the kids were giving her, their dance show probably didn’t help either.
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CC has already given you some excellent advice.

Your home is a new environment and your new dog needs time to settle and destress. Take things slowly.

Your children need to learn to give her space and let her approach them in her own time.

What you do now and what you allow your children to do will affect your dog's behaviour going forward. You do not want her to be wary or defensive around them.
 
CorvusCorax said:
Just anything that you can keep 'live' and moving like a prey object. No offence but that and making you the person who makes the toy active and starting the game, will be more interesting than just standing there will a ball in your hand ;)

Again this is personal but I don't like dogs to have these sorts of toys to themselves to run away with and demolish.
The dog and ME play a game with the toy, the dog can win and carry it and release it back to me and the game starts again.
Just letting them win and take it away and destroy it defeats the point IMO.
Chews/chewing to relax toys are different.
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Really good advice!! For my terrier (who would probably love to chase and kill things all day long...) one of the best toys has a been a bit of ripped up old towel, knotted in the middle (so 2 flappy ends and a hard knotty bit) on a long bit of string/rope. With this we can play tug without the rope (accompanied by frenzied growling hahaha), we can throw it for a bit of fetching or we can run with it on a rope for a fab game of chase. :) :) We all love this and just about all of these games that we play are exciting enough to get our young dog to abandon anything else (particularly the chasing the towel on a rope game as it also involves us running which he finds hysterically exciting). However we have been really careful to ensure that these games have been trained at the same time as careful stock training and really good recall training and I generally don't need to worry about interactions with strange dogs. They are wildly exciting usually and slightly more difficult. I always give very high value treats for engaging in a game with us - even if it is just at home. I save the very bestest treats for when we are 'out' somewhere though I am always more cautious in that setting tbh.
 
I’m so sorry OP that the aggressive and judgemental have jumped on you here. I do hope your dog is settling and your children are learning how to act around her.
How is it going?
 
Clodagh said:
I’m so sorry OP that the aggressive and judgemental have jumped on you here. I do hope your dog is settling and your children are learning how to act around her.
How is it going?
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OP had had the dog 2 days and the poor thing was in at the deep end.

Please read the original post again, "super anxious around other dogs" "if she is near another dog she goes into full on attack, angry devil dog mode". Walked muzzled. For an hour and a half a day.

The dog's stress levels were already known to be high.

Excited children giving the dog a dance display. "she was obviously a little miffed at the attention the kids were giving her, their dance show probably didn’t help either."

You couldn't see a problem with that?

I was worried that there was a very real risk of a child getting bitten and the dog being returned to the rescue with a black mark against it.

I get that it is tempting to do too much too soon when people get their new dog but the last thing the dog needs are negative experiences and it is important not to damage the long term relationship with a new dog.

Dogs will settle faster if the pressure is reduced. Keeping their world small and calm initially is good, letting them get used to their new environment before taking them everywhere with you. Walking somewhere quiet, where the dog can relax and sniff.

Routine is good for a new dog. The same thing happening every day, at the same time. Dogs like routine and can relax more when they know what to expect. Don't rush trying to set boundaries or train new behaviours, let the dog settle into their new environment first.
 
Your training methods there were akin to clumping a dog when it doesn’t sit soon enough. There’s no harm in being polite, people then feel they can ask for advice again.
CC was super helpful.
 
My children learnt from being very small, the dogs were there before the children, that dogs are not toys to be played with, that they left them alone.
It really winds me up that a) a child is supposed to know the risks and the right responses to a dog behavoir,adults even get this wrong, b) that any animal is seen as entertaiment for child, learning respect for an animal, and how to care for it is a different thing. c) that the dog is supposed to know that the child is not going to harm it, even if it feels stressed.
I have had two rescue dogs with problems when I got them, calm, space and consistancy, usually provided by one person to start off with usually works.
 
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