New Addition to the family-what breed?

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Emma86

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Hello Everyone, First time posting in the Doggy section!

So on Saturday I made a decision to adopt a beautiful boy from a Dog Rescue Centre near by.

I have him on a weeks foster trial, as the house me and my Father live in is rented and we cant have a dog that will disturb our neighbours. He has been so good so far, except quite bad seperation anxiety, which is something we plan to work on slowly. But if anyone has ant more advice for us it would be much appreciated! He has been in the Rescue centre for 2 years so I'm sure this is all very confusing for him! W have bneen advised to muzzle him when walking as he is quite nervous of other dogs, but again we hope to fix this with time. But is fine with kids, and was very well behaved when I took himn to meet my horse on Sunday!

We have been told he is a German Shepherd X, however I was stopped in the street and asked if he was a Perro de Presa. Any one have any ideas on what you think his breed is?

Here is my gorgeous new boy Major... (I hope the piccies work)
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Ah thats more like it!

He could be anything to be honest, did they have any history on him? That's a long time for him to be in kennels, poor lad.

He could be GSD x mastiff with that colouring, or he has a little of the look of a Belgian Malinois or Dutch Herder in there, although they are not widespread in this country and would need to see pics of him standing/moving.
If he does have those breeds in him he is likely to be a tad quirky! They are working dogs who need careful, clear training and a 'job' to do, even if that is obedience/agility etc.
 
Looks like he could have a bit of mastiff in there somewhere hence the brindle colouring but deff. GSD mix - well done for rescuing him, he's lovely!!:D
 
Got there finally! Sorry everyone!

Yes he is quite a character! I am thinking once he is settled I will take him to some sort of training or agility to try and get him used to other dogs again.

He is already very clingy with me, which is good and bad I suppose. He was in the Kennels for so long because people were adopting him, going out and leaving him, and when they came home to their house trashed they took him straight back. I really hope I can be the one to help him (I'm soppy like that!)

Here is one more now I know how to do it! :D

major2.jpg
 
What a lovely dog and well done for taking him on, if I had to guess I would say GSD/Staffy.

If you pm Cayla she will be able to help with the SA as she deals with lots of rescue dogs with this problem and Im sure she would be glad to help.
 
CaveCanem said:
Does he like to jump really ridiculously high things? What kind of pitch is his bark? Does he like to chase a ball?

He looks lovely and chillaxed :D
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He seems to have settled really well when he know were around, just have to gradually introduce him being on his own.

He has a deep (very) loud bark-makes him sound very ferocious! But the only time he has barked was when he was in his crate on his own. Change of tactics includes me sleeping on a sofa bed in the next room and gradually reducing the amount of time im near him at night, until he will spend all night alone downstairs.

He loves me throwing things for him to chase but he doesnt 'fetch and return', to be honest I dont think he knows how. He is 4, but was brought over from Ireland to the shelter when he was 2.

He doesnt jump up at things (as of yet), he is very well mannered and obedient but Im pretty sure he isnt really sure how to 'play'. He was obviosly well looked after in the Shelter but there is only so much time they spend with each dog.

Any tips for 'play' training?
 
Dobiegirl said:
What a lovely dog and well done for taking him on, if I had to guess I would say GSD/Staffy.

If you pm Cayla she will be able to help with the SA as she deals with lots of rescue dogs with this problem and Im sure she would be glad to help.
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Thank you, that will be really helpful. Its so great to be able to get lots of opinions and advice.

Just hope it works out!
 
Ah, he may not have the low countries blood then :p :D

If you get a couple of balls on ropes (they are easier to keep live and active) and tease him with those, play with them then put them away (always leave the dog wanting more!) you could also try back-tying him or getting someone else to hold him and winding him up with them, keeping them just out of reach, chucking them around, making them really attractive to him. I always use two balls for the retrieve as you having another ball, incentivises him bringing the first ball back, if that makes any sense, so he comes back with one, immediately swap it for the other so the game is not ending.
 
CaveCanem said:
Ah, he may not have the low countries blood then :p :D

If you get a couple of balls on ropes (they are easier to keep live and active) and tease him with those, play with them then put them away (always leave the dog wanting more!) you could also try back-tying him or getting someone else to hold him and winding him up with them, keeping them just out of reach, chucking them around, making them really attractive to him. I always use two balls for the retrieve as you having another ball, incentivises him bringing the first ball back, if that makes any sense, so he comes back with one, immediately swap it for the other so the game is not ending.
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That sounds good, He seems fairly comfortable in our cross country fields so this may be a good place to try this, I have had him on a lunge line until I know he will come when called.

Stencilface said:
Nothin to add, except that he is lovely! :D
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He is isnt he :D
 
He looks lovely. It sounds like you are taking this seriously and being considerate for him so I think he has been lucky to find you.

Fingers crossed with the training.
 
My honest guess, he is an akita x, I would guess akita x staffi.
Well done you for taking him on, he looks gorgeous, 2 years:( poor little bugger.
His diagnoses aggression would most certainly be lack of socialisation and in those 2 breeds (not great) which im almost certain he is but training can help immensely and I would bet no one has bothered to put the time into him, a kennel environment will then make that alot worse sadly.
 
My younger goldie had a lack of socialisation and she's not 100% with other dogs so an akita x gsd could be even worse. I think because he's nervous a muzzle could make him worse, just use a headcollar or something.
 
nice dog! are you crate/cage training him? my dog loves his cage, he gets a treat everytime he is put away! seperation anxiety .. try putting him in his cage with a chewy, and telly on quite loud! increase time left gradually. he will soon learn his crate is his space, also make sure he is well exercised and ready for a rest before putting him in his bedroom!! with time he will settle, when i let mine out i always go straight into the garden for toilets before i give them a fuss. this has always worked for me though he has been in kennels for a long time so it will take time to get him to adjust. good luck with him
 
Ps, I meant to add, I replied to your PM, have wrote a good bit in there will need your email addy for the rest:D the PM aint big enough:D
I tried to send 3 times b4 it went so you may get lots or none:o let me know I copied and posted what I wrote incase:D
 
He looks lovely - so sad when a dog's been in a kennels that long :(

The socialisation can definitely be worked on. I got my rescue back in Dec and she is very reactive on leads with other dogs (tonnes better off lead), she is pretty attached to me and I guess this makes her a bit protective of me as well. I took mine to some training classes - she was assessed first and we were the put in the puppy class (mine was only 9 mths though), the idea was to get her to socialise with less scary dogs - her reactions are based on fear - this did work quite well and I learnt sme techniques to use. She is a lot better now when walked out and we see other dogs and has learnt and improved how to actually greet other dogs.

She still has issues with certain dogs (the bigger they are the scarier they are! Lol) but it is improving. Howeverm it is not easy and with a bigger dog it will bemore challenging I imagine purely down to their size and strength so i would def work on training and get him to some classes.
 
Thanks everyone for your messages, everyone's experiences and advice is SOOOO helpful!

The kennel said he loves his crate, but since being at the house I don't agree. He went in there on the first day here but looked very stressed and chewed furiously on his toys. Since then he hasn't used it much (good or bad?), so re-introducing it sounds like a good idea...re-introduce it as a positive rather than a negative association with being left at the kennels.

He is currently snoring away on the floor with a blanket of mine so we shall see what tonight brings! I am thinking of going to my room for a couple of hours as a test while he seems relaxed. I can hear him from there so I'll know if he starts to stress. Night light on and telly on low...Wish me luck! :)
 
You can thow a blanket over a wire crate or invest in a plastic airline crate (I use these, one for the house and one for the car) to make him feel a bit more secure.
 
So it seems we have made some progress!! :D

He spent the whole night last night asleep in the living room...No squeaking/barking/howling and the living room was still in one piece!!
He seemed really chilled so I though Id try my luck for a couple of hours, I left my bedroom door open and left him in the living room (he knows he is not allowed upstairs) and he stayed downstairs all night, even though he could have quite easily come upstairs. I'm so pleased!!

Thanks Cayla for the fab info on crate training. I started with some this morning, He had breakfast in the crate (still isnt finishing all his food at the mo but im guessing he will with time) and had his kong in there for a bit aswell.

My Dad is with him at home today and is going to pop out for short amounts of time to see how he is on his own in the day.

Things are definately looking good! :)
 
There are a few golden rules for Separation Anxiety which it would be worth reading up on ..... I think Victoria Stillwell deals with it quite well and has a couple of books out - pm me if you want to look the books up.

The theory is that the dog believes it should be in charge, but isn't able to cope with that in a human world, so you have to find a way to explain, in doggy language, that you are in charge and he doesn't have to worry.

Things like

* Never look at the dog when you leave the room and ignore him for a few minutes when you come back - you are pack leader and have the right to do what you want, it is the lower orders in the pack who have to ask permission to leave and 'apologise' for going out alone.

* Always go through the a door first, the pack leader always leads!!!

* When you give your dog food, pretend (or have a couple of biscuits nearby) to eat some first and then give the bowl to the dog. The pack leader has the first go at food, then the rest of the pack is able to eat.

Etc, I think there are 7 golden rules is I remember correctly. I had a labrador which started to get separation anxiety and this seem to help to reassure him.

Having said that, he looks gorgeous and I think the first thing it to let him settle in.

Good luck.
 
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