MurphysMinder
Well-Known Member
This is a bit of a pointless post, but think there are some lessons to be learned.
I do homechecks for a gsd rescue, but had a call last week asking me if I would assess a dog that was being handed into rescue as they had no one else in my area. I agreed, and was then emailed the paperwork, which basically stated that the dog was aggressive with people, children dogs and cats. She would be muzzled when I met her but would I see if she would go for a short walk with me.
I was very tempted to say forget it, and suggest the best thing for this dog was to pts, however I decided to go.
Owners advised me to stay in the car while they brought the dog out and then "meet" them walking along the lane. They emerged with a very pretty bitch, barking and lunging on her hindlegs, even though there was no one about! I walked within about 15 ft of her (whilst owner struggled to hold her and stroked her constantly, totally the wrong thing to do), and then stood talking for a bit. I then realised that her tail was wagging and no hackles were raised, so asked them to bring her nearer, and crouched down to her level, waiting for my face to be removed. She came up to me, sniffed my legs and then leaned against me and enjoyed a back scratch. Within a few minutes I was able to get the owners to remove the muzzle and this little bitch walked happily along the road with me, tail wagging, and jumped up a couple of times for a fuss.
They got her from the breeder at 6 months, and since then she has never seen people, because she barked at people they decided the best thing to do was make sure she never met anyone! They had (sensibly in a way I suppose) said she was aggressive with people, children etc because they didn't know how she would be and didn't want anyone being bitten.
In all fairness they love the bitch and have trained her a bit, just never taken her in public, and they do have a genuine reason for rehoming. So at least i was able to report back that in the right hands I thought she would make a cracking little bitch. She is going into rescue kennels tomorrow and I do hope she soon finds a home, if I hadn't had my girls I would have been tempted, she just needs a chance.
So a few lessons:
a) it is desperately important to socialise dogs,
b) you should never make a snap judgement about a dog just from a written report
and c) I am not cut out for dog assessing as I want to keep them all (which I knew would be the case which is why I didn't volunteer for it
)
Cayla, if you read this, would be interested on your thoughts as to how best to socialise this girl.
I do homechecks for a gsd rescue, but had a call last week asking me if I would assess a dog that was being handed into rescue as they had no one else in my area. I agreed, and was then emailed the paperwork, which basically stated that the dog was aggressive with people, children dogs and cats. She would be muzzled when I met her but would I see if she would go for a short walk with me.
I was very tempted to say forget it, and suggest the best thing for this dog was to pts, however I decided to go.Owners advised me to stay in the car while they brought the dog out and then "meet" them walking along the lane. They emerged with a very pretty bitch, barking and lunging on her hindlegs, even though there was no one about! I walked within about 15 ft of her (whilst owner struggled to hold her and stroked her constantly, totally the wrong thing to do), and then stood talking for a bit. I then realised that her tail was wagging and no hackles were raised, so asked them to bring her nearer, and crouched down to her level, waiting for my face to be removed. She came up to me, sniffed my legs and then leaned against me and enjoyed a back scratch. Within a few minutes I was able to get the owners to remove the muzzle and this little bitch walked happily along the road with me, tail wagging, and jumped up a couple of times for a fuss.
They got her from the breeder at 6 months, and since then she has never seen people, because she barked at people they decided the best thing to do was make sure she never met anyone! They had (sensibly in a way I suppose) said she was aggressive with people, children etc because they didn't know how she would be and didn't want anyone being bitten.
In all fairness they love the bitch and have trained her a bit, just never taken her in public, and they do have a genuine reason for rehoming. So at least i was able to report back that in the right hands I thought she would make a cracking little bitch. She is going into rescue kennels tomorrow and I do hope she soon finds a home, if I hadn't had my girls I would have been tempted, she just needs a chance.
So a few lessons:
a) it is desperately important to socialise dogs,
b) you should never make a snap judgement about a dog just from a written report
and c) I am not cut out for dog assessing as I want to keep them all (which I knew would be the case which is why I didn't volunteer for it
)Cayla, if you read this, would be interested on your thoughts as to how best to socialise this girl.
eek
Unfortunately not a specialist shep kennel, but apparently a volunteer is going to go in and walk her etc, hopefully a kennel environment will get her used to other dogs not blow her mind completely. I did find out her breeders, though not her actual breeding but have an idea of her lines.
