GSD rescue dog, tips?

Gumbi

Hi, I posted here some time ago regarding getting a dog. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=73625160

We eventually decided to go to the animal welfare centre in Kilfinane to have a look (by the way, they have an absolutely fantastic setup there, they are doing great work out there).

We picked a lovely girl of about one year about a week ago and took her home.
She's quite thin and we're feeding her 3 times a day, and taking her for walks at least once a day. She has the run of the garden and sleeps in the shed (the shed is quite cosy, raised off the ground and insulated well on 2 sides.

We have had no problems of note with her at all. I am posting here to ask for some tips really. She is an awfully shy girl, she won't use the garden at all except to do her business, and only when nobody's around or if she can see no-one. She stays in her bed all day. As far as we know, she wasn't abused, but I imagine she was at the very least severely neglected as a puppy (she was at the shelter for about 5 months). She seems OK for walks, when we pt the lead on her she comes with us OK, although getting her out of the shed initially is a bit tough (I personally have to lift her out, and once she's outside she'll stick to me).

Is this behaviour to be expected with some dogs? I thought by now she would be used to us, but her behaviour is slow to change. She is veeeery submissive and her head is always down when we're around. In fairness, she has begun wagging her tail a bit when I go to feed her in the morning. She is slow to get off her bed and eat the food while I'm there (I would put the food on her bed, but I've decided it's best for her to learn that getting off the bed is perfectly safe!).

I guess the main point of this post is to ask for tips on how to get her used to us comfortable in her new home. How long should this take? She was like this at the shelter, too, by the way, very very quiet and timid.

Thanks for the help, I'll post a pic of her as soon as I can

Kukey

Time and patience is what you need.I have a rescue Shepherd as well & she was like your dog when I got her first.She had been used for breeding & was very neglected.When she came to my house I put her bed in a corner & didn't put any pressure on her.She stayed in her bed as well & only came out for a walk( which she loved & was the only time a bit of spark came into her)I had another dog at the time who really helped her come out of herself.She would watch him interacting with us & any visitors,and eventually she would come over to see what all the fuss was about.I definitely believe that another dog helps dogs like this to trust again.It took a long time to gain her trust but now 4 yrs on & she is a different dog.Best of luck with her & well done on giving her a home.You won't be disappointed,they are the best breed of dog:D

carav10

It sounds like she has had very little socialisation with people, you wouldn't consider bringing her in so that she's around you more? Give her a 'safe' place that she can retreat to but still be with you as such. If she's staying in her bed all day in the shed, she won't have the opportunity to learn how to be around you. I've no problems with dogs sleeping out of the house but in this case it sounds like maybe the wrong place for her to be. Maybe others will think differently and have some other ideas though.

SmoMo

+1 absolutely agree with the post of carav10.Maybe she is lonley,as a dog is a pack animal and needs your company.

Gumbi

I'll suggest that. I have no problem with it, it's just that I'm not the boss of the house She does see people all the time, though. I feed her 3 times a day, she gets walked by me or others at least once a day. i go out and see her on other occasions too.

carav10

Gumbi wrote: »

I'll suggest that. I have no problem with it, it's just that I'm not the boss of the house She does see people all the time, though. I feed her 3 times a day, she gets walked by me or others at least once a day. i go out and see her on other occasions too.

A dog like this definitely needs a lot of 'family quality time' if you want her to learn how to be a confident dog & how to 'be' around humans. But it has to be at her pace therefore a crate or somewhere in the house she can retreat to when it all gets a bit much. But she definitely won't learn this if living away from humans. Going out to her frequently isn't the same as constant interaction at her pace.

Best of luck with her :-)

tk123

I wonder how she'd take to a crate inside - that way she'd have a safe place but still be in with the family?

Gumbi

tk123 wrote: »

I wonder how she'd take to a crate inside - that way she'd have a safe place but still be in with the family?

I have no problem with it, but like I said, it's not my call.

DBB

Hi Gumbi,
Well done for taking this poor mite on: 5 months in the shelter? No wonder she's feeling shell-shocked now!
I have to add my 100% support to the suggestions to bring her inside: nothing will work as well as this. Even with frequent visits outside to her, she's not getting the interaction she needs.
Put it this way, and this is only one way of looking at it... nervous dogs tend to internalise and personalise EVERYTHING. A blade of grass moves, it's out to kill the dog. A bird flies overhead, it's out to kill the dog. A person comes out of the house, it's out to kill the dog... see where I'm going with this?! Of course, I don't necessarily mean "kill", but certainly, the nervous dog thinks that all of these things, and more, are potentially harmful to her. That's why she's nervous!
So, if you go out to her, say ten times a day, pretty much every time you go out to her, it's to focus on her. Nervous dogs do not like focus on them. They just want to melt into the background. So, the approach of regular visits may very well be holding her back, because she is thinking, at least when you're not going out to feed or walk her, that you are coming out to focus on her, which to her, at this time, is not pleasant... she just has no way of knowing otherwise at this early stage.
If, on the other hand, she's allowed nest up under the kitchen table, or in a crate in a quiet corner, then yes, at first, she'll be thinking "WTF?!", but will eventually habituate, because people are just going about their lives and she eventually realises that a lot of the time, even though there are people there, and noises, and kettles boiling, and washing machines going, and TV is on etc etc, she doesn't come to any harm, and so her confidence grows, because she realises quicker that, in fact, everything is not out to get her.
In fact, most of the time, most things have no interest in, or perceived ill-intent towards:) her at all!
So, if you can at all, bring her in and, well, largely ignore her! Until she comes looking for more attention, that is.
The other vital ingredient, as already posted, is time. One week is nothing, absolutely nothing in the getting-to-know you department, and the process is always longer in anxious dogs.

Gumbi

Thanks so much! Here's a pic of her in the utility, nice and toasty

barbiegirl

She's gorgeous:-) . Well done OP

DBB

Gumbi wrote: »

Thanks so much! Here's a pic of her in the utility, nice and toasty

Oh WOW! Look at those EYES!
She is divine!
The very best of luck with her Gumbi

knucklehead6

Gumbi wrote: »

Thanks so much! Here's a pic of her in the utility, nice and toasty

I WANT!!!

She's gorgeous!!!

Couldn't agree more with the suggestions to bring her into the house. My oldest fella was the exact same when I first brought him home.

Now he greets every visitor to the house, then heads off to wherever he wants once they have paid him homage!!

Stheno

Gumbi wrote: »

Thanks so much! Here's a pic of her in the utility, nice and toasty

She's a lovely face She looks quite young too

One small tip if you are trying to put weight on her OP, is to feed little and often.
Adding sardines every other day to her food would do no harm

Let us know how she gets on in the house, you'll be amazed how much time she will spend just observing and getting used to being around you.

Kukey

She is a beauty !! Absolutely gorgeous:D

Dirk Gently

it will take time to build a bond and bringing the dog inside and letting her be part of the family will speed up the process. I rescued a GSD and for the first few weeks he was very nervous but he gradually came into himself after a few weeks in the house. Once he knew I was the guy who fed him and walked him and played with him and gave him belly rubs he eventually started to trust me. He never leaves my side now and sits at my feet or up on the sofa with me.

It took time though. He actually didnt bark for about a month, I even thought he was mute after a while but eventually he did bark and he's a bit of a yapper now, loves being talked to and fussed over and is vocal and animated and alert all the time now. Just give it time and spend as much time with her as you can to build up her trust and confidence.

As for the weight, some GSDs can have a sensitive stomach (or it could just be nerves in your case). My guy was the same, very thin coming out of the shelter and I couldn't put weight on him for ages. eventually after trying some sensitive foods I found a couple that I was able to maintain his weight on and I alternate between them now but many of the other usual brands just ran through him and he wasn't getting the nutritional value out of them. Try out some different sensitive type foods and weigh him every week to see if he's keeping the weight on. Like I say though, could just as easily be nerves with his new situation.

best of luck.

griffon15

I think she is gorgeous and how sad 5 months at the shelter. Did the shelter not do home checks. If its the rescue I am thinking of I thought they don't let any of their dogs to be outside dogs. Maybe I am wrong.
She really needs to be inside and learn how to be around people and trust them.

Stheno

Dirk Gently wrote: »

As for the weight, some GSDs can have a sensitive stomach (or it could just be nerves in your case). My guy was the same, very thin coming out of the shelter and I couldn't put weight on him for ages. eventually after trying some sensitive foods I found a couple that I was able to maintain his weight on and I alternate between them now but many of the other usual brands just ran through him and he wasn't getting the nutritional value out of them. Try out some different sensitive type foods and weigh him every week to see if he's keeping the weight on. Like I say though, could just as easily be nerves with his new situation.

best of luck.

I've had the same with gsds they can have sensitive stomachs, but generally I found they settled eventually.

Also up to about two years of age, they tended to grow up as in get taller, but not put on weight despite eating like vultures

LucyBliss

Aw, baby girl!! She's so gorgeous.

One thing I'd add, and apologies if this is something you're already familiar with, is that GSD's do need a Person in their life. I mean that as in, they attach great importance to one person in the family who becomes their One & Only and while they like the others in the house too, it is the One & Only whose presence is what they seek out and wait for when they leave the house. It's usually the person who trains them or walks them or they develop a special bond with for whatever reason.
GSD's are smart dogs and they like company. So that's why I'd be for letting her stay in the house but if you decide otherwise, just bear in mind that she need company.

Whatever happens, best of luck with her. Looking forward to seeing more pictures of her in the future.

Kukey

LucyBliss wrote: »

Aw, baby girl!! She's so gorgeous.

One thing I'd add, and apologies if this is something you're already familiar with, is that GSD's do need a Person in their life. I mean that as in, they attach great importance to one person in the family who becomes their One & Only and while they like the others in the house too, it is the One & Only whose presence is what they seek out and wait for when they leave the house. It's usually the person who trains them or walks them or they develop a special bond with for whatever reason.
GSD's are smart dogs and they like company. So that's why I'd be for letting her stay in the house but if you decide otherwise, just bear in mind that she need company.

Whatever happens, best of luck with her. Looking forward to seeing more pictures of her in the future.

That is so true,they are a one man/woman dog.My dog won't go for a walk with anyone but me ,I was sick for 2 days a few months ago & she had to go without a walk as she refused to go with my Husband or Son.I think when they are rescued from a bad life,they have an extra strong bond with you.My dog also has a sensitive stomach but I feed her James Wellbeloved & haven't had any problems.

DogsFirst

Probably repeating everyone else here but shepards take a little longer to establish that tight, trust bond. Far longer than say labs or goldies. When we were training guide dogs you'd win over the retirevers after a few games and a few nights of fun in the house, bringing them everywhere with you, FEEDING them. Not so easy with GS. They can remain aloof for much longer. Like everyone says just take it easy, wait for them to make their mind up. GS love and respect can't be bought but their bond, once is established, is amongst the strongest of any breed out there.

And +1 one on the dickie tums. Made all the worse by the intense stress they can wind themselves up to, such as being abandoned in kennels. They have really sensitive GALT (Gut Associated Lymphoid Tissue) and react poorly to many dry foods. Cereal is a must not for GS, certainly but out wheat as Kukey above did. They thrive on fresh meat. Stressed dogs respond well to lavender in the home. DAP spray is also helpful for the transition (Dog Appeasing Pheremone).

Very best of luck

maggiepip

She really needs to be brought in. I didnt think any rescue worth its salt re-homed a dog to be an outdoor dog. They need to interact with the family as a pack to progress. Although you are walking her and out with her a bit it is still a lonely life for a dog living outside.

Gumbi

Thanks so much. She has started chewing her bed a bit, so it's time to get her some toys/rawhide. I am interpreting this as a sign that she is a bit more comfortable with her new environment (ofc it also means an appetite for chewing which must be dated ). She was much more enthusiastic about walking today; she is fantastic on the lead, head up higher and walking next to me instead of behind with a lowered head.

doctorchopper

Stay away from raw hide toys, they will turn her stomach to slop. I'm on my 3rd GSD now, the first two had extremely sensitive stomachs to the point were we couldn't give them any table scraps, treats or nothing. They both eventually past away from lymphoma (same litter). We now have a 9 month old, who like yours was very shy. We got her when she was 6 months old and don't think she had any interaction with anyone or anything. It's taken a while but she has come a long way now. She is in doors though. For feeding i would recommend arden grange or barking heads. Both brands sit well with her.

Gumbi

doctorchopper wrote: »

Stay away from raw hide toys, they will turn her stomach to slop. I'm on my 3rd GSD now, the first two had extremely sensitive stomachs to the point were we couldn't give them any table scraps, treats or nothing. They both eventually past away from lymphoma (same litter). We now have a 9 month old, who like yours was very shy. We got her when she was 6 months old and don't think she had any interaction with anyone or anything. It's taken a while but she has come a long way now. She is in doors though. For feeding i would recommend arden grange or barking heads. Both brands sit well with her.

Yeah we got Arden from the shelter.

LucyBliss

Gumbi wrote: »

Thanks so much. She has started chewing her bed a bit, so it's time to get her some toys/rawhide. I am interpreting this as a sign that she is a bit more comfortable with her new environment (ofc it also means an appetite for chewing which must be dated ). She was much more enthusiastic about walking today; she is fantastic on the lead, head up higher and walking next to me instead of behind with a lowered head.

KONG toys are the business! They're a bit expensive but oh so worth it! I have three terrier cross dogs and while they are pretty small, when it comes to chewing they think they are much bigger than they are. Don't even ask them to go to the small KONG toys I bought them that are perfectly size appropriate. No, they all like the big one that was bought for a labrador we had some years ago. It's the size of their heads but it's what really satisfies their chewing need.

The KONG's are pretty robust and can take a powerful amount of chewing.

That is so great about the walking too!

meoklmrk91

griffon15 wrote: »

I think she is gorgeous and how sad 5 months at the shelter. Did the shelter not do home checks. If its the rescue I am thinking of I thought they don't let any of their dogs to be outside dogs. Maybe I am wrong.
She really needs to be inside and learn how to be around people and trust them.

I am familiar with this rescue, they do do home checks, plus new owners have to sign a contract saying that the dog will be inside and be part of the family, they can't be tied up, etc. they wouldn't be happy having one of their dogs being kept outside.

fatmammycat

Best of luck with her Gumbi, she's lovely.
I concur with the others on bringing her in to be around people. My old doberman spent the first 6 months of his life shut out in a garden, alone and unsocialised and the poor thing was terrified of everything and reacted with aggression to every dog/stranger he came across. But with serious training and a lot of effort he overcame it eventually. He remained very much a one person dog for life, and I couldn't really do anything about that.
My own GDS at 8 months is far more gregarious and though he spends most of the day with me ( he's under my desk now as I type), he will go out for a walk with the OH no problem. Training and work-related tasks are a great bond between dog and owner too, I would look into classes and perhaps meeting up with other dogs for walks and things, just to help her come out of her shell more, although that might be a bit further down the line from now.

Best of luck and well done on rehoming her.

Gumbi

I'm really surprised how far she has come already. She is moving around more now. I didn't have to put the lead on her to get her off her bed, when I called for her to get of bed and come outside she got up by herself and came out.

She's still a bit unsure though, when I first called her she got out of bed and went into the corner, I called her again and she came out no bother.

maggiepip

meoklmrk91 wrote: »

I am familiar with this rescue, they do do home checks, plus new owners have to sign a contract saying that the dog will be inside and be part of the family, they can't be tied up, etc. they wouldn't be happy having one of their dogs being kept outside.

Yes, no reputable rescue would be in anyway happy with a dog being left outside as a permanent outdoor dog. Its not a natural or happy life for a dog due to the isolation and lack of pack interaction and inclusion (ie the family ). A walk and a few visits a day will not take away the boredom and loneliness.

Its not simply the "outdoor" issue - its the exclusion of feeling part of a group/pack for a dog. It is not the way a dog is meant to live. They are social animals and being left outside all the time alone is not right. A walk takes up a very short amount of time out of a 24 hour day. The below link sums it up very well.

http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/why-outdoor-dogs-are-miserable

Gumbi

maggiepip wrote: »

Yes, no reputable rescue would be in anyway happy with a dog being left outside as a permanent outdoor dog. Its not a natural or happy life for a dog due to the isolation and lack of pack interaction and inclusion (ie the family ). A walk and a few visits a day will not take away the boredom and loneliness.

Its not simply the "outdoor" issue - its the exclusion of feeling part of a group/pack for a dog. It is not the way a dog is meant to live. They are social animals and being left outside all the time alone is not right. A walk takes up a very short amount of time out of a 24 hour day. The below link sums it up very well.

http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/why-outdoor-dogs-are-miserable

Don't worry, this isn't the case.