Adopted dog showing aggression when I'm not there

NothingMan · 07-06-2017 03:05PM #1

Hi guys,

I recently (1 week ago) adopted an adult male collie. He was removed from an abusive home so does have some issues and we're working through them. I was the one who brought him home from the <snip> and he has attached to me quite strongly. He will follow me round everywhere and cry if I leave the room. We're not too worried about this as he quietens down soon after. Even with me gone he's not as affectionate with my partner. We are not too worried about this and are confident the anxiety will disperse over a few weeks or months and his bond with my partner will develop with some time and training.

However when we leave for work he is much more anxious. He is kept in the kitchen at night and when we leave he is either there or out the back. My Mother is there all day and ideally will be his companion when we're gone as well as feed and walk him. However he has started staying in the kitchen when we leave and showing aggression to my Mother if she comes even near the kitchen.

When I am home he is more relaxed and will allow my mother to feed him treats and pet him, albeit a little nervous when she does.

I am sure we can increase their bond over time but I am very concerned over the aggression when he is in the kitchen alone. I feel he is seeing the kitchen as his and because my Mother is now too nervous to approach him alone and he is not showing the behaviour when I am there, I am not sure how to proceed with him.

I am waiting on a call back from a trainer but would appreciate any advice if people have similar situations.

Much appreciated.

cocker5 · 07-06-2017 06:31PM

NothingMan wrote: »

Hi guys,

I recently (1 week ago) adopted an adult male collie. He was removed from an abusive home so does have some issues and we're working through them. I was the one who brought him home from the <snip> and he has attached to me quite strongly. He will follow me round everywhere and cry if I leave the room. We're not too worried about this as he quietens down soon after. Even with me gone he's not as affectionate with my partner. We are not too worried about this and are confident the anxiety will disperse over a few weeks or months and his bond with my partner will develop with some time and training.

However when we leave for work he is much more anxious. He is kept in the kitchen at night and when we leave he is either there or out the back. My Mother is there all day and ideally will be his companion when we're gone as well as feed and walk him. However he has started staying in the kitchen when we leave and showing aggression to my Mother if she comes even near the kitchen.

When I am home he is more relaxed and will allow my mother to feed him treats and pet him, albeit a little nervous when she does.

I am sure we can increase their bond over time but I am very concerned over the aggression when he is in the kitchen alone. I feel he is seeing the kitchen as his and because my Mother is now too nervous to approach him alone and he is not showing the behaviour when I am there, I am not sure how to proceed with him.

I am waiting on a call back from a trainer but would appreciate any advice if people have similar situations.

Much appreciated.

He doesn't see the kitchen as his OP ... he he very frightened and scared..

Your probably the most love he's ever had when u go to work he's stressed out and fearful - it's only been a week.. it's takes months and months for dogs to settle.

Signs of aggression? Like what?

Also op please be very careful with what dog trainer you use.. not all are good and can have negative impact on your dog.

tk123 · 07-06-2017 06:45PM

Would the rescue you got him from not be the first port of call here?.. Or is it them sending the trainer?

NothingMan · 08-06-2017 08:53AM

Thanks guys,

As bad as it sounds fear and anxiety is probably easier to fix with time and love than guarding so thank you for that re-assurance. I'll continue letting him and my Mother get to know each other better when I'm around.

As for trainers, I have read a lot and agree old school trainers are to be avoided and only positive, reward based training should be used. I don't want him to hide his fears because of more fear I want him to be happy when I'm not there, knowing I'll be back at some point.

This morning he barked and howled for about 30 mins after I left before settling down. I have a camera in the kitchen and he seems to be relatively relaxed once he settles down. Moving between 3 favoured spots in the room.

The <snip> was my first port of call and it is their trainer who I'm awaiting on a call from for some further advice.

Thanks again.

NothingMan · 08-06-2017 08:55AM

cocker5 wrote: »

Signs of aggression? Like what?

Sorry, missed this part.

He will bark and growl and if she gets closer will bare his teeth at her. When I am there he will approach her for treats and sit for her. He's still a little nervous of her hand for petting but he's getting better.

DBB · 08-06-2017 11:29AM

NothingMan wrote: »

Sorry, missed this part.

He will bark and growl and if she gets closer will bare his teeth at her. When I am there he will approach her for treats and sit for her. He's still a little nervous of her hand for petting but he's getting better.

Just be a bit careful here op... Drawing a nervous dog closer to a person with treats can bring the dog too close to that person, as their desire for the treat temporarily outweighs their fear... But as soon as they get the treat, they suddenly realise that they're wayyyyy too close to the person, and this can cause them to react aggressively.
Your mam would be far, far better off not trying to ingratiate herself with the dog at all, whether you're there or not, and to pretty much ignore him. She could throw the odd delicious treat over to him (rather than drawing him over to her), but do not allow the situation to arise where either she (or others) force the dog into an interaction by approaching him, or where she (or others) try to bribe him closer against his will. He'll hopefully come to her in his own time, but this shouldn't be pushed in the way you're pushing it.
In the meantime, I would be a little concerned about this situation op. He's giving off a lot of signs that he's prepared to escalate, just think about how your mam will feel about minding him if she gets bitten... Because from what you describe, this is sounding a bit too likely for comfort.
With respect, no matter what organisation a trainer works for, I'd be very much inclined to check their credentials, because not everyone actually has the industry-relevant qualifications they should have to be taking on behavioural cases like this.

kathleen37 · 08-06-2017 12:57PM

I liked this article

https://www.upwardhound.com/blog/2017/6/4/loving-a-fearful-dog

Not Ireland based, but it does reference a good facebook page/group that could be helpful for some advice with your fearful dog.

I got this from the Ispeakdog facebook group, which I also like.

My parents last dog was a fearful. She was a very aggressive alsatian. She hated everyone except my parents. We would be sitting watching the telly, dog sleeping and I would cross my legs and she would leap up and really growl and bark at me. Poor pup was terrified of everyone really. Ignoring her got her sorted. Exactly as DBB mentioned. A proper, qualified trainer really really helped her. This was quite a few years ago so I haven't anyone to recommend unfortunately.

Good for you for taking on your pup. You will get sorted, it will just take a bit of time.

Good luck

sillysmiles · 08-06-2017 01:24PM

After only a week and coming from an abusive background, I would think that your guy would need a bit of time and space. Is your mum only coming in to mind him? Or would she be in the house anyway? What happens if she arrives before you leave? I wonder if he is a bit put out by the process of you leave, then getting settled and then a new person arriving thats not you.

Ms Doubtfire1 · 08-06-2017 01:55PM

agree with DBB. Don't 'force' your mum on the dog - she needs to let him approach on his terms.When he's ready he will come.until then: routine,routine,routine and again routine. No sudden changes in daily behavior, no trips to a place where he never was to surprise him, no walks in a neighborhood he doesn't know. He needs to settle and be comfortable with where he is NOW. Take your time and give him his. I wouldn't even bring a dog trainer in at this point int time - he's just there for a week, barely know you, hasn't bonded/accepted your mum yet but you think he will accept a trainer he's never met? I'd wait at least another 6-8 weeks with that. A good behaviorist would probably be better - could be able to tell you if it's fear- aggression or real aggression.

maggiepip · 08-06-2017 05:03PM

Has he any "safe" place to retreat to? Like a corner behind a sofa or chair, or even a crate (with the door left open)?

We adopted a nervous wreck of a collie, 7 years ago now, and what helped her a lot was having somewhere to go when things overwhelmed her. We made a little den for her behind an armchair in the living room and made a space for her upstairs behind the bed. She would go to these hidey holes when she got scared or just wanted to relax, and no one ever went near her when she was there, so she felt safe. Then she'd venture back to us in her own time.

As was already advised above don't force anything on him, let him do things in his own time. He just needs to get over his fears and learn to trust poor thing. Collies can be particularly fearful and a bit neurotic, they're extremely sensitive dogs, but you'll get there!

08-06-2017 09:44PM

maggiepip wrote: »

Has he any "safe" place to retreat to? Like a corner behind a sofa or chair, or even a crate (with the door left open)?

We adopted a nervous wreck of a collie, 7 years ago now, and what helped her a lot was having somewhere to go when things overwhelmed her. We made a little den for her behind an armchair in the living room and made a space for her upstairs behind the bed. She would go to these hidey holes when she got scared or just wanted to relax, and no one ever went near her when she was there, so she felt safe. Then she'd venture back to us in her own time.

As was already advised above don't force anything on him, let him do things in his own time. He just needs to get over his fears and learn to trust poor thing. Collies can be particularly fearful and a bit neurotic, they're extremely sensitive dogs, but you'll get there!

I couldn't agree this more. My dog started squeezing between the wardrobe and the wall and we quickly realized this was her 'special place' to feel safe and unwind when she was nervous or stressed. We never intruded on this space or forced her out. We did put a cosy blanket in there.

Not only was it good for her but it gave us an easy and safe way to know when she was upset about something and start making note of the triggers so we could work on them. She doesn't often need a safe space anymore but her crate is a good spot for her now.

NinetyTwoTeam · 08-06-2017 10:24PM

He must have been treated very badly, most collies are very sweet even when they've been treated bad. Mine would growl at me and other men when we got her but she never bared teeth, if someone she didn't trust got too close she would growl first and then run away. And she is still shy. But people who she is in regular contact with will earn her trust and especially when they become a regular provider of walks, treats, etc.

I agree that it's best to just let them come to you, or in this case your mother. Just have mum drop the treat to her nonchalantly without forcing interaction. Eventually she'll just realise 'this person's not so bad', and next thing she'll be up nudging your mum with her nose to see if there's any treats going.

Might be a good idea to not confine her to the kitchen so much, let her retreat there when she wants but she should be free to enter the areas her pack shares to feel like part of the pack. Of course, you can have 'no-go' zones like bedrooms but locking them in one room is like leaving them in a kennel which isn't ideal and is why dogs from shelters are stressed.

You wouldn't make your breakfast or tea in a dog kennel out the back of your house but that is what your doing from the dogs point of view at the moment. By confining her there she is less free to come out of her shell. Collies are curious and affectionate once they get the trust built up, just give her time, ignore her if she doesn't want to interact and let her come to you which she will do when she realises people are not a threat, curiousity will kick in and she'll start wanting to sniff around, then she'll be looking for attention. Mine won't leave me alone now half the time! She used to be afraid of my dad too until she figured out he cooked the bacon and sausages and would drop a few on the floor for her.

Latatian · 12-06-2017 09:59PM

Remember that fear-aggression can get someone badly injured just as easily as any other kind. Be cautious. A lot of people will take a fearful dog less seriously- he is warning you, take those warnings extremely seriously and get someone experienced in to help you.

Adopted dog showing aggression when I'm not there

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