Need some help with my dog.

[Fuzzy Torpedoes]

Not all dogs respond to past abuse with the long-term behavior you're describing. It seems possible/likely that your dog has a "soft" personality. It's also called "weak nerves". It's a born personality characteristic, not created. Abusing a dog with weak nerves would certainly mess it up though.

IMO don't do "obedience classes" with a dog that has a fear problem. I suggest instead checking into the leerburg.com web site, as it is excellent about correctly addressing dog psychology including working with dogs that have weak nerves. I found a whole page with answers linked to different questions here: http://leerburg.com/qasoftdogs.htm .

Leash concerns: You would want a dog tag + a microchip, the tag being on a collar that isn't used for the leash if you think she'll slip it. The microchip is easier to miss than the tag. If she is the type of dog to twist out of her collar while on-leash, it could be possible to prevent the escape by using 2 dog collars, attaching the same leash to both. One of them is the normal collar that typically engages, but if it slips, the second one is a choke collar that tightens up. She might panic but at least you still have her. A harness might also work for that but I don't know if she would slip a harness.

 

[member 373180]

Good luck and congratulations on getting out into the country. I hope that she responds differently in open space and becomes an excellent farm dog for you.

I don't have any more to add except that a couple carabiners together work well for attaching regular leash loops to belts. No need to buy expensive specialty items.

 

[Kusanar]

Not all dogs respond to past abuse with the long-term behavior you're describing. It seems possible/likely that your dog has a "soft" personality. It's also called "weak nerves". It's a born personality characteristic, not created. Abusing a dog with weak nerves would certainly mess it up though.

IMO don't do "obedience classes" with a dog that has a fear problem. I suggest instead checking into the leerburg.com web site, as it is excellent about correctly addressing dog psychology including working with dogs that have weak nerves. I found a whole page with answers linked to different questions here: http://leerburg.com/qasoftdogs.htm .

Leash concerns: You would want a dog tag + a microchip, the tag being on a collar that isn't used for the leash if you think she'll slip it. The microchip is easier to miss than the tag. If she is the type of dog to twist out of her collar while on-leash, it could be possible to prevent the escape by using 2 dog collars, attaching the same leash to both. One of them is the normal collar that typically engages, but if it slips, the second one is a choke collar that tightens up. She might panic but at least you still have her. A harness might also work for that but I don't know if she would slip a harness.

She also looks like she's a decent size, so if using a harness, can you physically hold her if she bolts and starts fighting the leash?

 

[gonehencrazy]

Why wait to microchip till you get there? Microchip now so if she does get out it isn't too late.

My dog used to roam a lot when younger. He would lose tags like crazy. Get a collar with number either embroidered on it or with a metal plate.

Microchips are not 100%. Don't think this will save your dog if she runs off. My cat's couldn't be located and I watched them put it in.

My suggestion would be wireless fence or training with a remote collar. My dads dog could go hiking and be fine off leash. At home he runs off if off his run. Super hard with nephews coming in and out of house. He would get out and run around town. You can't chase him because he things it's a game. He comes home eventually. Now wearing a remote collar. Mostly stays in the yard and when he leaves he regrets it. Soon he will be fine without it. Our problem is dogs walking in the area. That's when he leaves.

 

[Daddas1Punkin]

Not all dogs respond to past abuse with the long-term behavior you're describing. It seems possible/likely that your dog has a "soft" personality. It's also called "weak nerves". It's a born personality characteristic, not created. Abusing a dog with weak nerves would certainly mess it up though.

IMO don't do "obedience classes" with a dog that has a fear problem. I suggest instead checking into the leerburg.com web site, as it is excellent about correctly addressing dog psychology including working with dogs that have weak nerves. I found a whole page with answers linked to different questions here: http://leerburg.com/qasoftdogs.htm .

Leash concerns: You would want a dog tag + a microchip, the tag being on a collar that isn't used for the leash if you think she'll slip it. The microchip is easier to miss than the tag. If she is the type of dog to twist out of her collar while on-leash, it could be possible to prevent the escape by using 2 dog collars, attaching the same leash to both. One of them is the normal collar that typically engages, but if it slips, the second one is a choke collar that tightens up. She might panic but at least you still have her. A harness might also work for that but I don't know if she would slip a harness.

Thanks! I'm not saying her abuse causes her to be like this, if someone raises their voice however, or sets something down hard she hides and starts shaking, or if you go to pet her too fast, she thinks you're going to hit her.

 

[Daddas1Punkin]

Why wait to microchip till you get there? Microchip now so if she does get out it isn't too late.

My dog used to roam a lot when younger. He would lose tags like crazy. Get a collar with number either embroidered on it or with a metal plate.

Microchips are not 100%. Don't think this will save your dog if she runs off. My cat's couldn't be located and I watched them put it in.

My suggestion would be wireless fence or training with a remote collar. My dads dog could go hiking and be fine off leash. At home he runs off if off his run. Super hard with nephews coming in and out of house. He would get out and run around town. You can't chase him because he things it's a game. He comes home eventually. Now wearing a remote collar. Mostly stays in the yard and when he leaves he regrets it. Soon he will be fine without it. Our problem is dogs walking in the area. That's when he leaves.

I have to because its too expensive here... I know you can't "track her" with it, I am just going to do it anyway for safety.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Get yourself a long line and work on teaching the come command. Worse case scenario is she's always on a long line.

Not all fearful dogs are abused. Most just weren't properly socialized when young. There's a small window between 8-15 weeks where they need to be exposed to all kinds of things. After 4 months they go through a fear period where negative experiences will affect them for their lifetime.

All my dogs will cringe if I pretend I'm gonna hit them. Not a single one has been hit in anyway. It seems to be an instinct more than a true reaction.

 

[AllenK RGV]

You probably have more options than you think with microchipping. Usually the humane societies or city animal shelters offer low cost chipping. I think we spent $10- for our last animal.

If she is difficult to control on the leash please consider the harness. Additionally, I agree with obedience training. Both you and your dog will develop stronger bonds by working together. I do not like to train with choke collars or the ones with teeth, just as I do not like using shock collars to train.

I will admit I have owned 2 dogs that did require shock collar training due to selective hearing once they got 10 meters away from you(a headstrong German Shepherd with his balls-wifes 20 years ago, and Emma a stray thin birddoggy Chocolate lab who is still with us and only needed 2-3 shocks to learn my voice is really important).

If all else fails there is a system where you bury a wire and put flags around your property of areas your dog is allowed to go but that involves a shock collar that is worn 24x7. Alternatives to shock collars are the ones that spray citronella in their faces to redirect their attention back to you(usually).

Best of luck and have faith it will all work out if you put in the work.

 

[AllenK RGV]

I forgot to mention I train all my dogs off the leash because if I have them trained to follow commands off leash on the leash they are easy and already trained. I use German commands because its my second language and Foose! sounds much harsher that Heel!
Sitze! vs. sit and so on.

Also mine get trained to hand signals for their geriatric years that helped a lot with our German Shepherd when he was 13-14 as he did go deaf, and ours are frequently at the beach where it is hard to hear. Also try to always be authoritative when giving commands and make training fun with lots of little treats like dry catfood, don't tire your dog out when training if you can only hold her attention for 5 minutes then that is how long you train, that is until it is a fun game for both of you to do it. Hope some of this helps. Once again best of luck and you can do it!

 

[AllenK RGV]

Not all dogs respond to past abuse with the long-term behavior you're describing. It seems possible/likely that your dog has a "soft" personality. It's also called "weak nerves". It's a born personality characteristic, not created. Abusing a dog with weak nerves would certainly mess it up though.

IMO don't do "obedience classes" with a dog that has a fear problem. I suggest instead checking into the leerburg.com web site, as it is excellent about correctly addressing dog psychology including working with dogs that have weak nerves. I found a whole page with answers linked to different questions here: http://leerburg.com/qasoftdogs.htm .

Leash concerns: You would want a dog tag + a microchip, the tag being on a collar that isn't used for the leash if you think she'll slip it. The microchip is easier to miss than the tag. If she is the type of dog to twist out of her collar while on-leash, it could be possible to prevent the escape by using 2 dog collars, attaching the same leash to both. One of them is the normal collar that typically engages, but if it slips, the second one is a choke collar that tightens up. She might panic but at least you still have her. A harness might also work for that but I don't know if she would slip a harness.

I would tend to agree with the soft nerves as one of my found me dogs does not respond to any harsh commands, well she responds by not doing what I told her and by running up to my leg sitting basically on me and cutsie grovels until she feels comfortable. I do love that girl and I have to use lilting high pitched(to me) commands to train that one. But figuring out what works takes time. Fortunately, we have two more fully trained gals for her to observe who have shown her by example what most of the commands are anyways. It is a shame there is no one single way to train. You do have to figure out what works without stressing out the animal. If both you and your dog are having fun then the training is going well is the best advise I could ever offer it should never feel like work.