Dog Catching - Advice (1 Viewer)

jumar

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Paula and Angel, our neighbours, have acquired a puppy. She was found by some British motorhomers, together with her brother, in the mountains somewhere in Andalucia. Looking for homes for these dogs the Brits. met a Dutch couple who had just spent a month or so here in Totana, who contacted Paula and Angel who subsequently agreed to take on one of them and found a home for the other.

Now the problem is that Annie will not allow herself to be touched. She is happy with Lara (dog) and Leo (cat) and follows Paula and Angel around, but stays a few metres away from any human. This didn't start immediately she arrived (Angel and the kids slept on the sofa with her the first few days) and she was taken to the vets for a check up and to start her injections but it it is now causing a problem because she needs to go back to the vets and no-one can catch her. She will not be enticed with food, although she does seem to want to be near people so long as no-one tries to touch her.

Anyone got any advice or tips to help us to gain her confidence.
 

pappajohn

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jumar

jumar

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Maybe in the short term but could possibly make it worse in the future :):(.

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pappajohn

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Ex partner had a couple of rescue greyhounds......fine with her but wouldnt come anywhere near me.

It never did improve.

The dog was probably ferel from birth and the intervention of humans has greatly disturbed it.
i doubt it will improve in the short term either.
 
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jumar

jumar

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You tube

How To Get a Fearful Dog to Trust You



Might help


Thanks. Watched the video and will work my way through some of the others. Problem with Annie is that she keeps her distance then is off like a rocket as soon as someone moves or lifts a hand or makes a noise. Why this started we don't know but really need to gain her confidence to take her to the vets at least, although that could be another setback if we do manage to get hold of her:(.

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jumar

jumar

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Ex partner had a couple of rescue greyhounds......fine with her but wouldnt come anywhere near me.

It never did improve.

The dog was probably ferel from birth and the intervention of humans has greatly disturbed it.
i doubt it will improve in the short term either.

Not born wild as the tail has been docked. The original couple caught the two puppies and had them in their motorhome for a while and Angel and his two kids spent the first few nights sleeping on the sofa to keep her company. But since she's been allowed outside this behaviour has started.
 
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Walk away from her - she'll follow. If you want her in the house shut her out until she asks. Hold the food bowl when she's feeding. And offer a treat every time she comes up to you.
 

DBK

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When it gets hungry enough it will approach it's own food. Confine the dog to the house/garden so it can't escape. When it is meal time put a small bowl of food down. Stand far enough back so the dog will approach the food and eat it. Remember where you were standing. The next day do the same and stand a pace or so closer. Keep doing this until you can stand next to the dog while it is eating. Then try to crouch a little until eventually you can stroke the dog. Eventually take it by the collar, give it a treat.
Eventually you should be able to get it on a lead.
The trick is tiny bits of progress every day. It might take a week or much more to reach the stage where the dog trusts humans.

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Billy23

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Many years ago, an uncle of mine said, the best way to get a dog to come to you......is to chase it away ( in a friendly way) then walk away, the more you chase away, the more they want to be near you.

Time to find out if he was right!
 

Jaime

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Cesar Milan, the TV guy, would give the same advice. Sit down on the floor and patiently wait it out. This problem needs to be completely resolved. Catching the dog just to take it to the vet and unbalance it some more will simply make things worse. Download one of Cesar's books digitally if you can (kindle or similar) the guy is a genius. Same as feral horses, don't try and catch them, wait for them to become interested in you but you gotta keep still. For hours. Take a book.
 
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jumar

jumar

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If it was our dog we would have time to do all this, but the dog belongs to the neighbours and I don't think they would sit for hours. I'll do what I can to try to encourage it and try to get them to do as much as possible to socialise it also. I did sit on the floor today, with Lara their other dog, and a bit of our lunchtime lamb and it was interested but still wouldn't come more than two metres away.

Thanks for all your suggestions and if we succeed we'll let you know.

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amentalcat

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A word of caution here - unless your neighbours at really good at reading a dogs body language, I would not recommend that they try and corner her and lean over her like that lady on the U tube clip! That dog is not being submissive, it is scared stiff - shown by licking the lips and rolling over amongst other things. The dog is trying to offer calming measures to make the lady leave it alone. If she tried this with a much larger animal, there is a good chance that she would get bitten, and if that happened it would be totally her own fault. If your neighbours want help they should contact a behaviourist, one that is qualified, not just Joe Bloggs up the road who does a bit of dog training. Best of luck - I think it will be a long journey but worth it in the end.
 
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jumar

jumar

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Thanks.

I sat with Angel and the dogs for an hour yesterday, using Lara to keep Annie interested. We both managed to scratch her muzzle which she seemed to enjoy before retreating.

Angel rang the vet to let her know why he hasn't been back yet and she has advised him to speak to her husband who works with problem animals. I'll keep reminding him.
 

TheBig1

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dogs look for leadership and form bonds within what they see as their pack. to fit in you must be calm and assertive. by all means sit on the ground so you don't pose a threat to the nervous dog but stand your ground. the dog WILL come to you when it feels secure and not threatened

and yes, I have befriended some seriously nervous and distressed dogs working in the rescue. fear in a dog is dangerous if not treated properly. get professional help if you don't understand dog psychology for your sake as well as in the best interest of the dog
 

Hollyberry

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I cured some of Holly's problems ( none of them drastic) using Cesar Millan's methods. Worked quickly and easily.
One way is to loop a choker type lead over the dogs neck and walk..and walk.. and walk. Pack mentality clicks in and the dog just follows the pack leader. Stop, pack leader drinks, then dog gets a drink,. Stop, eat, dog gets a bite to eat. You get the idea.

I went from Holly threatening to rip any dogs head off to her walking with 3 others ( all on leads, all held by me) and then together off a lead. It actually took 15 minutes hard marching ( I was fitter then!) to get her walking with the other dogs.

Cesar Millan's a genius.
 

TheBig1

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Cesar Millan's a genius.
Not a genius at all, its all down to dog psychology but I dislike his methods of using aggression and violence against difficult dogs. you can assume the position of alpha without it and creating an omega

in many ways I prefer Jan Fennel's methods as they are not so cruel

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Paula and Angel, our neighbours, have acquired a puppy. She was found by some British motorhomers, together with her brother, in the mountains somewhere in Andalucia. Looking for homes for these dogs the Brits. met a Dutch couple who had just spent a month or so here in Totana, who contacted Paula and Angel who subsequently agreed to take on one of them and found a home for the other.

Now the problem is that Annie will not allow herself to be touched. She is happy with Lara (dog) and Leo (cat) and follows Paula and Angel around, but stays a few metres away from any human. This didn't start immediately she arrived (Angel and the kids slept on the sofa with her the first few days) and she was taken to the vets for a check up and to start her injections but it it is now causing a problem because she needs to go back to the vets and no-one can catch her. She will not be enticed with food, although she does seem to want to be near people so long as no-one tries to touch her.

Anyone got any advice or tips to help us to gain her confidence.
would you want to go near folks who separated you Frome your sibling then tane you to be turned into a pin cushion :Eeek:.
I know it sounds werd but that's exactly what you have done levee it a few days to let it setilin to the pack she will come round
bill
 

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