new rescue feedback / gentle leader help please

[mtndan]

Hi everyone, this is my first time posting to the boards. We just brought home our new 3.5 year old male boxer home this weekend. His name is Oscar, and he's been doing pretty well I think.

He was on a chain for the last 4 months, no one home 12 hours a day. Before that, he was loose in a yard all day too, but some old guy in the neighborhood started taunting him, hitting him with a stick, and Oscar one day jumped the fence and bit him. I don't blame him, but that's why he was chained.

He's SUPER loving, kisses butt wiggles all over the place, but he's done a few things that we don't understand so please help with your feedback.

He hasn't eaten from his bowl (same food he's used to) two days. Is he just stressed? Maybe I gave him too many handheld treats?

Right now we're confining him in a laundry room with a baby gate until we get to know him a little more. He does ok, but always looks so sad when we're not giving him attention. We don't want to crate him unless we really have to.

Also, I think he's a bit dominant. He pulls like CRAZY when we TRY to walk him (I don't think he's been taken for too many walks) and whenever we see another person or dog he just drags us over there. It's scary, because I don't know him enough yet to know for sure if he's going to be friendly to people and other dogs or not. So, I bought a Gentle Leader collar which he really struggles against. I try to praise him and sometimes he does really well for a few minutes but then after a while he starts pulling hard again and making these sort of grumbly growly sounds like he hates me for this.

So, to make a long story short, we want to help him become a trustworthy, manageable dog. Are we doing the right things? What kind of advice can anyone offer?

Thank you so much,
Dan & Paige

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

First, congrats on the new dog and a big HATS OFF to you for rescuing this boy from what sounds like really bad conditions.

I think you are doing fine. These kinds of behavior changes and adjustments take much longer for an older dog (3.5 yrs.) and especially a dog which has been thru what Oscar has been thru.

He'll eat eventually. I'm sure he's used to another bowl (it probably isn't the food), and is a little confused. And yes, treats will affect his appetite, so go conservatively for a while. Don't try and force him to eat. He'll get hungry eventually, when he calms down some (remember this has been very traumatic for him and change is very difficult for dogs) and he'll eat where the food is put for him. Give him time.

I'm sure you are right about Oscar not having walked much before. Many have reported success with the Gentle Leader or a Halti. I suggest continuing to work with him with this Leader until he gets it. Remember it is all new to him and it will TAKE LOTS OF TIME AND PATIENCE. Reward him and praise him vigorously when he does the right thing.

If you can get him into some obedience classes or work with a behaviorist, so much the better. If you can work with him on your own to obey the simply sit/stay command, you'll have better control of him when you are walking and see other dogs. You can have him sit and let the other dogs approach him. He'll be more calm then and less likely to be aggressive.

Since there's been a history of being abused by a man with a stick, this could be a problem for you in the future. Therefore, I would suggest being very careful about approaching other people, especially men, for a while. Don't show that you are afraid for him to meet them, but like meeting other dogs, I'd do it slowly and carefully, letting the stranger greet him in a seated position, the stranger coming up to him from the side of the dog, not looking directly into the dog's eyes, and to let the dog sniff his closed fist (preferably with a treat inside) and then allow the stranger to treat and pet the dog. Try it first with people you know and the dog has been around before. Then work with others the dog doesn't know well.

Sounds like you are doing well. Give it much more time. It took Susie, my rescue dog, about 3 months before she STARTED to settle down and not be aggressive with other dogs and strangers and stop pulling on the leash. Many of the same problems you are having now. But they do work out with patience, love and consistency.

I also recommend "The Culture Clash" by Jean Donaldson available in your local bookstore. There are also many good articles on the internet regarding specific problems such as leash pulling, aggressive behavior towards other dogs, people, etc.

Good luck and keep doing the great work you've been doing so far.

 

[mtndan]

thanks

Thanks Dan, I guess patience is really the key.

What do you think about letting Oscar run around off leash to burn off steam. When do we know that's a safe thing to do?

Dan in Durango

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

Dan,

If you have a confined area for him to run around, fine. But until you are "sure" of his behaviors, I would be careful of letting him run around without leash in your hand.

I had to train my two for off leash play in the park using a 50 ft. cord tethered to their collars and to my leg/arm. I would let them get so far and then call them to "come" and if they didn't gently pull them toward me, reward and praise. Eventually, after a few weeks of daily work, they could be trusted to come to me (with rewards and praise each time) 98% of the time. Work around distractions as well such as other dogs when working on a tethered cord. That way, even if the dog is engaged, he will learn that when you call, he stops what he's doing and comes to you.

Remember, you've only had this dog a very, very short time. These things take months to work out. Give yourself some time, take a breath and take one problem at a time. Don't let yourself get overwhelmed. One day at a time and before long, you'll wonder how you managed to change your dog into the wonderful companion and pet you've always wanted.

Keep us posted.

Good luck.

 

[mtndan]

Oscar finally eats!

Ahh, seemingly on cue after emailing to the forum Oscar ate his dinner last night!

Paige went in to give him some love and cuddles, and after a few minutes Oscar went right over to his food bowl and just chowed down. We both felt so proud of him!

A question: He's used to just eating whenever he wants (his previous owner gave him a big bowl of food in the morning and just left it for him all day). We want to get him on a schedule. So, this morning I gave him a bowl of food, which he ate maybe a third of. I left it for about 20 minutes then took it away. Was that the right thing to do? Is that how one trains a boxer to eat at a particular time?

Thanks again for the help,

Dan

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

Re: Oscar finally eats!

Originally posted by mtndan
Ahh, seemingly on cue after emailing to the forum Oscar ate his dinner last night!

Paige went in to give him some love and cuddles, and after a few minutes Oscar went right over to his food bowl and just chowed down. We both felt so proud of him!

A question: He's used to just eating whenever he wants (his previous owner gave him a big bowl of food in the morning and just left it for him all day). We want to get him on a schedule. So, this morning I gave him a bowl of food, which he ate maybe a third of. I left it for about 20 minutes then took it away. Was that the right thing to do? Is that how one trains a boxer to eat at a particular time?

Thanks again for the help,

Dan

Sounds right to me. Glad Oscar finally ate. Switching back from free feeding to a schedule will also take a little time for Oscar to get used to, but you are doing the right thing here too.

Rescued dogs take a longer time to adjust and come around than even a new puppy. Patience is the key. Lots of love and from what I can tell, you are giving the dog a LOT of love and support. I'm sure he's going to be just fine with wonderful parents like you.

Keep us posted.