Advice please on 11 month old Sibe/GSD cross

[ISDW]

I'd love any input please on Indy that has come back into us. A bit of background:

When I first started Irish Sled Dog Welfare at the end of last year, the first dog that came in was a Malamute, then I went and collected a lovely 4 year old sibe bitch and her two 6 week old puppies from a pound, they'd been surrendered. Apparently they were hand reared, I don't know why, but the bitch had a ceaserean, so I guess possibly rejected them. THe mum is definitely a PB sibe, stunning girl (very happily rehomed now, and spoilt rotten:)) and we were told the dad is a GSD, which I would agree with, as you can see it in both pups. They were fostered with a couple for a week as we had a holiday booked, and had lots more socialisation, with people, other dogs and cats, and then Indy the bitch came back to us, and the fosterers kept the dog, who is very happy and comes to stay in our kennels, so we get to see him often, which is great.

I rehomed Indy at 10 weeks, as Christmas was coming and I wanted her settled before all of that mayhem, to what I thought was a fantastic home. Two women sharing a house, already have a year old shar pei, one of the women was studying dog psychology, they fostered for the local SPCA, and had a great set up. I explained about the hand rearing, and how important it would be to get her socialised with other dogs. As she came from a pound, I had been given a voucher to get her spayed for free, which I gave the new owner. I rang them a few months ago, and they hadn't had her spayed yet, but said they would soon, they also said she was having a few behavioural problems, weeing in the house etc.

Then I got a call last week, they can't keep her anymore, are moving and can't find a rented house that will let them take a dog! So she came back to us, still not spayed, and has only recently finished her season. The voucher is now out of date, so I have to pay to get her done, but thats incidental - very annoying - but incidental. The owner told me that she is very dominant with other dogs. However, I let her out in our field here, and brought a young male mal that we have in, who's very submissive. She was absolutely petrified of him, really, really scared. Tail firmly between the legs, rolling over on her back, squealing if he went too near her. The next evening the owner of her brother brought him over, and after the initial fear, they played so well together, it was great to see. I have tried introducing her to other dogs here, both male and female and she is terrified of them all. However, this morning she was in our small field with Nannuq, a female mal/gsd cross (we think!) and she kept chasing Nannuq and going for her. Now Nannuq usually will stand her ground, but ran away all the time today.

Indy is also mouthing me a lot whenever I go to pet her. Her owner told me that she pees herself sometimes when she is being brushed, or told off. This morning I went to throw some water out of a dog bowl in the field and she cowered straight away, as if she thought I was going to hit her.

I think its all fear induced, but how do I deal with it, and how do I know for sure? THere are no behaviourists near us, there is a dog listener not tooooo far away, but as I've mentioned in another post, I'm not convinced about that method anymore. There is a brilliant behaviourist on the other side of the country from me, but I don't know if she'd be willing to travel to see us.

Any advice would be gratefully received:D

I apologise for any typos, I have a wireless keyboard and the batteries are dying, so it keeps misbehaving.

[Bec]

She definitely sounds submissive and fearful. What can look like dominating other dogs can also be fear driven behaviour. After all, the vast majority of dog aggressive dogs are fear aggressive.

The mouthing could be related to the owners not teaching her bite inhibition when she was a pup. Or is it more like she's snapping at you?

I know that you are not as inclined to believe that dogs see us as part of our pack, so I don't know if my advice will be very useful to you. My line of thinking is that they do see themselves as part of our pack, and that it gives dogs a sense of security to have a person be the alpha and the leader, because it takes pressure off them and they like having the security of consistent rules and boundaries. If they didn't see themselves as part of our pack, then why would some dogs take on a leadership role and be inclined to 'step up' if their owners don't provide clear leadership themselves? Just my line of thinking

Anyway, I know one thing that can help make fearful dogs feel more confident, especially when in a new home, is consistent leadership from you. Let her learn that you are someone who she can trust to take control and make your 'rules' and boundaries clear to her so she knows what to expect from you - so there is less of her trying to manage a situation the way she has learnt how to (with fear) and more of her looking to you and asking 'what next?'. If she is indeed fearful, I would remind yourself whenever you are handling her that she is acting out of under confidence, and one of the keys to managing a fearful dog is to boost that confidence and increase their value for situations where the value they hold for it is negative. Consider that she might be approaching many every day things - interacting with people, other dogs, etc - as something negative.

Not sure if anyone of that makes sense but that's the way I'd start to approach it. Give her some consistency, work at getting her confidence in situations where she is uncomfortable/fearful, give her rules and boundaries so it takes some of the pressure off of her and allows her to know what the rules are, what to expect from you etc.

[Sarah]

Oh poor Indy.

Do you think the owners mistreated her in some way?

I think the best way to go would be to take baby steps, reward the tiny things she does right to boost her confidence and self esteem and build up gradually. Take some time out and do one on one with her, get her to do simple things like sit / paw this will also build up the trust between you both as well.

Can you get any video's of her different behaviours?

[Ice and Cripton]

Sounds like Balto, we were told he pees and poos himself when scared:eek: We got him in december when he was 5 months old, i was walking him and had gloves on >> huge white fluffy mittens >>> he got my hand and started chewing it, so i said "NO" and he got down so low and starting shaking...poor boy. Of course i couldn't pet him so i just had to say in a soft voice "lets go" and continue walking. Im affraid it takes months to get a nervous dog to not be nervous. Try getting things she can jump over, like small tables, tires >> this builds confidence. Do training with her, sit, down, stay,paw >>> use food and she will come to trust you which is where you must start.Once she learns that nothing will come out of you chucking water out she will soon stop, espec if she sees your pack not reacting. Try and give her a pigs ear before you do things that may spook her, she may jump but then soon go back to her treat which is her mind moving on rather quickly.

Sorry i couldn't be of more help not being a proffessional! Good luck and keep us posted!