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by fawndallas on 26 February 2013 - 15:02
She is beautiful and very lucky. I am so glad you two found each other.
by joanro on 26 February 2013 - 15:02
Sun silver, the aggression you describe is most likely a direct result of being chained, and in isolation. A dog kept that way learns to fight first and ask questions later. My suggestion would be to afford as much free time with you as possible, so that she can mentally expand her personal space. She likely will not get along with other females, but if you have a tolerant male, she might be able to learn proper ettiquite.
Glad you got her.
Glad you got her.
by Sunsilver on 26 February 2013 - 15:02
Joan, that was my thoughts EXACTLY about the aggression!
They did have her caged with another male GSD and she got along okay with him. I first tried her with my female, though, as she has never been in a fight, unlike my elderly male, who, at the age of 10, decided to take on an 18 mo. old, 120 lb. intact English mastiff! The mastiff's owner got badly bitten on the leg when helping to break up the fight.
Star was okay with the new girl (I've named her Grace) until she bit her on the shoulder, then she snarled, but backed off as soon as I pulled the other dog away. No blood was drawn.
What Grace shows is not really aggression but just intense interest and focus. No hackles up no teeth bared, just pulling towards the other animal with ears up and great intensity. It LOOKS like prey drive.
As soon as she got close to Star, she jumped on her shoulder, and snapped.
Anwyay, wii get her professionally evaluated, hopefully later today.
They did have her caged with another male GSD and she got along okay with him. I first tried her with my female, though, as she has never been in a fight, unlike my elderly male, who, at the age of 10, decided to take on an 18 mo. old, 120 lb. intact English mastiff! The mastiff's owner got badly bitten on the leg when helping to break up the fight.
Star was okay with the new girl (I've named her Grace) until she bit her on the shoulder, then she snarled, but backed off as soon as I pulled the other dog away. No blood was drawn.
What Grace shows is not really aggression but just intense interest and focus. No hackles up no teeth bared, just pulling towards the other animal with ears up and great intensity. It LOOKS like prey drive.
As soon as she got close to Star, she jumped on her shoulder, and snapped.
Anwyay, wii get her professionally evaluated, hopefully later today.
by Brittany on 26 February 2013 - 15:02
Sunsilver: "I hope to keep her, and I think she's nice enough that she might be able to get a Canadian championship in the show ring, She has reasonably good hind angulation, and a fairly level topline. Of course, that will be IF I can get papers. (We still don't know if she's spayed or not.)"
I thought you can only show an animal that hasn't been altered? Shelters will not adopt out an animal unless they've been neutered or spayed. It is their regulation for controling the over population of animals in the USA. I'm sure shes been spayed prior to adoption.
I thought you can only show an animal that hasn't been altered? Shelters will not adopt out an animal unless they've been neutered or spayed. It is their regulation for controling the over population of animals in the USA. I'm sure shes been spayed prior to adoption.
by Jetndre on 26 February 2013 - 15:02
OK GUYS! Next time I post a shelter dog needing rescue PLEASE take time to check it out. . .here in WV I find some outstanding dogs in the shelters and also some owner surrenders that have been mishandled and misunterstood... This isn't the first nice import GSL dog that almost ended up being pts in a kill shelter. Rescues find it difficult to take and adopt out dogs like this as many adopters are first time GSD owners and this isn't a first time owner dog. Sunsilver saved her life and got a wonderul dog in the process, that may need a little work to 'come around' to full potential! But in having personally met this dog I am very grateful to Sunsilver for saving her life!!!
by Hundmutter on 26 February 2013 - 18:02
Sunsilver, and Jetndre, I accept it happens, but I just can't get over
people who would pay (probably not inconsiderably !) and go through
all the arrangements etc to import dogs - and then chuck them away,
to unsuitable new owners, or throw them on the street. Just hate that,
its so illogical [not to mention cruel]. SS: thanks for getting her out of
there, and very best of luck for the future with her, whatever happens.
She's v. nice, based on pix.
people who would pay (probably not inconsiderably !) and go through
all the arrangements etc to import dogs - and then chuck them away,
to unsuitable new owners, or throw them on the street. Just hate that,
its so illogical [not to mention cruel]. SS: thanks for getting her out of
there, and very best of luck for the future with her, whatever happens.
She's v. nice, based on pix.
by Sunsilver on 26 February 2013 - 22:02
We're back from the evaluation, and I have my work cut out for me. She has EXTREME prey drive, and her interest in other dogs is of the 'attack/bite/kill' variety. As Jetnder can testify, she is EXTREMELY strong, and someone without much upper body strength, or who wasn't being careful could easily be dragged off their feet by her, with disastrous results.
The trainers (a couple) worked her around two of their dogs, on a properly fitted prong collar, and got her to the point where she would sit facing her handler, and focus on her handler, less than two feet away from another dog.
She also reacts very strongly to movement anywhere within her line of sight, so she is liable to take off after a cat, squirrel or another dog.
I bought a really good prong collar from them, and they told me how to work with her, but, of course, it's going to take time, and I likely am NEVER going to be able to trust her alone with my other dogs, or my cat. She will always need to be supervised.
One thing for sure, I saved this dog's life. She's NOT a dog for the average owner, as Jetndre said above.
The trainers (a couple) worked her around two of their dogs, on a properly fitted prong collar, and got her to the point where she would sit facing her handler, and focus on her handler, less than two feet away from another dog.
She also reacts very strongly to movement anywhere within her line of sight, so she is liable to take off after a cat, squirrel or another dog.
I bought a really good prong collar from them, and they told me how to work with her, but, of course, it's going to take time, and I likely am NEVER going to be able to trust her alone with my other dogs, or my cat. She will always need to be supervised.
One thing for sure, I saved this dog's life. She's NOT a dog for the average owner, as Jetndre said above.
by joanro on 26 February 2013 - 22:02
SS, do you have any idea her age? You got a nice dog, sounds like and should be able to get her straightened out.
by Jetndre on 27 February 2013 - 02:02
Hundmutter I agree. . .no logic as to why people do what they do with these nice dogs and then just throw them away. One I assessed at the request or a rescue last summer close to my home had a known history of being imported from France! Exchanged hands a few times from the original importer and ended up tied to a cinderblock out behind a home no longer wanted by anyone and 'pound bound" Fortunatley she was 'rescued' by some nice friends who didn't want to see her go to the shelter...they ended up contacting the GSD rescue who ended up taking her. . Young, Beautiful dog, great temperment, good drives. . .and had her pedigree with her to boot.. It just totally bewilders me what people do . ..
Well, so glad Gracie got evaluated and now you know for sure how to deal with her Sunsilver. .. If it hadn't been for you adopting her her future would have been very bleak . ..I think it was just one of those 'meant to be' situations. . .I look forwards to updates on her training and have no doubts she'll you a great schutzund dog! Even if she can't be intergrated into your home with your other animals, she'll get more attention from you than she's probably ever had up to this point and will be pretty content!
Well, so glad Gracie got evaluated and now you know for sure how to deal with her Sunsilver. .. If it hadn't been for you adopting her her future would have been very bleak . ..I think it was just one of those 'meant to be' situations. . .I look forwards to updates on her training and have no doubts she'll you a great schutzund dog! Even if she can't be intergrated into your home with your other animals, she'll get more attention from you than she's probably ever had up to this point and will be pretty content!
by Stumpywop on 03 March 2013 - 12:03
Well done, SS. I hope you and she have a fantastic future together.
I have an 8 year old Son so until he's an adult I can't take on dogs with problems. However, that is my intention. Once my Son is fully grown and I no longer have the dogs I have now (ranging from 3-5 years of age_ I will approach local general rescues, GSDR UK and Birmingham Dogs' Home with a view to taking on ONLY the GSDs who have severe problems.
So many of these dogs are misunderstood and being in a kennel situatin to begin with doesn't help when they start guarding the kennel. Potential owners back away, without seeing the good things about the dog.
I agree with you though - many of these GSDs are not for first time owners. So again, well done for saving her life and I wish you both the very best of luck with everything.
Laura
Birmingham, UK
I have an 8 year old Son so until he's an adult I can't take on dogs with problems. However, that is my intention. Once my Son is fully grown and I no longer have the dogs I have now (ranging from 3-5 years of age_ I will approach local general rescues, GSDR UK and Birmingham Dogs' Home with a view to taking on ONLY the GSDs who have severe problems.
So many of these dogs are misunderstood and being in a kennel situatin to begin with doesn't help when they start guarding the kennel. Potential owners back away, without seeing the good things about the dog.
I agree with you though - many of these GSDs are not for first time owners. So again, well done for saving her life and I wish you both the very best of luck with everything.
Laura
Birmingham, UK
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