timid, but growling at everything

C

curt62

Forums Novice
We got our female sheltie Katey from an Amish breeder when she was about 4 months old. She was very aggressive towards our older male sheltie when he was still alive........she stole his food and attempted to keep him away from us and his toys. She is very timid around strangers but she will slowly warm up enough for her to go sniff them in our house. She just has gotten really bad lately about barking and growling at anything that moves when I take her for a walk. Kids on bikes, adults just standing there, other dogs minding their own business, it doesn't matter. Katie growls and just shakes and will not calm down. All the people want to pet her because she is such a pretty girl, but she doesn't let them. At the dog park, she hides behind my legs the whole time. Now she is starting to dislike the UPS truck and driver...........got out the door the other day and chased the truck down the street. How can I calm her down? Our male (Wesley) that passed away at 13 LOVED all people and I just wonder if the Amish treated her as livestock and she got no attention her first 4 months on the farm? Any ideas? thanks!:confused2:
 
The Dogs in Canada magazine that I got this month had an article about this - called it fear aggression. I think you may be able to access it on line. I can't remember the whole article but it had some good tips about socializing, etc., in order to curb this behaviour. With postman, they suggested giving them a treat to treat the dog, so they did not associate the postman leaving with them having chased them away.

It took a few trips. One trip, Natasha's oldest sister was holding her and Emma hit her in the nose, she was so scared and literally stuck her claw up Lynette's nose. Needless to say, Lynette wouldn't hold her any more.
 
Last edited:
The Amish do regard them as livestock and a majority of them are puppymills. She probably stayed in a small cage with little human interaction.
 
How old is Katey?

Dusty was ( and at 15 months still is ) a very cautious pup when I got her ( she was 6 months, had as far as I know she did have proper in house socializing ( the pups were kept in the kitchen)

The first time I tried to walk her she was so scared she threw up.

She still hates the car, but will get in by herself ( still shakes a little at times, and throws up on longer trips)

BUT - I have made a big point of telling her whenever she startles, trembles etc , VERY Calmly and Firmly "Dusty, its not scary"

She does listen, and usually only has to be told once!

(except for the car, but we are still working on that one - at least she will get in by herself now, and doesnt throw up before we leave the driveway :lol:
 
Emma was scared of the car when I first starting taking her out. She would literally climb up on the shoulders. To cure her, I had my 5-year-old great-niece in the car and Emma cuddled up right tight to her neck. Ever since then she has been fine. Poor Natasha was a little squished though.
 
Katey will be 4 in December. She loves going bye bye in the car. It is being in our neighborhood that she freaks out so bad when she sees activity such as people or other dogs. She will take a special treat from some guests in our home if they really work at it for awhile, but she still won't stay next to them when the treat is gone. At Christmas, my wife's 70 year old aunt came out and started to get in the backseat with Katey and I had never heard such a fierce growl from a small dog! She tried to jump over the front seat to be with me but didn't make it. We calmed her and her aunt sweet talked her and by the time we got to our house, Katey was lying up against her. That is fine, but we really have to train her to not get so afraid when she sees people and stuff. Thanks for all the helpful suggestions.

Just FYI:

she does not fetch
she will play tug of war
when we play catch with a small cat ball, she likes to plant herself on the couch and drop the ball off and she expects me to get it and throw it to her...........is she lazy or smart to make me do the fetching?:winkgrin:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top