Help! She is beating the crap out of our poor Shelties
Riley is just too dumb and kind to let her have it back. Any ideas? The clumps of fur on the floor suggest to me that this may be even more unpleasant for them than what I am seeing. |
|
|
| What Fiona is doig is called "resource guarding". Basically she wants you all to herself, and is letting the other ones know. Do not make a fuss or correct her for this, as it will only make things worse. If she gets into trouble fromyou when she exhibits "guarding" she will only understand that when the ohter dogs come around she gets into trouble. Then she will like them around her or you even less.
What you want her to learn is that it is good when they are around, and to do that you need to work on "couonter-conditioning". Right now she sees that when the other dogs are around they get atttention and she doesn't. You can turn this around so that when the other dogs are around it is good...everyone gets treats, pats etc. So you can start withholding attention and special treats for Fiona EXCEPT when the others are around. She will learn that YOU decide who get treats, attention...and when. She can then learn to patiently wait her turn. Start by a sit always for a pat or treat. Always. There is an article here that adds a bit more. When it refers to the mohawk it is the raiding of the hackles..You need to catch this before the behavior starts, so she cannot do it and win. http://basenjicompanions.org/tips/adjust/guarding.html There is also a book called "Mine!" by Joan Donaldson. There is a link to it via this site at the front. It is very specific with regards to rescource guarding as a whole. You can take the same behavior modification routine with food, toys, people whatever, to change Fiona's behavior. Like any type of behavior modification....these things take time, lots of time....be patient and she will work through this. Good luck. |
| Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately, this happens when I am nowhere near them. When Dusty goes out, Fiona follows him constantly badgering him with her paws and puppy nails. I am also concerned greatly with this behavior because Sheltie's eyes are particularly vulnerable to injury, and once that happens, nearly impossible to heal (Collie eye). She is already bigger than them both, and I am afraid that as she grows the effect will be worse and worse on the boys. |
| i am having the same problem my 2 oes girls are 11 and one really hates my new boy.. the other just started to play with him but i need to watch them close those puppy teeth. love all of your inputs |
| We went through a similar situation with London. Because of her being a puppy she wants to play constantly and run and wrestle. While we had Marcus she would play with him all the time. Before we had him and now that he is gone she bugs my 2 older sheepies to no end. I have been taking London to a dog park where she can run and play until she is wiped out. This gives the older ones a break from her. We also will occasionally crate her for an hour or so and that gives them a break.
I also walk them every night for long walks which gets rid of some of the energy. Being a puppy (all breeds) they seem to have excess energy and are constant motion wanting to play & wrestle. I don't know if this will help but Good Luck. |
| There seems to be alot of truth to their being much more well behaved when they are tuckered out. We had a play day with two adult sheepdogs today, and she hardly did it at all because she was too busy running around like a nut! We were ALL pretty tired, and I will say that even *I* was better behaved after the workout...grr grr grr grr. |
| Yes, we have a friend with 2 samoyeds -an older samoyed, and a very high energy one who is 10 months old. We brought Chewie and our 1 yr rat terrier over to play. The older Samoyed was sooo happy there were other dogs there getting the young one tired out! We went last week and did this. It worked so well we went again today! |
This is an absolute truth: a tired sheepie is a well behaved sheepie.  |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|