Part II- Brought New Sheepie Home- Help
Now that he is here, I have a few more questions. Help! First and foremost, he is so anxious and needy ( which doesn't surprise me, I expected it.) He wails if he is left alone in a room for even a minute. He wants to be close to someone every minute - he makes my regular velcro dogs look uninterested! How do I soothe his anxiety without encouraging it? Second, he makes this noise...When you pet him, or scratch his back- he seems to be happy, but he makes this noise like a cross between a growl and a cat purring! ( I have had lots of dogs, but never encountered anything like this!) My other dogs think he is growling and back away, but he seems happy? Has anybody had anything like this before? When I saw him after the shelter had cut his hair ( because of the mats) he was soooo skinny. Skinny to the point of ribs sticking out...He goes crazy when he sees food and gulps it down almost frantically. I can only guess he wasn't fed well and that's why. What's the best way to handle this? My heart tells me to give him food frequently, so he will know it is there and because he is so skinny, but I don't know if that is helping or hurting. Don't get me wrong, he is as sweet as he can be, and it feels like one of the best things I have ever done. Sir Edgar Wooley ( which is apparently his real name, not Ollie as he was listed on Petfinder) is a sweetheart and has found his furever home. I just want to try to do as much right as I can. |
|
|
| I know that noise. My Lucy used to do that. It was kind of a groan/growl. A lot of people didn't like to pet her because they thought she was just growling but she'd get real grumbly and smash against you if you stopped. |
| That's it exactly - he does the same thing! At first I would stop because I thought he was mad but then he pushed against me so I would keep doing it. Does it go away or is it just the way these two communicate? |
SheepzRUS wrote: Thanks to everyone for all of your wonderful suggestions for bringing a rescued sheepdog into your home. Now that he is here, I have a few more questions. Help! First and foremost, he is so anxious and needy ( which doesn't surprise me, I expected it.) He wails if he is left alone in a room for even a minute. He wants to be close to someone every minute - he makes my regular velcro dogs look uninterested! How do I soothe his anxiety without encouraging it? As difficult as it is to do, you'll probably have to listen to him wail for awhile. Coddling a dog for showing needy behavior will only encourage that behavior. Try working with him for short periods on basic commands such as sit and stays, and reward him generously for his efforts. As he becomes more familiar with everyone's routine, he should settle down. SheepzRUS wrote: Second, he makes this noise...When you pet him, or scratch his back- he seems to be happy, but he makes this noise like a cross between a growl and a cat purring! ( I have had lots of dogs, but never encountered anything like this!) My other dogs think he is growling and back away, but he seems happy? Has anybody had anything like this before? We had one big male rescue dog that did this. The surrendering family swore he was happy when he made the noise (yeah, right!). Turned out that from the time he was a puppy, they rewarded his play-growl noises with belly rubs and praise. It was cute when he was a puppy but somewhat unsettling when he got larger. Please remember: Some dogs are surrendered to shelters due to behavioral problems. No matter how sweet they can seem up front, there may be underlying problems, Just be aware of the possibility of injury to you, your family and other pets. SheepzRUS wrote: When I saw him after the shelter had cut his hair ( because of the mats) he was soooo skinny. Skinny to the point of ribs sticking out...He goes crazy when he sees food and gulps it down almost frantically. I can only guess he wasn't fed well and that's why. What's the best way to handle this? My heart tells me to give him food frequently, so he will know it is there and because he is so skinny, but I don't know if that is helping or hurting. Buy a good brand of kibble and feed him on the same schedule that your other dogs eat on. Twice a day is good. Don't overfeed because he's skinny. Be sure your vet checks him for worms. We've had a couple extremely emaciated dogs start to fill out after about a week of good groceries and a clean bill of health. SheepzRUS wrote: Don't get me wrong, he is as sweet as he can be, and it feels like one of the best things I have ever done. Sir Edgar Wooley ( which is apparently his real name, not Ollie as he was listed on Petfinder) is a sweetheart and has found his furever home. I just want to try to do as much right as I can.
Thanks for adopting Sir Edgar! Our rescue contacted the shelter when he was first taken in and was told he'd been adopted by someone in Ohio who already had two OES! Nita |
And now I have three! 
Sheepies are like potato chips, you can never have just one! |
SheepzRUS wrote: Second, he makes this noise...When you pet him, or scratch his back- he seems to be happy, but he makes this noise like a cross between a growl and a cat purring! ( I have had lots of dogs, but never encountered anything like this!) My other dogs think he is growling and back away, but he seems happy? Has anybody had anything like this before?
We refer to this as the Sheepie grumble  |
Quote: First and foremost, he is so anxious and needy ( which doesn't surprise me, I expected it.) He wails if he is left alone in a room for even a minute. He wants to be close to someone every minute - he makes my regular velcro dogs look uninterested! How do I soothe his anxiety without encouraging it? years ago, i had a dog that the owner's husband had taken a dumped off miles from their home because the dog chewed his shoe. it took the owner weeks to find the dog (that had stayed at the drop off area, thankfully). but the dog was never the same about being left alone, it was always fearful, i think of being abandoned again. your recued dog may be unsure of his security--poor thing. |
Quote: He wants to be close to someone every minute - he makes my regular velcro dogs look uninterested! How do I soothe his anxiety without encouraging it?
By ignoring it. Simply do your best to go about your day in a calm and relaxed fashion. Let him follow you everywhere if you can stand it and the other dogs don't object, but when he acts anxious, try to ignore him. Don't push him away, or grumble. Just don't notice it. As soon as he relaxes, even a tiny bit, give him some light, gentle praise or a pat. Do not talk to him, or pet him when he is acting anxious. This actually rewards the anxious behavior and he will unconsciously continue it to get the attention. Routine will help as well. As he gets to know and understand the routine of your house, it will become predictable for him which will equal security. Please don't think that I believe it will be easy. I know that it will be a long road. |
| Now Eddie ( my new boy) is getting slightly less anxious ( and I do mean slightly,)but I have a new issue!
Dogs, as those of us who love them know, have completely different personalities. Cosmo, my oldest, is a rock of stabilty. I could bring five hundred dogs home and he would not get upset. He is calm friendly and welcoming. He and Eddie get along like they have known each other forever. My other sheepie, Carlo, is the baby. ( I call him the baby, he will be four in December!) He is like a bad little kid. He growls when Eddie gets near him, is offended when he wants to play and tries to push him out of the way at every opportunity! I try to make sure I sure him just as much attention as ever, but it is not helping! Help! |
| Sounds silly, but do you walk them on leash together? They will integrate faster as a pack if you treat them like a pack....equally. Granted, walking three is difficult, but you have to establish that in his mind as well as the other two.
Yes, with a focal, grumbly sheepdog, it takes the others time to figure out his noises, just as you are. Remain firm in discipline for all, be a leader, not a woosie mommy, until all begins to settle. Then you can start snuggling galore. (I know you want to do it now, but hold off the super slobbery snuggles. He's still scared.) As for the noise, yeah, Jack has a comment for everything. |
Fergus make that sound too. Only uses it when I holler at him (has to have the last word) He is however, afraid of his own shadow
 |
Didn't find exactly what you're looking for? Search again here:
Custom Search
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|