By Michelle J. from Sioux Falls, SD
She sounds like the boxer we adopted over a year ago. We used no physical training on her either she was also afraid of
Men. It just took a lot of time love and patience. We made sure there was a man present everyday to interact with her slowly she got used to them and started coming close and close now she loves the men of the family more than us women. She has now comfortable with the kids and played well with out growling and nipping . She also had food aggression problems we just slowly moved closer and closer while she ate. We never yelled or raised our voice just a firm no or ahh type noise and tons and tons of praise. Good luck!
Honeybees had great advice about making sure your pup gets used to having a male present on a regular basis. I will offer this additionally; have the man be the one that the dog sees filling its food and water bowls.
With regard to her being afraid of your father it could be something very simple like his clothing or aftershave. Does he always wear dark clothes for example. I had a Cocker Spaniel years ago who loved everyone except a man wearing dark clothing whether the mail man or my uncle who was a priest it didn't matter to her, they were the enemy (I got her when she was about 3 years old so I had no way of knowing her history). A friend of mind had a dog who hated a certain brand of aftershave. It will take time and patience but try to keep calm, dogs are very sensitive to the tone of your voice and if they're nervous a loud angry voice will only add to that.
We rescued our Chiweenie (Chihuahua Dachshund mix) from an out of state pound where she was picked up as a stray. The pound had her age at 11 months. Once she arrived with us, we quickly found that she had been abused. She's gotten over most of her fears except her unbelievable fear of being picked up.
Once she's being held, she's fine. It's the initial picking up that she's deathly afraid of. She runs (like she's running for her life) when we try. We do have one method that works. She has a bed that's kind of like a pita pocket. When she goes in there, we pick up the whole bed quickly before she can jump out.
We think she was abused because she wasn't housebroken. We think they picked her up and threw her outside. Why we think this:
1. She used to be extremely afraid of being outside.
2. She used to be extremely afraid and hide inside her bed after she used her pee pad.
3. We've actually seen her licking up her own pee from the floor. :(
She's gotten over these issues, but now we really need to help her fear of being picked up. Does anyone have suggestions?
By misee930
We found a puppy in the desert, abandoned. He is loving and sweet, gentle and amazingly and has some great training. He can sit, come, and stay. However, he will not go potty outside. It almost seems at times like he is waiting to go back in. Help? We love him so much
By Stephanie
I recently adopted a year and a half old Pit Bull that was abused. She is a total sweet heart. But when I raise my voice she always runs away in fear.
She even cries sometimes. I don't know how to get her to stop barking for no reason when she is outside.
I rescued a 3-4 year old red nose Pit Bull that had been abused. I got Lola off the road, she was looking for food to eat and she had burns all over her. I don't know how to train her after she has been abused for a long time. I need help.
By Jacqueline JQ L. from Coos Bay, OR
I am in need of some advice please! I have a year old Beagle, Alfie. We first got him when he was weeks old and he was lovely and jumpy like a puppy would be. I had a dog before Alfie, but he does not live with me, my brother, or mother now because my father took him due to a divorce.
Without us knowing my mother's ex-boyfriend started becoming violent towards Alfie. Before we knew it he was picking our Beagle up by his ears and pinning him to the ground, hitting him against walls, and causing harm to him. When witnessing this he left our house. A few weeks ago he returned to my house where my mother and dog were relaxing and invited himself in.
I have been told to make him sleep in a certain place, walk him up to 3 times a day, don't shout at him when he does something wrong ( we do not as we know he doesnt like loud noises) and when he barks keep playing with him.
By Chelsea C.
Hippa (my Staffy) was found under a freeway with a broken leg and scars. She had obviously had multiple litters. Her microchip took us to the original breeder and as far as I can tell she was a show dog that went to a family where she was stolen, brought to the city, had her ears cut off and used as a puppy mill.
By Shasoren from Richmond, CA
I adopted a Pit Bull mix puppy, who is 1 a year old. She appears she might have been abused before I got her from the shelter. They did not tell me how or what was done to her. When I brought her home to my family I found that she is wakes up from naps startled, growls, and barks.
She also randomly will walks to the closed bedroom doors and begin barking and growling. I don't want to have to return her to the shelter, but I am afraid I don't know how to handle/help her. Are there any tips on how to fix these two problems I have?I recently got a younger (probably 2 or 3) year old dog that is very skittish and scared, but is OK around me and my husband; she trusts us. However, when she is scared she likes to hide in our closet. Well, while we are at work she will take things out and chew them up.
Also, she will go outside to play with our other dog and will take forever to use the bathroom, if she goes at all. How do we teach her commands like sit, stay, don't chew, and go potty since she shows signs of abuse and is very skittish?I have a 12 month old blue nose Pit. He was given to me by a family that abused him. I am having a hard time getting him not to go to the bathroom in the house. It's been 4 months since we got him. We will let him out to use the bathroom and when my husband and I come back home from work, there's pee everywhere.
I tried putting him in a cage, but he just keeps breaking out and hurting himself. I really don't want to get rid of him. I need advice on what else I can do. I don't have the funds to put him in doggy school.It sounds like this dog has anxiety when you are gone. Is he getting plenty of walks? This will help an anxious dog. Chew toys that require him to work for his food are helpful. Safe bones can work too. You may have a hard time getting him to adjust to a crate as it is probably a part of his anxiety. Pick a safe room if you must limit him. Anything you can do to build his confidence is helpful, especially agility training, or just throwing a ball for awhile. It takes time. Good for you for taking it on. In time he will trust you.
I just got a 16 month old pure bully, but it was locked in a cage always, fought, and the lady used to beat her with a metal pipe. She's latched on to me now, but she needs to be taught how to play, and basic commands like stay and heel. I don't want to raise my voice now because she gets scared. She's bouncing back quickly, but if anyone has advice on training tips or links on how to get a Pit that was abused and fought, back to a normal playful 1 year old puppy I would appreciate it. Thanks.
By dennymia from Providence, RI
I have a 1 year old Pit. She was abused before I got her. I got her to stop going to the bathroom in the house, but I can not get her to go poop on the leash. She walks on the leash, but not go very far until she wants to turn around and go back home. She will pee on the leash, but she will not poop. Any suggestions?
