Rescue Dog - Terrified, Advice Needed.

chrissiesurfergirl123

Congratulations on giving a home to this lovely sounding dog. It is very early days and sounds like she is doing well already. Do you have anything you could put on the worktops at night which might discourage her from jumping on them? Thinking some empty cardboard boxes which could be easily stored away when not needed. These may also make the crate seem more attractive too if you end up getting one. Just an idea.

I have two rescue dogs, one of which had some very bad habits, biting being one of them (could write a book on him) when he first arrived but with patience and consistency he has turned into a really lovely boy. Sounds like you have the makings of a great companion in your new friend.

pboae

Karen Pryor has a good article on counter surfing here http://www.clickertraining.com/node/1034
The main thing to be aware of is that something is reinforcing it, so you need to be absolutely obsessively scrupulous about not leaving anything out on the counters, not so much as a crumb or a smudge of food. Every time she gets up and finds something interesting, it'll set you back again.

Also, on a slight tangent, avoid using 'down' in that situation. First, she probably hasn't been trained to know what down means, but has more likely been punished for scavenging in the past. Once you get started on training you will probably want to use the command 'down' to mean lie down. So you need to find another command, maybe 'off' for a situation like this, and then spend some time training her what it means in a less intense situation.

sammy_kaye18

Dont really have any helpful comments otehr than just calmly asking her to get off the counters - maybe 'off' could be the command word??

Or dont praise her/acknowledge when shes on the counter but then positive praise when she gets down onto the floor to greet you???

Savvy_Sue

If it's one particular place she goes to, would covering it up help?

I know it's not the same, but one of my mum's cats always sits on one particular surface (fortunately not one used for food!) Mum thought putting a newspaper up there would keep the cat off, but it didn't. I suggested putting a little cat bed there which Mum thought WOULD put the cat off, contrary thing ...

Mum also has a piece of plastic to go over the kitchen table when they're out. doesn't put the cats off, but it does save pawprints. :eek:

Also do you know how she gets up there, and is there a way of making access more difficult?

Maybe she's not used to a nice warm dry bed on the floor, and sleeping at height was the best place to be. In that case would putting her bed on a sturdy coffee table help her?

but you can probably tell I'm not an expert ...

Icanandwillsavemoney

We have a small kitchen so everything food wise is stored away in cupboards. Have been trying the treat good and ignore bad behaviour to no avail - it is still early days but ... last night she took umbridge at the toaster, kettle, steamer and ceramic pot of utencils sharing the work space. So she decided to knock the lot off!!! I am off to buy a crate, new kettle and toaster as they are beyond repair! I didn't acknowledge what she had done but when she came up for cuddles albeit with her dow eyed look, I turned my back on her and continued to clear up the water etc. I felt quite mean but knew I had to do it. A crate should sort this out and I will have the benefit of using it in the car for trips to the beach etc so win win .... hopefully

almond

wondered if you got your crate , we got one for lucy and she loves it, i have moved it up to a bedroom for her, its the best thing i ever got apart from her.
try putting an old jumper of yours in that will help her and i have a blanket over the top for drafts

Icanandwillsavemoney

Crate arrived today and it is huge!! Maybe I overestimated the size a bit but at least it's going to be roomy. I am so excited about using it tonight, you would think I was getting into it. Blanket to cover is ready and I will be able to cut back on bleach now too as I won't be cleaning the surfaces down 6 times a day!!

Thank you everyone for your thoughts and ideas, I really do appreciate them.

Soubrette

One way to deal with the countersurfing would be to drop something she likes (possibly a toy for a collie) and praise her like mad when she gets down.

For her fear of men, have you any men friends you can meet on a walk when they can pass and just drop a treat for her (no eye contact or fussing to start with) then increase the interaction as she feels more comfortable.

I personally think that these more gentle positive training techniques are better than the negative ones such as shouting but I do feel they take a bit longer to take effect.

Good luck with her

Sou

Milford_Cubicle

Make sure you pop her in there for 5-10 minutes at a time with a toy, or treat and then once she's settled, try closing the door and leaving her. If she seems ok and settled then you should be fine to have her in there overnight. If she shows signs of distress, then try increasing the time she's in there over a few days and then crate her at night. Good luck

Icanandwillsavemoney

Oh dear.

Did the 10 mins this afternoon with the door open. She got straight out and up onto the tops. So we knew we were nipping out for half an hour tonight. Popped her in the cage, came back half hour later and the cage is knackered!! She has bent one whole side and one of the wires is mangled - she doesn't like the cage then!

I am struggleing massively with her being on the work tops due to hygene and don't know what to try next. We have bought several different kinds of toys from squeeky ones to balls to cloth ones to rope and plastic but she is showing no interest in them.

She is turning her nose up at most treats too.