Rescue Dog

TerryTorque

Evening,

We got a collie / lurcher / bit of everything from the rescue centre on Wednesday of last week, he's very friendly with people, a bit Whiney when seeing other dogs on walks and initially was quite anxious - followed us everywhere, this seems to be slowly improving.

He has not been neutered, was brought into the rescue as a stray in mid June and they estimate his age around 2-3 although of course it's impossible for them to say for sure.

He's been fine when out in garden, we have a lot of cats around the neighbourhood that come in our garden and he's barked at one and stopped one getting in without seeming threatening, he also enjoys barking at birds and flies etc.


anyhow last night we let him in garden around 9 o'clock, he looked as if he was trying to get out - stood at fence and then gate on back legs then wouldn't come in when called - long story short only way I could get him in was to pick him up and put him in. He then went flying through house, upstairs and jumped up at window, prior to this he also tried to get on settee's and was told to get down before hiding behind and panting loudly. When we went to bed he was fine and fine all day today bar briefly refusing to come in from garden although not playing up.

Tonight he was in the house, similar time had been out for toilet and about half hour later tried to get on settee - was told no then went and sat by door jumping up at it and the front door and me and again upstairs to back window before again going behind settee where he was been for the last half an hour panting.

I have no experience with this type of behaviour - tonight we have just ignored him. Would be greatful if anyone could advise - will castration maybe help? My first thought was he may have smelt a female dog but I've been in the park with him and been able to control easily when this happened previously.

elsien

Maybe a fox, or something he can hear that you can't?

TerryTorque

Yeah I thought similar just wondered if castration will help or maybe other training?

elsien

Castration isn't a miracle cure for behavioural issues. It can sometimes help with aggression (not always) and for dogs who keep going AWOL but that's probably about it.
If it's happening at a similar time, could you give him something to occupy him - stuffed kong or something? And maybe limit the bits of the house he can access at that time of night? Sometimes dogs feel more secure if they don't have too much space to run round in and it sounds like something's worrying him. Do you use a crate? I'm not suggesting locking him in, but maybe creating a den with a blanket over the top would give him somewhere to hide himself away - he sounds quite stressed when it's happening.
Early days though - he's got a new house and new rules to get used to.

You do know photos are obligatory?

TerryTorque

Thanks for the replies.

Considered the crate but not keen at present, he doesn't seem to enjoy being enclosed, although we only tried on the first night to keep him to the lounge / dining room / kitchen which closes at one end but goes through at the other, he didn't like it. It's a big space as well.

Since then he's slept on the landing and to be fair behaves well at night bar the occasional attempt to get into our room.

We have a Kong so will try that tomorrow, we have used this when going out and leaving him so hopefully that will work. I wasn't sure about using this or anything enjoyable for him - don't want to reward unwanted behaviour but your point made me think we need to do more to occupy him when he's in the house.

elsien

I take your point about rewarding him, and you don't want to reinforce bad behaviour but if you can get in quick it's more about diversion and distraction. If he's ok the rest of the time, there's obviously some sort of trigger although it may also be associated with something that happened where he was before.

herbily

Panting is a stress symptom, and both lurchers and collies are sensitive dogs. I suspect the hiding behind the sofa panting is your dog being upset because you've told him off - it's not something to punish him for. Behind the sofa will seem like a safe place to him.


It's difficult to say why he's jumping up to go out - might be hunting instincts, or needing a wee, or not being used to being indoors. If he's been kept outside, he'll be finding it odd to spend all his time in the house. That's the hard thing about rescue dogs, they'll be used to a routine, and you don't know what it is! (My first greyhound trained me into his usual kennel routine within a few weeks.)


Lots of patience, and don't start stress-panting yourself!

sheramber

He may benefit from a diffuser to reduce stress.

My fried has found the ADAPTIL worked well.https://www.amazon.co.uk/ADAPTIL-C13311R-Adaptil-Diffuser-48ml/dp/B0038XBOJC

There is also a DAP one.

Samlm

Hi,

I have been told by the vets and trainer that castration at the wrong time can make any behavioural problems or anxiety worse and the dog may be stuck with them. It seems like castration should only be done when the dog is well balanced.

Good luck

TerryTorque

Thanks for the advice all, really appreciate it.

Much better last two nights touch wood, I think the problem is animals generally based on what I've seen since Sunday.

Started to jump at fence yesterday - after a dog barked, took him out for an hour got back and snoozed until I went to bed, out for only half hour tonight but played in the garden lots, although when we got back from the walk there was a cat in the garden, he gave it a lot of bark and tried to pull on lead but once inside behaved himself and didn't resist coming in.

Took him out for a wee just and he came when called.

No sustained attempts to get on sofa and no hiding behind the settee

Panting a lot still but he's very hot.

HB58

Sounds as if he's settling down very well.