Two steps forward, one and a half step back!

[survive_the_elements]

What a week!
I went for a walk with my OH the other day with Zelda, met a dog and she went on the usual yapping marathon...but we then discovered that she was actually shaking! Then the OH took her for a walk yesterday and she peed whilst shaking...
She will look out the window and if she sees a dog now, she will pee in the house, so we have had to close all of the curtains permanantly
She was always like this outside around dogs but i never had enough hands to notice that she was shaking..but she has never peed in the apartment due to seeing a dog through the window before.
First vet trip on Monday since we had her, so will have a good talk with them (as much as i can manage in French!)
She is very good around humans, only the occasional jumping up on people..but not sure whether a muzzle will help, then slowly introduce her to dogs with a muzzle on, but i'm thinking this might aggrevate her even more.
Vet is booked for 7.30pm, so will hopefully be quiet as i cant imagine having to sit in a waiting room with her!
Any ideas/initial thoughts?

[raffaella]

Hi,just read your thread and noticed there was no replies...sorry I can't really help as i'm not an expert..hope things are getting better tho..how did it go at the vet ?

[Stuart]

I missed this too,.. what did the vet say?

Has he ever got into a fight with another dog?,...

or maybe you [ without thinking] made him a little apprehensive when you check him for barking at the other dog

although its is not the normal, I have used a muzzle when introducing one dog to another, and it can help at first, but I have often found that the muzzled dog acts well with the muzzle on, because he knows he cant do anything, but then reverts back to being aggressive when the muzzle is removed

Did he ever go to classes for socialisation

[Moobli]

I would also be interested to know what the vet said.

Is your girl a rescue, or have you had her from a pup? Has she had any bad experiences with other dogs in the past that you know of?

It is hard to diagnose without actually seeing it, but it sounds to me as though she is acting out of fear and all the barking and aggressive behaviour is just trying to keep the other dog away. It is not uncommon in GSDs that have not had enough (or the right sort of) socialisation when young, or else she has had a scary experience and hasn't forgotten it.

It might be worth considering getting your vet to recommend a reputable behaviourist who could work with you to overcome this issue (and often pet insurance will pay for behaviour consultations if they have been recommended by a vet).

[survive_the_elements]

She is a rescue dog, 3 years old. We have had her for 6 weeks today Visit to the vet went really well, she was very well behaved and even ignored a cat that passed, although it was hidden in a basket lol.
We have spoken to the rescue shelter and they have said she can go for an afternoon there for socialisation stuff, but I'm also thinking of having a trainer come over

[Stuart]

It sounds like it may well have been something that happened early in her life, that you will probably never know about

I would certainly take up the offer of the socialisation at the rescue, thats good of them, and will help your dog no end,.. as it will some of the others I am sure.

I would also find classes to go to,..I hated classes when I took Kee, but I went for the sake of the dog, and thats much of what classes can do, sure they will learn obedience, but for me using a class to socialise is of equal importance

The same can be said for the vets, many places allow social calls during slack times, often early mornings or evenings, where you can take your dog, they get a pet, and get used to vet visits, and often meet other animals

socialisation can solve many problems, I just wish that I was closer to somewhere, so that I could practise what I am preaching

[TandCs]

Poor Zelda, sounds like you`ve got your work cut out for you, but is still early days for you both. It`ll be good when you see her confidence improving no matter how little at a time.
Keep us posted on her progress.


Tracy..

[GypsyGSD]

Have you a friend who has a quiet well behaved mannered dog you can walk with they can learn so much from other dogs x