Anxiety

yksward · #1 13-01-12, 08:48 PM

Hi all,

Having a few problems with Storm. When I got him he was very anxious and nervous around strangers, men in particular. He growls and barks and either finds a safe place to hide, hides behind someone he knows, or when we're out on walks he will try to flee the situation.

He's not aggressive at all, but where his fosterer minds children at her home for a living, the parents can be a bit doubtful when Storm is barking and growling at the children (obviously)

I was wondering what sort of methods she and I can use to stop this as I wouldn't like her to reconsider fostering him and it's a big problem in general.

Are there training techniques or tablets I can give him to calm him down and sort of dope him up a bit into a 'no care in the world' state of mind?

We're not sure why he's like this, it must have been mistreated when he was younger.

Thanks all.

stillalsations2me · #2 14-01-12, 06:10 AM

To be honest i think you should consider finding the poor lad a new foster or permanent home that can provide for his needs and begin a good life, where he is at the moment in a day nursery with his problems could lead to him having to been euthanized.

Can you dope him up! I suppose it is possible but the wrong way to go in my opinion.

(Is this a wind up or are you serious?)

Stuart · #3 14-01-12, 07:02 PM

Its the first time I have heard someone enquiring about doping a dog,.. very wrong in my opinion, it will not solve the problem, you cant change the dog with a pill, only restrict his life

You say he is not aggressive,.. well he is, he has` fear aggression` which means he will not go out of his way to bite or attack,.. but if he feels he is put into a corner, or a situation that scares him,...then he will bite

So Storm and Children should not be mixed untill he has lost this fear aggression...please dont consider pills,.. because they could work against you, if Storm `comes around from being impaired`,.. he may well feel more insecure and scared than he is now, and you are likely to make matters worse

wildmoor · #4 14-01-12, 08:17 PM

he hasnt necessarily been badly treated it is more likely a combination of genetics (poor breeding) and socialisation

LindaM · #5 14-01-12, 08:25 PM

Hi again

I know you posted quite a bit when you were looking for a temp home for him. How long was Storm with you before you had to foster him out because of your accommodation problems?

I'm just wondering if some background to Storm's life e.g. how long you had had him, where you got him from and who owned him might help this boy.

If things go on like this I don't think his long term outcome is good.

Something must change for Storm. You can see that I know. I just thought more info might help the people who are trying to give you some advice.

Kealagirl · #6 14-01-12, 08:47 PM

I agree Storm needs a new home/foster home. In the situation he is in at the moment he is going to become more and more stressed out and as Stuart has said if you put a fearful dog in such a position that it can not flee it maybe that it feels it only option is to bite. I am sure that I the last thing you would want for the child and for storm.

Doping the poor boy up is not the answer.

I think you should maybe seriously consider finding storm a new safe permanent home ( and I am sure this is the last thing you want, but you need to think what's best for storm). Keep passing him from home to home and you will end up with a very insecure, stressed out boy who doesn't know if he is coming or going.

jc24965 · #7 14-01-12, 10:15 PM

In my opinion you should never have taken Storm in, in the first place. From what I can remember, you only had him a matter of weeks or a few months but had to find alternative arrangements for him due to the landlord's rules of not allowing two dogs as you already had one dog in the household. You really should have checked first with your landlord about being able to have a second dog in rented accommodation.

It sounds like he is in yet another home that's not ideal for him and his future isn't looking promising at the moment in the foster home he is in. Quite frankly, I am very surprised that a lady who is a childminder agreed to have a dog from a stranger where its history and temperament were unknown. If she is a registered childminder, I believe that the rules are that dogs must be kept in a secure area away from the children.

This poor dog needs a stable and permanent home and I would highly recommend you contact a GSD rescue to see if they can help you find a permanent home for him.

ArchandEbs · #8 15-01-12, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yksward

Hi all,

Having a few problems with Storm. When I got him he was very anxious and nervous around strangers, men in particular. He growls and barks and either finds a safe place to hide, hides behind someone he knows, or when we're out on walks he will try to flee the situation.

He's not aggressive at all, but where his fosterer minds children at her home for a living, the parents can be a bit doubtful when Storm is barking and growling at the children (obviously)

I was wondering what sort of methods she and I can use to stop this as I wouldn't like her to reconsider fostering him and it's a big problem in general.

Are there training techniques or tablets I can give him to calm him down and sort of dope him up a bit into a 'no care in the world' state of mind?

We're not sure why he's like this, it must have been mistreated when he was younger.

Thanks all.

I'd move him immediately and find someone with GSD experience who can work on his rehabilitation. This is a disaster waiting to happen.

nisbreagha · #9 15-01-12, 09:41 AM

Words fail me! This boy needs a stable home and someone who has time and knows what they are doing to help him. You need to get him into a forever home ASAP! If this continues he is a rd to being PTS where he is.

Doping him to calm him down is IMO not an option and will do no good as Stuart has said. Deal with the problem dont just sweep it under the carpet by doping the dog up. His fear aggression may not have been a result off his last owners treatment of him, more likely as Pam said it is poor socialisation and breeding.

It's time you stopped thinking of yourself and get him to GSD rescue and into a forever home instead of in this situation or the poor guy is going to bite someone's child and hell be PTS!

LindaM · #10 15-01-12, 12:03 PM

Hi again

There has been quite a bit of criticism of your actions but I hope you are still reading.

Sometimes we want to do things for the right reasons, like giving Storm a better home which is what you wanted. You also tried so hard to get him a good foster home so that you could have him back and also pay for his food and his vet's bills.

I am also guessing you don't want to give up on him or be another person to let him down. Just my thoughts on this. I'm sorry I don't know your name.

I think Storm is running into quite difficult problems that would take an experienced German Shepherd owner a little time to sort out.

I do think he runs the risk of biting and then if that happens the options you have as to who would have him grow much smaller. The risk of him being put to sleep also increase if his behaviour was to get worse over a period of time. The situation for Storm regarding biting could change quickly.

Many of the people on here who are trying to help you and Storm have seen this sort of situation before and they are trying to help you both.

This may not be the time to own a German Shepherd. I have to be honest with you here, that is the way it seems to me.

I know it would hurt so much to give him up but I think he would be best placed in a specialist German Shepherd Rescue (not the RSPCA). This would give him the best chance of being sorted and to have the long life he deserves. I know you would be gutted but I think you would be more gutted if things got worse and he was put to sleep.

If you love this breed then when you have a better set up and more knowledge about what this complex breed needs there could be another time for you.

I just want you to know I'm thinking about you as you try to make this very tough decision. I don't know what family or friends you would have to be able to support you.

If you want names and address of suitable Rescues then I'm sure people on here would help.

If you want to talk it through further please keep posting. If you do give him up and want to talk about your loss on here then I am here and others will be to help you through your loss. I will definately be here for you.

Linda