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Post by CUR on Jul 31, 2010 10:21:46 GMT -5
I've always wanted a large dog, and right before Easter I got one. He's a male Catahoula Leopard Dog (one of my favorite breeds) and a very nice boy. Unfortunately, he has some issues.
When I got him he was around 4 months old (born mid November) and is now about 7 1/2 months. From the start he was a little submissive- there were a few times he would get scared if people raise their voices, drop something, or move quickly toward him. Well, the problem seems to get better and then becomes worse.
Sometimes he is fine, and a real pleasure to be around. Other times I can call him to me sweetly as can be, use neutral body language, and he will still lower his head and tail, and then proceed to pee on the floor. He is completely house trained and only submissively urinated when interacting with people.
Does anyone know of ways to calm this boy and increase his confidence? If I can't solve the problem I am left with the ultimatum of getting rid of him, something I really want to avoid if at all possible.!
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Fritzie
Weak
Find a small child and use it as a sheild!!!!
Posts: 228
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Post by Fritzie on Aug 5, 2010 0:47:28 GMT -5
you know, my sister actually has a dog that did the exact same thing. for years, actually, she is really only JUST starting to get over it, and she's almost four.
unfortunately, it was really, really hard to get her over this, and she sometimes still does it when my fiance comes into the house, just because she's quite afraid of males.
But what we did with her, or at least what i had been doing with her, is whenever i would go over, i'd always slowly greet her, and give her lots of space, allowing her to come at will. it seemed to let her know that she was in charge of who she wanted to greet and who she didn't want to greet.
I know a lady who has worked with alot of dogs in her life and i'll be with her tomorrow. i'll ask her what she thinks the best way to go about this would be and i'll make sure to get back to you tomorrow night
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Post by CUR on Aug 5, 2010 10:15:23 GMT -5
Yeah that sounds like a good idea. And thanks about asking her, poor pup needs some help. I've been working on it but geez it sure does get frustrating sometimes.
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Fritzie
Weak
Find a small child and use it as a sheild!!!!
Posts: 228
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Post by Fritzie on Aug 5, 2010 12:02:39 GMT -5
i know how ya feel. we could just walk into the house and she'd be super happy and if you reached down to pet her, she'd cower, squat and pee. and if we were lucky, it was on the linolium by the door, and not the rug anywhere else in the house..
sigh... but i will ask! just have patience! it will all work out!
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Fritzie
Weak
Find a small child and use it as a sheild!!!!
Posts: 228
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Post by Fritzie on Aug 5, 2010 23:36:34 GMT -5
DO NOT GET HIM NEUTERED!!!!
The first thing she told me is if you are planning on getting him neutered, wait until after he turns at least 2 years old, or it will GET WORSE!!!
she then told me that the best way to help is to actually rough-house with him, not in a mean way, but an excited way, like kinda hard patting and a loud excited voice telling him who's a good dog.
she showed me this with one of her dogs today that is pretty skitish, and she had her jumping around wanting to play. this also helps to infuse confidence in him she said.
she says the calm voice can be pretty scary, as also the neutral position can be, but a happy tone is always taken as a happy tone.
i hope this helps a bit!
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Post by CUR on Aug 6, 2010 17:24:48 GMT -5
Definitely helpful Lucien, and thanks about the play and voice info ^^
No worries, I wouldn't ever get him neutered anyway. I luff him way too much for that <33
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Fritzie
Weak
Find a small child and use it as a sheild!!!!
Posts: 228
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Post by Fritzie on Aug 8, 2010 3:59:33 GMT -5
glad to have been able to help! hope things get better now!
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Fritzie
Weak
Find a small child and use it as a sheild!!!!
Posts: 228
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Post by Fritzie on Aug 22, 2010 2:26:42 GMT -5
hows it going? any updates?
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Post by CUR on Aug 24, 2010 22:12:38 GMT -5
Things are going well. I have been trying to give him a lot of time away from my smaller dog until the other boy does get neutered, since he seems to be having some dominance-arguments and I don't plan on breeding my Shiba.
Also, with the big dog I have been playing some tug of war, which really has built his confidence, and we went over a friend's house one day so he could play with the other dogs while I spent some time with people and that seemed to help as well because he had to see that he could have fun and feel safe even if I wasnt right next to him/
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Fritzie
Weak
Find a small child and use it as a sheild!!!!
Posts: 228
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Post by Fritzie on Aug 26, 2010 1:47:43 GMT -5
Yay! I'm so excited things are going better for you! i'll let my dog friend know that her advice helped! hope things keep improving!
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