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AdventureSheepies t1_j0hnbf5 wrote

Reply to comment by Jebodiah77 in Thank you for reporting animal cruelty. by DilliciousPickles

We did have some issues right when we adopted her:

  • She used to think all furniture was fair game, and would jump up on anything she could reach if she felt like it, including tables. She doesn't really do it in a way that is inappropriate anymore though. We allow the dogs on the beds and couches, and she thinks she's a lap dog.
  • She didn't know ANY commands, not even sit. We did a few classes with Bill at Ultimate Companions, and once she figured it out, training her was really easy. She is really smart.
  • She didn't know what to do with toys at all. She just wouldn't interact with them. She eventually figured out that the toys are for her and that they are really fun. She tosses her own toys up in the air and catches them, and loves to fetch.
  • She had some minor food aggression when we first brought her home. Not towards people, but towards other animals if they got close to her food. I think just getting used to not being hungry helped her work that out herself, because it's not an issue anymore. She does resource guard a little in general, and that includes toys and people. She isn't aggressive, but she's vocal. We are working on it.
  • She is absolutely terrified of thunderstorms, and we haven't really seen any improvement there at all. She also really hates the noise big trucks make when they pass us on the road. She will aggressively bark at the windows at home and in the car. We have anti-anxiety medication for her when she needs it.

Personality-wise, she is the biggest sweetheart I have ever met. She loves belly rubs and cuddling, and she is really good at providing support to her people. Like she instinctively does DPT with my kid that suffers from severe depression and anxiety. She is good with other dogs, but more interested in people.

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DilliciousPickles OP t1_j0i7f7o wrote

Window film over windows does wonders for reactivity somtimes, not sure if it'll help you.

Some resource guarding is learned, but generally it's a biological function that can only be managed. (It sucks, I feel bad for pups dealing with it, I have one - we've done loads of training though and my pup has a great life. The most important aspect is management.)

Not sure if this will help in the car, but for my reactivity training I did a lot of treat tosses as soon as the trigger came into view. (And treats go away when the trigger does.)

This way you're counter-conditioning that trigger equals treats, and over time it can really help. I have one pup who whines at me for treats as soon as they see a strange dog. Because they're a glutton they do it even for familiar dogs, like, "Hey! I saw this dog! I'm checking in! TREATS!" and it's pretty adorable so I do sometimes treat at that moment or use praise.

Thanks for rescuing. We need more people like you but I'm glad to know your home exists.

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