LAST CHANCE LOLA!!!

Hi all thought I'd update on our disater yesterday!
With Lola biting me yesterday, I went and bought a muzzle which she wasnt happy about but its for her safety as well as others.
She was ok on the walk and I booked an appointment with the vet/behaviour thereapist.
The looks we were getting were heartbreaking. I wanted to cry, the looks on other people faces were like
'a staffy with a muzzle - typical' I honestly cried, I felt the need to explain myself to them!
I just am so frustrated.
She was doing SO well!!
My husband has had enought of her antics (he doesnt do training/walking etc so doesnt have as much tollerance as me!)

Her new food is arriving tomorrow so will begin the transfer to her new food.
Hopefully that should sort things out.
Im putting her behaviour down to the fact she hasnt been well/diet issues & stress. I HOPE!!

Kisses from lola

I think you're being very supportive of her - well done. She's had a poor start to life & is probably still trying to 'find her place' in the family.

Hopefully, as you say, she'll improve with the new food & a stable routine of love & discipline. Good luck!

Thank you!
She's my baby and Im not giving up on her, once she'd bitten me and she'd been in her bed she came up and licked my hand as if to say 'sorry mum'.
She's my girl and I really hope it was a snap decision and it wont be a regular thing.
She playfully nibbles even now but shes never bitten me like that before.
Thank you caryll

I feel for her, to be honest. She's probably still quite stressed from her early life & the move to live with you & isn't certain of the boundaries etc. Tell your oh that he's an angel for letting you carry on with her!

I'm sure she'll improve, and when she's fully settled you should be able to get rid of the muzzle.

Yeah hopefully!
We've had her 15weeks and Im just a bit confused as to why she started acting up! But gotta keep trying!

Lola is so lucky that you are such a loving ,caring owner and are so worried about her.....and really doing everything you can to help her.You should be proud of what you are doing.
Come on Lola.. you can do it!!

mrsxg wrote:Yeah hopefully!
We've had her 15weeks and Im just a bit confused as to why she started acting up! But gotta keep trying!

It could be because she's been feeling under the weather, or it could just have been a 'trigger' that brought back bad memories.

You will be ok. Just hang in there. I cant recall how old Lola is now (they do seem to go off track between 6 and 7 months) but I am sure that by sticking to the basics of excercise, discipline and affection it will pay off in the end. Your oh would really help the program if he was onboard as well.

You always have us.

When we first got olly from the rescue he could get overexcited when he was playing with me (not my wife) and used to nip a lot i had the bruises to prove it .then i started to say no and turn away from him ,hes great now mind he still eats my gloves and slippers when im not watching. Just persevere they are worth it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She's 14months old now and OH doesnt walk her (picking up her poo makes him sick) he also doesnt like walking for too long...
So I do everything (while having a chronic pain condition!!!)
So I get frstrated and lash out at him every now and then.
But he expects her to do/learn things quickly but he doesnt train her so....
So much for 'Our' dog!!
She's more like my dog, but she's a daddy's girl xx

mrsxg wrote:She's 14months old now and OH doesnt walk her (picking up her poo makes him sick) he also doesnt like walking for too long...
So I do everything (while having a chronic pain condition!!!)
So I get frstrated and lash out at him every now and then.
But he expects her to do/learn things quickly but he doesnt train her so....
So much for 'Our' dog!!
She's more like my dog, but she's a daddy's girl xx

I know what you mean - my oh is the same when it comes to training ("He's your dog, so you train him"), although he does take him for long walks. I feed him, do most of the walks, groom him, train him, take him to the vets; and yet if me & my oh walk into the room at the same time it's always my oh Dempsey goes to first!

You sound to be doing so well and with the patience you have and a trust still being built on both sides I really hope it will settle.

Really would help if the OH could be on side though, I know its not always easy but with the 2 of you onside it would be ten fold easier than on your own. Xx

mrsxg wrote:Yeah hopefully!
We've had her 15weeks and Im just a bit confused as to why she started acting up! But gotta keep trying!

In a way if you think about it she has been around, and maybe she could be thinking in a weird way that its a test to see if you are just going to give up on her also. your showing her that your not and maybe that support and love is what she needs, but yet its gonna take some time.

mrsxg wrote:She's 14months old now and OH doesnt walk her (picking up her poo makes him sick) he also doesnt like walking for too long...
So I do everything (while having a chronic pain condition!!!)
So I get frstrated and lash out at him every now and then.
But he expects her to do/learn things quickly but he doesnt train her so....
So much for 'Our' dog!!
She's more like my dog, but she's a daddy's girl xx

Could it be that Lola picks up on the negativity from your other half ????

It's hard when anyone in the home won't help. Hang in there. :-<

Her new food came today and I put some in with her norma food and she loves it!! She left her old food and was looking at me as if to say
YUM YUM more please!
She's been a bit better today

OH isnt negative, he just doesnt help out with her or the hamster, I do everything. He'll fill her bowel up in the morning and let her in the garden for a pee...

Keep lola get rid of the oh ! my wife would

Well I admire you for trying. Pixee has been with us 3 and 1/2 weeks now, she was in the blue cross for 2 months. She was dumped. Who knows how long she was a stray for. Was underweight, but has since filled out nicely. She is on the same food as when in the blue cross. We didnt want to change it. Can I ask what Lola was on before and what she is on now? Pixee does mouth when over excited, but we have found by a firm 'no bitting' and igorning her, its working. I totally understand your pain when Lola was put in a muzzle, and those strangers looking at you both like that, it does get my back up. We do get some strange looks as if to say, oh they have to keep her on the lead (a long flexi one) what they dont know is she is from the blue cross and her re call is not brillant at the moment. They the ones with the problem not you. You keep your chin up.

Thank you
She was on wagg chicken & veg & she's getting transferred onto haringtons turkey with rice
She just went out & pooped & half was diarrhoea but I suppose it's to be expected with food change!!

Well Lola is making things very hard!!
Went out for our night walk and she was eating poop with her muzzle on!
She's being transferred onto her new food, Im doing half and half of each but the madam is only eating the new stuff.
She's terrible when trying to put her muzzle/harness/jacket on.
I really dont know what to do

She's making it awful hard for me to fight her case!

I'm sorry it's gotten so hard for you.

Any suggestions?!

Do you use a "high value" approach to treats?

Have you tried having her sit and wait before you feed her? We do this with Suki every meal. When we want to put her harness on we show her a treat and have her wait. Once the harness is on she gets the treat.

mrsxg wrote:Any suggestions?!

First things first; she's got to eat enough. The theory behind "high value" treats is that the dog gets a certain type of treat only for specific things. The relative rarity of the treat, whatever that may be, so long as it motivates the dog, raises the "value" of said treat. This can be used, for example, for sitting still while you put the harness and coat on. These special treats do not replace full regular feedings, but can help the dog focus. I hope I'm saying this right because I don't want to mess with your relationship with Lola.

Herman's Human wrote:

mrsxg wrote:Any suggestions?!

First things first; she's got to eat enough. The theory behind "high value" treats is that the dog gets a certain type of treat only for specific things. The relative rarity of the treat, whatever that may be, so long as it motivates the dog, raises the "value" of said treat. This can be used, for example, for sitting still while you put the harness and coat on. These special treats do not replace full regular feedings, but can help the dog focus. I hope I'm saying this right because I don't want to mess with your relationship with Lola.

Great advice your girls unsure about if this is home or just another place to stay until shes settled she will learn to trust and respect you through food its a wonderful way to bond with a dog

mrsxg wrote:Well Lola is making things very hard!!
Went out for our night walk and she was eating poop with her muzzle on!
She's being transferred onto her new food, Im doing half and half of each but the madam is only eating the new stuff.
She's terrible when trying to put her muzzle/harness/jacket on.
I really dont know what to do
She's making it awful hard for me to fight her case!

Basically, you need to regain control. That's actually easier than it sounds, although you might not think so right now!

As already said, keep some high value treats with you at all times. Only use them when you need to distract her, or reward her for something really well done.

When you put her food down, make her sit & wait for a count of 5 seconds & then use a realease word such as "OK" or similar & let her eat. If she isn't eating her old food, then I'd just give her the new food, to be honest; she'll probably get a bit of an upset tum, but it'll clear in 2 or 3 days, hopefully.

Do the same with her harness (I wouldn't bother with her jacket until she's better behaved) - put an ordinary collar on first so that you have something to hold on to then get her to sit & reward her. Then gently slide your hand along her side & then down under her back legs & tell her "Stand". Gently lift her back end up if she doesn't do it. All the time keep your other hand lightly on her collar. When she stands, reward & slide the harness over her neck. Reward. Do the harness up. Reward.

If at any time she objects, just calmly go back to the beginning.

She needs to have boundaries set, but she needs to be rewarded & reassured that she's doing right. She's had a bad start to life by the sound of it, and she's now unsure of what's right & wrong. With patience & rewards she'll be ok, I'm sure.

Why last chance?!

Skullkandi wrote:Why last chance?!

Because she bit Georg & her husband isn't happy about it. I'm sure that consistency & setting boundaries will help tremendously.

Caryll wrote:

Skullkandi wrote:Why last chance?!

Because she bit Georg & her husband isn't happy about it. I'm sure that consistency & setting boundaries will help tremendously.

Okay, just read the other thread =/ I haven't been on the forum for ages (I'm a horrible woman XD)
And that does sound quite severe. I, sadly, have nothing to add part from good luck with everything and Caryll is quite right about the boundaries. The title scares me though, really scares me...

Its not easy when you have to do it on your own but you want to help her and there is great advice and support here for you. When they have had a bad start to life it can take a little bit longer. From reading posts on here from people who have rescued it is worth the hard work in the end

Hang tough, I honestly believe that when it all comes together, it will have been worth it.

Yes the title scares me to but I need some advice which I've got some great and she's been ok today. ate and rolled in some cat poop, but didnt need the muzzle!!
just hope she settles soon xxx

I wish you all the best of luck!

thank you!

mrsxg wrote:Yes the title scares me to but I need some advice which I've got some great and she's been ok today. ate and rolled in some cat poop, but didnt need the muzzle!!
just hope she settles soon xxx

sounds like you've had a good day to build on. one day at a time.

Oh my good lord!!!!
Took Lola out for her night walk & she did everything & was very good then about an hour later I went upstairs to get something & she jamp on my bee & piddled!!
I didn't discover this till I got into a damp smelly bed!
She had a massive pee not an hour before!! What on earth!!!

Oh, dear.

She's still settling in. Expect the odd bit of strange behaviour. Maybe for a while she shouldn't be allowed in the bedrooms - just until she's proved she can behave.

mrsxg wrote:Oh my good lord!!!!
Took Lola out for her night walk & she did everything & was very good then about an hour later I went upstairs to get something & she jamp on my bee & piddled!!
I didn't discover this till I got into a damp smelly bed!
She had a massive pee not an hour before!! What on earth!!!

Suki did this once as well. We kept her in a crate for a week so she would learn the rules but still She also pee on the couch and in the car. She also pooped in the car walked all over it, rollen in it and then jumped up front for cuddles They do learn though so your effort and patience will pay off.

jstaff wrote:
Suki did this once as well. We kept her in a crate for a week so she would learn the rules but still She also pee on the couch and in the car. She also pooped in the car walked all over it, rollen in it and then jumped up front for cuddles They do learn though so your effort and patience will pay off.

I know I shouldn't laugh, but.....

I wasnt amused!
The marbles in a bottle scared her alright!!
Its just not practical to carry around.
She's such a sook/affectionate dog its hard to resist her
I was probably to trusting when we first got her, letting he off the lead so soon...
She exercises herself when off though so its kinda hard.

Georg, Lola is so lucky to have found you. I know it's testing your absolute limits at the mo, but she WILL get there, and it will all be to your credit as a good owner. She's been given up on in the past, and is probably just waiting for it to happen again.

When she knows what her rules and boundaries are, and she knows that you're serious about it, she will settle down, and you will feel so proud of her and yourself and know that it's all been worth it.

Always keep the three P's in mind: Persistence, Perserverance and Patience. You can do it, hang in there. We're all here for you anytime.

Agreed with Shontelle. Please don't give up on this girl who is SO full of potential.

this struggle will make the victory all the sweeter. hold fast!

any updates?

It must have been pee the bed day in Angus and Dundee!! Kasidy did it while i was in the bath. They probably asked out but we missed the signs i'm sure Lola didn't do it on purpose I changed my two on to Harringtons several weeks ago and they are looking great, Kasidy seems a lot calmer but not sure if that's just because she is maturing or if the change of food helped.

how many walks is he getting and how long for?

a staffy really need 2/3 walks per day for at least 45mins/hour plus per walk.


a bored/untired dog is an problem do, and tired/unbored dog is and good dog...

shontelle wrote:Georg, Lola is so lucky to have found you. I know it's testing your absolute limits at the mo, but she WILL get there, and it will all be to your credit as a good owner. She's been given up on in the past, and is probably just waiting for it to happen again.

When she knows what her rules and boundaries are, and she knows that you're serious about it, she will settle down, and you will feel so proud of her and yourself and know that it's all been worth it.

Always keep the three P's in mind: Persistence, Perserverance and Patience. You can do it, hang in there. We're all here for you anytime.

Thank you

Update, she loves her new food, not farting nearly as much!
I've not needed to use the muzzle and she's been off the lead a few times.

I found a 'high value' treat... SAUSAGE!!

She's responding so well to it, she's more responsive.

She rolled in some poop this afternoon and I called her over and she was in the position to play/nip and I distracted her and managed to leash her without any problems!!

She get 2 walk a day for at least 40mins each time and the 1st walk she gets a good run with her frisbee

stiofan are you in Dundee??

Fancy a doggy play date??? xx

Thats great news. It's a good feeling when you start to see them respond to you. Lola really is lucky to have found you

Great news, it sounds like she's responding & that means you'll start to trust her more. It should get better & better as you both get to know each other!