Problems with my lovely rescue dog Juniper......please reassure us

Hi All,

This is my first post since I got my dear little rescue dog juniper berry aka juno a blue and white 15 month old rescue. Juno has had a rough start in life and in addition to this has very partial eye sight either due to indiscriminate breeding or a head injury.

I have had juno a month so it is very early days and she is adorable, she is fabulous with my resident dogs and good to walk on a lead and good off lead through the fields. However we do have problems when we meet other dogs, she barks and growls in a frenzy, obviously probably due to her limited sight and probable inadequate socialisation. I have been assured by the vet and our dog trainer that this is a fear response which was my thinking.

We are attending training classes and her angst lessons when we concentrate on the exercises so thats a good sign, however that doesnt seem to help her when we are in other places. the odd thing is she was excellent with the other dogs at the rescue centre too, but obviously she knew them and knew she was save. In addition Juniper Berry also chases the cat as soon as it moves, but has now become relaxed when passing the chickens so thats progress.

Juno manages the training exercises very well and we are due to start behavioural sessions too, however we do feel a little dispondant as obviously there are other dogs everywhere and it is rather a challenge to go anywhere, we are not prepared to be hermits

I have found the behaviour website on here very helpful as I was told her circling was due to her eyesight but I gather from the behaviour page it maybe be due to stress.

Id be really grateful if someone could reassure us that they have managed to over come this type off problem though I realise it may take a little longer for Juno

I really don't want her to miss out on a happy life, apart from this is is a happy little soul

Thanks

Hi,

Firstly, well done on helping a needy animal like that, it's very admirable

You are doing just what she needs to get better with her issues, training classes are excellent and it's great that she is comfortable with your resident dogs.

As she has had a rough start she will most likely just need extra time, consistency and care. But I feel you will be more than suitable to provide this.

Just keep doing what you are doing IMO

Poor Juno, she's had a rough time, hasn't she?

One thing you could try is teaching the 'watch' command. Hold a treat in front of your face & say 'watch' & as soon as she looks at your face, give her the treat. Eventually as soon as you say watch, she'll look at your face expecting the treat to be there! Start off indoors, in a safe, quiet surrounding. Then once she has that perfect try again when you're outside, but with no distractions. Then you can gradually introduce distractions. It can also help if you get her to sit as well - it takes her mind off the anxiety-causing things around her.

If you know anybody with a bomb-proof dog, then it could be beneficial to walk them together so that the other dog's calmness rubs off on Juno.

By circling, I take it you mean spinning? If so, I would almost certainly think it's stress related. Stop & distract her every time she does it so that it doesn't become a 'comfort' reaction to stress/anxiety.

Good luck!

Completly agree with Caryll. It will take time and patience but it will be well worth it in the end. Also welcome to the forum from us and Suki

Agree with everything that's been said^^^^. Congrats on the rescue & welcome to the forum from us.

Hello. I love Juniper's name. She is only 15 months old so she is full of life, and has lots to learn.

I got my rescue at 18 months and he didn't know anything, including house training/walking on lead/playing with toys, everything. I can't believe how far he's come. I found this website amazingly helpful. I also found http://www.dogstardaily.com/ very very good. Here is something on "Leash aggression" for instance, which may be relevant: http://www.dogstardaily.com/blogs/leash-aggression

If you stay calm, your dog will feel safer. Is there a calm fellow dog (and owner) you can go on walks about town/country with so your dog gets used to things? I def agree also that a distracted dog is a happy dog: so treats/tricks/practice sits etc will help.

Because Juniper is partially sited she must be very reliant on her sense of smell. Perhaps play to that strength (build her confidence?) It's called "Nosework" apparently: http://www.dogstardaily.com/blogs/kelly-gorman-dunbar/give-your-dog-gift-sniff-nosework

In fact I might get my own dog on to it.

Pictures?

I love any Staffy rescue story.

thanks very much i will check out the articles when i get back and will try and upload some photos. your story does give me a ray of hope. She is my first staffordshire, I've always wanted one. A small part of me does wonder if a puppy may have been more straight forward, but not necessarily and she is a treasure on a lead so thats a bonus.

anywhere other than home or our own fields she always has her little tail clamped between her legs which makes me feel awfully sad but we will get there

Hello from me and Pixee. And I agree with what the others have said. Pixee is a resuce too, we brought her home at approx 15 months, (Found a spray) and from her behaviour, we know she had been beaten, (shoulder injury prove) and was very afraid of people, more so men and certain people. She has no trust for anyone she didnt know, so would bark at them in warning, which was a worry at first, and didnt ever know how to play with toys or liked being touched on her head or sides, but over time with lots of patient, fuss and love off us, she now trusts more people, has stoppen barking out in warning, will now walk pass strangers off lead happy, and loves being touched and fussed by those she trusts. Staying calm does help your dog, they do pick up those feelings from you. I also couldnt stop Pixee running barking up to other dogs when we first had her, now she wont ever run to them, unless I say so, its generally us that has the problem with other dogs running to her, but she is more relaxed now when other dogs run up to her so long as she isnt backed into a corner. However I always make sure she is put back on lead unless I know the dog and owner so I have total control over my dog. She has been with us for 15 months now . Give it time, always ask for advice as you go along, I learned so much off this forum too. You are doing everything right

ooh thanks so much pixie sounds very much like Juno as she she also not keen on men and terrified of some particularly irish ones... is is also terrified of brushes and grooming has caused quite a trauma so we are taken it slowly.

Staffy lover could you tell me more about how you managed to get pixie to ignore other dogs? did you consult a behaviourist or have your own strategy?

I do believe Juno perceives them as a threat probably due to her eye sight, she managed to sit near to some very calm dogs until they moved as the vet informed me that she can only sort of see shadows and movement.

Oh that's really brightened my day, its such a problem do you have any photos of pixie?

Happy to help out. Now Pixee is also my first staffy, and I learned heaps from here, thank you all. Staffies dont like to be ignored. I used my own strategy knowing that to ignore your staffy is worse than shouting at them (Once you shout at your staffy, you have lost them, they would be afraid to return to you) , so whenever she ran off to another dog, I just went to get her, once I got her attention, I clicked the lead on, said nothing, walked her home on a very short lead, send her to her mat in the kitchen and made her stay there for a while, (I hated doing it, but it was for her own good). She learned from that, and has never done it since, and now her recall is brillant too. Pixee is still terrified of some men to this day, but will now happy walk pass them off lead, I just have to warn them not to fuss her if it looks like they want to. Hey you will get there with the grooming, I have, now she loves being groomed. As you say Juno has limted sight, more meetings with other dogs will help over time, that also has been the case for Pixee too. Generally whenever I saw another dog, I had Pixee back on lead, I still do for respect to other dog owners as well as the fact 'I have my dog under control'. Also the sense of play smell sounds good, I would try that too. Perhaps you could also help out by saying as you go on walks, doggie there, Juno could them learn to smell them out and learn they are not always going to feel a threat, but keep her on lead for the time being too? Make friends with any dog owners if you can. Good luck with all. Pixee is in my avar.

yes i definately dont think shouting or pulling the lead will help juniper berry at all. i will definately trying the ignoring tatics along with the distraction technque.

I have to say that is one thing I love about them the fact that they want to be doing stuff with you all the time, I cant bare it when a dog will just scarper we have had that issue with jrt and cairn terriers. Rotties like to do things with you all the time too. I also have my adored rescue rottie Harvey.

Pixie is lovely, I think staffords have the loveliest faces and they are such fun! have you noticed they seem to have really long tongues??

Great advice already given. Ledger was also from rescue and could be unpredictable around the dogs we met initially although I now wonder how much of that was him picking up my fear over the other dog and being protective. We went to obedience and the watch command has been invaluable I trained for him to make eye contact with me before he got the treat and now if he doesn't look directly at me when we encounter a new dog he looks at my pocket first. But it breaks that stare out, I know Ledger was much more on edge in the dark so I can only imagine with reduced sight Juno must be slightly more cautious. It isnt a quick process but we have both built up our confidence on socialising with other dogs and Ledger is now at agility groups where new dogs of all shapes and sizes turn up and yes he has had a few mad runs with a couple but generally me and the treat bag are much more interesting

oh another good example, the watch command would be invaluable to us I think. I would love Juniper to be able to take part in group fun one day. how long did it take? i realise it is very early days for us but there has definately been an improvement with the chickens
i was wondering whether to arrange to meet up with dogs in our garden as this was what the rescue centre did with us, i was surprised i thought she would need to meet my other dogs on neutral territory but they said she felt safer in her own grounds

I can understand the rescue centre saying they feel she felt safer in her own grounds, only over time will that be the case or not. Thats for you to find out with Juno. I was told to keep Pixee on the lead for one year, we let her off the lead after 2 months I think, and we were nervous as hell, but we do not regret it as she became more happier to our amazment and grew more confident too. Its hard with limted sight, and perhaps it wont hurt to start in the garden with dogs she knows, then maybe meet them outside on walks? Lets see what others have to say too.

rescue sbt wrote:yes i definately dont think shouting or pulling the lead will help juniper berry at all. i will definately trying the ignoring tatics along with the distraction technque.

I have to say that is one thing I love about them the fact that they want to be doing stuff with you all the time, I cant bare it when a dog will just scarper we have had that issue with jrt and cairn terriers. Rotties like to do things with you all the time too. I also have my adored rescue rottie Harvey.

Pixie is lovely, I think staffords have the loveliest faces and they are such fun! have you noticed they seem to have really long tongues??

Thank you. Yes I have noticed Pixee does have a long tongue, thats to kiss you to death with it

Agree with all the advice given here but just wanted to add that if (and it's only an if) she doesn't improve with other dogs, she'll still have a completely happy life. Our old dog was dog-aggressive and we managed it, he never got to meet any dogs, which was a shame, but he was a very happy, loved boy. So don't worry about that, you've given her a great home and she'll be very happy with you regardless of whether she can meet dogs or not. Hope all the advice given works out for you though.

hmm but it is tricky to manage as there are dozens in the village and it is difficult to do things like take her to the seaside as people aren't always awfully forgiving so it is something we must improve on to be honest... i really don't want to let her down and give up on her so fingers crossed.

Well, working on the 'watch me' command Caryll spoke about should help walk past dogs, and as for the beach and etc., with Zac we used to let him off the lead because if dogs were a certain distance away he'd ignore them. If they came any closer we'd put him back on the lead. It's all about knowing the dog and their own limits. But there are long lines you can get so she can run around but you still have control of her if need be