Rescue Remedies.myfastforum.org

Katbell · User Joined: 13 Apr 2009 Posts: 5

I am currently fostering Simba and he was supposed to find his forever home with us but as posted it is not working out as my older bitch Hally gets him into trouble with other dogs. Anybody who is interested in Simba should know that the issue here is my dog Hally and not Simba. Basically my bitch Hally who came over from Ireland after having a life of abuse is just not a good 'doggy' example for Simba and I fear he will take after her too much too soon. She is generally well behaved but her recall is non existent when she sees another dog. She runs up to the dog and in a very bossy way will 'ask' the dog to play chase with her. So far that has not been a problem as she is good with other dogs, just bossy and loud.

Simba seems to interpret this behaviour as defensive and after initially being very good with anything, he has taken to running straight after Hally up to the dog they are meeting. He then sees Hally bossing the other dog around, being very dominant. He then thinks he is Hally's little helper and will lunge and bark at the dog (so far he has only been like that with entire males of which there are lots around here) which then seems to turn into a 'hunt' (as Hally and Simba get so overwhelmed with their adrenalin and barking/lunging behaviour) after an intimidated dog. This has ended up with me being run over by my own dog Hally and me hurting my knee badly apart from the 'tell offs' by fellow dogwalkers. I do not feel that I can take up this challenge at this stage in my life as I am walking my dogs with my 2 and 4 year old children so I need to feel confident and in control. The only other option would be to walk Hally on the lead so she can't get to the meeting dog first but I do not want to walk her on the lead all the time and I have been working on 'recall with distraction' with her for a very long time and we are only making slow progress.

After speaking to Dee from Rescue Remedies I feel it would be unfair on Simba to 'turn' him from such a good and well behaved dog into something less just because he copies Hally's behaviour and makes it worse by defending her where there is no reason to be defensive. We agreed that he would be a great companion for another dog probably female as long as the other dog is well behaved and in control. Simba will just simply copy the behaviour. Just to sum him up again:

He is great with kids, very gentle and will follow my children around for attention
He is just a big soppy boy, will give you cuddles, loves waterplay, plays fetch perfectly, he would lie on your lap if you would ask him
He settled within 2 hours when we got him, no crying, nothing, he felt at home straightaway as he had Hally to play with
We have completed 6 weeks obedience course, sit, down, stay, leave it, his recall is almost perfect, he doesn't stray
He is a very eager learner and would do great in Agility
He is cat tested and is actually intimidated by my cat
He gets along great with Hally and I am sure with any other dog to live with as he is quite submissive
He is filling out nicely now, eats well and has been vaccinated by me recently
He can be left alone a few hours with a companion

Although he appears challenging when he runs up to another dog with Hally, lunging at the other dog, he does not make an attemt to bite. When we went out with Tan's (one of the trainers I consultet) dog who was fab and calm and entire, Simba just kept circling him, trying to intimidate him ever so often. I am sure he would not do that would he have a calmer dog to live with.

The other day we were playing in a field and I saw another dog over at the other end. I took Hally on the lead (as Dee suggested to try and have 1 of them on the lead when we meet another dog) and Simba went off half way across the field but as soon as I called him, he came straight back to me. His recall is excellent. If Hally would have been running up to the other dog ( and I can't call her back for a minute or so when she sees another dog) then he would have undoubtedly followed her and they would have chased the other dog. I am sure he would do so well with a well behaved girlie who does not run off when she sees another dog or just a dog who is not as challenging towards other dogs like Hally.

Katbell · User Joined: 13 Apr 2009 Posts: 5

Just thought I would post some up to date pics and post that Simba is fine with other dogs once he gets to know them. A couple of dogs we meet regularly he doesn't even take notice of anymore. He just needs to be introduced in a calm way to them. (Hally is just too mad when she greets others, but we do love her to bits!)

Relaxing in front of the fire, safe distance away from 3 legged Boss cat Molly!
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This is Simba's typical look at you - adorable!
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On a walk in Black Park, you can still see his ribs but he is getting more muscular now. He will be a big boy once filled out.
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Katbell · User Joined: 13 Apr 2009 Posts: 5

Just wanted to update this thread as Hally is making life quite hard for our foster Simba here at the moment. Her playfights with him are getting a bit out of control as she is taking them a bit far and that can't be good for him. He needs to find a forever home soon.

Katbell · User Joined: 13 Apr 2009 Posts: 5

Simba has a visitor tomorrow, so fingers crossed that everything goes well and he can find his forever home to finally settle down!

Sharonr - Admin · Site Admin Joined: 05 Feb 2008 Posts: 2630

Eyes squeezed shut and hoping - everything crossed Smile

_________________
SHARONR - ADMIN

"My sunshine doesn't come from the skies,
It comes from the love in my dog's eyes".

karen · Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 6:30 pm Post subject:

Everything well and truely crossed for him. He looks so lovely, who could resist Laughing

Katbell · User Joined: 13 Apr 2009 Posts: 5

Simba has just left me for his new home. He met Ted, the resident dog and after lunging at him a few times, calmed down and was just driven by curiosity, following him wherever Ted went. Ted could walk through Simba's legs under his belly, he is so short and cute but did he tell him off when Simba started annoying him by following him around all the time. So I guess if this relationship works out, little Ted might be in charge of Simba! No doubt Simba will have to learn a lot these next few days, undoubtedly meeting new dogs and their hopefully willing owners to help him overcome this fearful behaviour. Claire, thank you for taking up this challenge with him, I hope he will make you and your son very happy! x

Thank you for your word of support again Karen and especially Dee who was always there with advice or if I just needed to let off some steam. Don't know what I would have done without your down to earth advice. xx

karen · Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 4:32 pm Post subject:

Ammut · User Joined: 30 Apr 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Wiltshire

Heres an update on Simba in his new home in Wiltshire.

He seems to have settled in well...

Ted has sorted him out a few times in the first day or two at his new home and Simba is taking everything in his stride. Hes done nothing but sleep since hes been here - oh and waking me in the morning by landing on the bed next to me with his feet in the air wanting a belly rub!

He is ball obsessed - he loves running around the farm where I keep my horses. He been brilliant with the horses and has hardly even noticed them.

The cat is firmly in charge in the house and Simba knows to leave him alone. He has said hello to the rabbits and has been as good as gold. Ive also left him twice for a hour or so and he hasnt done anything naughty!

He has fitted in so well here I cant believe it.

We are off to a dog show on monday so Im hoping to have cracked his bad manners with other dogs by the end of the day (although he has not done anything since Ted told him off on day 1). My son wants to have a go at agility with him and we are going to do a few fun classes.

Ill keep you updated to how he does at the show.

Here are some pics of his first day with us -

Ammut · User Joined: 30 Apr 2009 Posts: 2 Location: Wiltshire

Well Simba is well settled now here in Wiltshire!

He is very close to Ted and the 2 of them are nearly inseperable. They are also partners in crime....

Today Simba has managed to open the kitchen door and get down a whole pack of Cadburys chocolate rolls and a bakewell tart - and promptly share it with Ted! - They looked so guilty when I came in! They even managed to open every chocolate roll wrapper and leave them on the floor.

Last week Simba managed to pinch a pack of 12 frozen sausages and share them with Ted also. No one said he could open doors!! (whine)

Simba does enjoy his home conforts also, especially the sofa when Im out - I come home to find a beautiful fluffy dog print on the sofa!

He went to the dog show at the beginning of last week and was rather naughty at first - he didnt know which dog to lunge / bark at first. After many foul looks at me for bringing a dangerous dog (as if) and lots of rude comments, simba was really well bahaved in the arena. Unfortunately it wanst his or Teds day for the rosettes (the judge favoured the expensive pedigrees instead) but Simba did behave much better by the end of the day. My arms wouldnt move the next day however!

Last Fri and Sat we went to Badminton Horse Trials, Simba was much better behaved (although he had to be as he was wearing a halti and harness for conrtol). He did give a lot of people a fright though as he would randomly bark at a dog when he saw one, and would make people jump. Of course being a GSD, he is highly dangerous and was not under control at all (yeah right), so I had quite a few peopple being rude to me about him - However I did point out to one very rude old guy that if he was out of control he would not be right next to my leg and would be biting his leg off! - That bloke ruined my day completly!

However by the sat afternoon Simba was completly ignoring dogs as he walked past so we have made progress!

Simba has also passed the sheep test at the farm where I keep the horses, as he was showing a bit too much interest in them but did an immediate recall back to me. He is also now mixing well with the horses in their field, and has realised that he has to keep out of their way (if only Ted would though!).

Simba now loves to play with the cat (as Ted appears to be too boring) and spends ages playing with him, although the cat seems to have the last word in everything still.

He really seems happy and settled - I'll post some pics when I can.