Working line German Shepherd-Rehomed and reactive!
Warning Long post!
I have just taken on / rehomed a beautiful male GSD , 3.5 years. Czech x American working line.
He has been with me and my adult son for a month. He came from a good home and was well looked after. The previous owner has sadly suffered with very poor health recently and is not physically capable of caring for him.
Enter me. I have had dogs all my life, including GSDs. All have had their own personalities naturally, but I’ve never had issues with them like my newest one. I have had a rescue Pit Bull as well who was classed as unmanageable and returned many times. She came good.
My point is (and my preface) is that I am quite aware of the need for patience, consistency and work involved in having a dog with issues. But I would like to hear from anyone who may have found themselves in a similar position to myself with a Rehomed dog, who is an angel (mostly)indoors but a velociraptor on a collar and lead outside!!
Initially, he was seemingly in an excited state when he saw other dogs. Lots of barking and GSD whining. That soon changed. I had been walking twice a day, shorter am walk, long field walk in the pm.
His reactions to other dogs became increasingly reactive - barking, pulling and lunging. Physically pulling me over and dragging me to get to another dog who had the nerve to have a bark back. He also decided to stop discriminating against 2 legged creatures and they have added to the list. He has also become extremely reactive to people passing by the house. I don’t mind him barking at people, I wouldn’t want him to stop that but the throwing himself up the windows and leaving dog snot and saliva running down them is getting a bit much. God help them if they walk past with a dog!
I do think this behaviour has increased as he’s settled in more. Except that’s the thing, he appears to have settled into the home and with us very well but this outside behaviour may be where we are seeing the anxiety of being Rehomed? What do you think?
I have stripped back the walks to an early am one, less triggers. I have gone back to basic training - not pulling, rewarding him for looking to me. I have started training him to focus on me using treats and other cues as my main and worst problem is when he gets in this state, he doesn’t hear me. He doesn’t respond to anything. Not treats or toys. I have mixed success at keeping his attention if I spy the trigger before him. I will re route if I have to. Does anyone have any ideas of how to go forward with keeping his attention on me and not reacting? It’s early days I know but anyone have any good tips that have worked with their dogs ? Thanks