tigerlily46514
Honored Member
Our new dog, Buddy, who did arrive covered in dogbites and blood, and is intact, not neutered yet (vet recommended we wait, build Buddy up a little, as Buddy was so malnourished, and had been through so much already, he has appt in January to get fixed, and vet wanted Buddy and us to bond up even more before he is taken away for surgery, etc.), and Buddy is showing fear/agression towards a german shepherd who lives right on our block.
Initially, when we first got Buddy, he showed obvious fear when we went by that house. The GS growled menacingly at our Buddy, that first day or two, oh, btw, the GS is NOT on a leash, but has an "electronic fence" that Buddy does not know about, i think this adds to Buddy's fear--the GS looks free to attack to Buddy.
BUT-- In only a day or two, Buddy seemed to be more confident, he'd glance at the GS, but didn't seem afraid, held his head up, tail straight behind, soft wag....no lip licking, nothing that we could see.....
Then, for a while, Buddy seemed to be ignoring the GS, who also, quit barking as he'd got used to Buddy going by. Both dogs had tails straight out behind, not up.:dogsmile:
Now, starting 2 or 3 days ago, when we go by that house, Buddy acts all like, "Cmon, i'll beat you up!" :dogmad: and pulls on his leash and barks, and carries all on. The GS just puts his tail up, but does not bark or growl. After Buddy is gone past, the GS barks once, but it sounds like a friendly bark, like, "Hey, come back, i wanna look at you!" Even if the GS is not even outside, Buddy goes on full alert to go by that house. I can distract him, break the focus, IF the GS is not outside...(i do believe the GS probably barks to go out when Buddy goes by, and the owners then put him out, so they DO see each other a lot).
But Buddy is probably afraid? again, for some reason?, is maybe the cause of his aggressive reaction to the GS...have no idea why it started all back up again, there has been no confrontation, no difference.
ANYWAY--MY QUESTION: Any advice on how to deal with this?? We stay on the other side of street, and i sometime try to tell Buddy in calm voice, "Oh that dog is silly, we are not worried about him." or something, but it doesn't seem to help...
Hopefully, when Buddy is neutered, that may help. but in the meantime, any tips on helping Buddy be calm?
Initially, when we first got Buddy, he showed obvious fear when we went by that house. The GS growled menacingly at our Buddy, that first day or two, oh, btw, the GS is NOT on a leash, but has an "electronic fence" that Buddy does not know about, i think this adds to Buddy's fear--the GS looks free to attack to Buddy.
BUT-- In only a day or two, Buddy seemed to be more confident, he'd glance at the GS, but didn't seem afraid, held his head up, tail straight behind, soft wag....no lip licking, nothing that we could see.....
Then, for a while, Buddy seemed to be ignoring the GS, who also, quit barking as he'd got used to Buddy going by. Both dogs had tails straight out behind, not up.:dogsmile:
Now, starting 2 or 3 days ago, when we go by that house, Buddy acts all like, "Cmon, i'll beat you up!" :dogmad: and pulls on his leash and barks, and carries all on. The GS just puts his tail up, but does not bark or growl. After Buddy is gone past, the GS barks once, but it sounds like a friendly bark, like, "Hey, come back, i wanna look at you!" Even if the GS is not even outside, Buddy goes on full alert to go by that house. I can distract him, break the focus, IF the GS is not outside...(i do believe the GS probably barks to go out when Buddy goes by, and the owners then put him out, so they DO see each other a lot).
But Buddy is probably afraid? again, for some reason?, is maybe the cause of his aggressive reaction to the GS...have no idea why it started all back up again, there has been no confrontation, no difference.
ANYWAY--MY QUESTION: Any advice on how to deal with this?? We stay on the other side of street, and i sometime try to tell Buddy in calm voice, "Oh that dog is silly, we are not worried about him." or something, but it doesn't seem to help...
Hopefully, when Buddy is neutered, that may help. but in the meantime, any tips on helping Buddy be calm?