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Title: I'm a new Mommy Post by BarbaraD on Nov 2nd, 2007, 9:48am Yep, it's true -- Brandy arrived this week An 11 month old Austrailian Shepherd has been added to our family and is adapting well. She's a little skittish right now, but is coming around. Homer has taken her under his wing (she's the largest animal he's ever had to play with and he's not sure what to do with her). One of my neighbors just "had" to have a dog, so she got Brandy and after two days just couldn't "tolerate" her (she's a puppy and puppies chew and poop etc) so, being the nice neighbor I am (and afraid of what she might inflict on the puppy) I told her to bring Brandy to me, so an hour later..... I'm not sure, but I think Brandy may have been abused at the kennel she came out of. She's very skittish of being patted on the head and will run if you try to pat her. She's gotten where she'll come to me and let me rub under her chin, but if I try to pat her she ducks and runs. This morning she came and put her paws up in my lap to have her chin rubbed, but when I tried to touch her head that was the end of that. So I guess we do chin rubs for a while till she gets secure in her surroundings. Has anyone had experience with this? Any help would be appreciated. She's a beautiful dog and sweet as can be. I just hate for her to be afraid of anything. (Ok, so you found my soft spot - just don't push it :-* ). Right now she's laying on my foot, but if I reach down to pat her she'll get spooked. It's like she wants to be loved, but is afraid I'll hurt her. She's been here since Tuesday and has learned where the food and water are and the cats are NOT her enemies and that Homer runs if she growls at him and that Rudy is to be left alone unless he wants to play, so she's adapting to the other animals - it's just people she stays away from. Anyhow, if anyone has any ideas, let me know. Hugs BD |
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Title: Re: I'm a new Mommy Post by Mrs Deej on Nov 2nd, 2007, 9:54am Maybe make sure she doesn't have a sore or something on her head? :-/ But it sounds like to me that maybe she was hit...most dogs that bow down or out have that kind of background. SO unfortunate. She'll get use to you, and more than likely you'll be giving belly rubs before you know it!! ;;D How bout a pic of the new familky member? |
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Title: Re: I'm a new Mommy Post by Melissa on Nov 2nd, 2007, 10:31am It'll just take time for her to trust you Barb, and she will, that I'm sure of. ;) Congrats on the new family member and yes, I would love to see a pic too!! :) |
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Title: Re: I'm a new Mommy Post by sandie99 on Nov 2nd, 2007, 10:47am Good luck with Brandy! :) And yeah, can't wait to see a pic... ;) Hugs, Sanna |
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Title: Re: I'm a new Mommy Post by Mosaicwench on Nov 2nd, 2007, 10:50am There is an email list serve I belong to called Corgi-L (anything and everything about Corgis). There is the same for Aussies. AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERDS Jimm Burk maintains a mailing list for and about Australian Shepherds. To: listserv@apple.ease.lsoft.com Subject: subscribe AUSSIE-L your-name My dog grew up with the Aussie next door. They can be wonderful, loyal, loving dogs if given the chance. They are in the herding group and like to be kept busy and have a job (even if it's just herding the kids or cats). Aussie-L will help you with the behavior and give lots of good advice. Best of luck with Brandy and http://www.curevents.com/vb/images/smilies/worth.gif |
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Title: Re: I'm a new Mommy Post by midwestbeth on Nov 2nd, 2007, 12:29pm Sounds like you are doing everything right Barb. Trust from your new arrival will come in time. From my experience (I have Huskies) females are more skittish than the males. Herding dogs are great country dogs. Although I don't have any cattle to herd, mine keep busy keeping my property mole, muskrat and racoon free. They earn their keep just doing that. Lately they have been having fun chasing the deer. Congrats on the new arrival. Sounds like she found a good and loving home. Beth |
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Title: Re: I'm a new Mommy Post by Rosybabe on Nov 2nd, 2007, 1:16pm Brady will come around Barb, when she realizes all she is going to get from you is Love. They can feel it and she will be begging for belly rubs really soon :). |
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Title: Re: I'm a new Mommy Post by Kevin_M on Nov 2nd, 2007, 1:21pm Probably if a dog is hit, all it learns is to fear your hand. Being the head of a dog is usually most reachable, it may have had more than a few landed on its head. Hitting may have been done in an overhand manner. Raising a hand in an overhand fashion might signal to the dog an ingrained learning from a puppy of hurt. An underhand approach doesn't seem to get that response. It'll might take a lot of time establishing trust of your hand, Barb, but not you. ;) just a thought. She sounds to be a great pet for you! |
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Title: Re: I'm a new Mommy Post by BarbaraD on Nov 2nd, 2007, 1:31pm Sorry about the pics guys -- my camera is useless since my darling son used it. When I get rich I'm gonna buy a new one and learn to upload pics, but for now you'll just have to take my word for it -- she's a beauty / brown and white with sorta green/gold eyes that look at me adoringly. She does "chase" around the house till I'm worn out watching her. At least today she seems more settled than she has been. I was worried about her hyperventalating for a while. Thanks for the website. I'll go see what I can find out there. Ya know, I'm thinking of starting a nonprofit for "unwanted" animals.... Right now I have a neutered "stud" out of a mini-pin kennel (Rudy), a puppy out of a trash can in FL (Homer) two unwanted cats (Moe and Joe) and now Brandy... I know somewhere written on me is the word "SUCKER!" But heck, if dogs and kids love you - you can't be ALL bad now can you? ;;D Have to run now -- time for our daily lecture series -- you know -- CAts are here to chase mices - Dogs are to stay OUTSIDE and Granny's bed and houseslippers are OFF LIMITS to all! Oh well, it's worth another try...... Hugs BD |
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Title: Re: I'm a new Mommy Post by Charlie on Nov 2nd, 2007, 10:20pm Good luck. It will get better but things will never be 100%. It's likely that she will find one person that she will be comfortable with and some others that don't make her head for the hills but she'll probably always be a little nervous around most people. Still, both dogs we had to deal with knew they had it soft and were usually fun to be around. Charlie |
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Title: Re: I'm a new Mommy Post by DennisM1045 on Nov 2nd, 2007, 11:07pm Who's got a soft underside and a heart of gold and I'm not talking about Brandy ;;D I think patients is going to win the day for you and Brandy Barb. Just give her time and consistency. She'll figure out your her friend and won't hurt her eventually. Good luck with her Barb... -Dennis- |
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Title: Re: I'm a new Mommy Post by Mosaicwench on Nov 4th, 2007, 7:59am I know somewhere written on me is the word "SUCKER!" But heck, if dogs and kids love you - you can't be ALL bad now can you? Grin No, I think you have HEART OF GOLD written all over you. It takes a special person to do what you've done. Don't sell yourself short. :D |
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Title: Re: I'm a new Mommy Post by cash5542 on Nov 4th, 2007, 8:32am I'm in my 7th week of puppy classes. We discussed fearful dogs one night and one of the suggestions is to feed them meals out of your hands. This way they learn the hand is pleasant. Just put some kibble on your hand and let Brandy eat it. Kevin made some good suggestions. My teacher has a rescue dog that was awful when she got it, timid, bit people and very nervous. It is so sweet now and very friendly. Consistancy and patience is the key. Have you ever seen the Dog Whisperer with Caesar Milan? It's on National Geographic channel. He is excellant at this kind of thing. Good luck!! Charlotte |
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Title: Re: I'm a new Mommy Post by Brewcrew on Nov 4th, 2007, 8:38am on 11/04/07 at 08:32:44, cash5542 wrote:
My bride says Cesar is a hunk: http://l.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/pets/p/blog/dog-blog-photo.jpg |
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Title: Re: I'm a new Mommy Post by cash5542 on Nov 4th, 2007, 10:00am Yup! And I love that accent and his way with the dogs!!! |
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Title: Re: I'm a new Mommy Post by Mosaicwench on Nov 4th, 2007, 10:10am on 11/04/07 at 08:38:26, Brewcrew wrote:
His bride sure does!!! WOOOF! |
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Title: Re: I'm a new Mommy Post by BarbaraD on Nov 5th, 2007, 7:32am Well, Ms Brandy is definitely settling in - she's getting very protective with me. My little Caleb was up over the weekend and she was NOT happy with him sleeping in my bed. I let her in the house before he got up and she went bezerk when she saw him in Granny's bed. I finally had to go pick him up and hold him in my lap before she settled down and then she came over and let him pet her a little. He told her she was a "silly" puppy. She doesn't like men at all (smart doggie), but warms up to women ok. She follows me everywhere I go and has started jumping up on me for petting now. Don't think she'd ever been fed "people" food and she's taken quite a shine to it (my animals EAT the leftovers around here - we don't throw anything out). And she definitely knows what "no" means (not that she pays any more attention than the other four - but she knows what it means!). I think she's gonna be ok. She's getting more relaxed by the day. Right now I'm trying to figure out how to "heat" the dog houses.... The weather is supposed to get cold. Last year I only had two dogs and I put them in the utility room during the really cold times, but FIVE is just too many (and Homer can open doors - he ain't no dummy - he figured it out). I thought about a heating pad and that would work if they don't chew the wires (that's been a problem in the past with a puppy). Anyone got any suggestions? Can't afford Central heat for them. Hugs BD |
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Title: Re: I'm a new Mommy Post by Kevin_M on Nov 5th, 2007, 7:56am My brother built a dog house and said it was heated by a light bulb, wired from the garage where it set up against, but I didn't go inside to see how. Here's a page about it. http://all-about-dog-houses.com/docs/heating-dog-house.htm |
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Title: Re: I'm a new Mommy Post by clusterwife on Nov 6th, 2007, 9:09am Hi Barbara, we have an austrailian-chow mix named Raven. She is the most playful dog out of the four that we have. She pulls Kevin down the street on the skateboard, about 20 miles an hour, too fast for me. Brandy will come around, she just needs time. Congrats on being a new mommy, leah. |
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Title: Re: I'm a new Mommy Post by Ree on Nov 6th, 2007, 11:09pm Hi... the dog could have an ear infection... My cat has horrible ears stemming from damage due to mites as a kitten... he hates to have his head touched but loves to have his chin rubbed... funny how they are... ree who loves her little 11 month old pup... his birthday is the 12th of this month. |
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