Hi - I'm new to this forum and wonder if anyone has similar experience with a resure dog? Bonnie is an 18 month old GSD cross (the cross is with a Podenca, a greyhound-like hunting/sight hound) and came from a rescue shelter where she'd been for around a year.
She has an excellent temprament - especially indoors and in enclosed spaces - and responds well to commands. However I've noticed that in wide open spaces she can seems to get 'over excited' - incessantly sniffing every shrub/bush/tree/rock and darting around randomly - maybe quite normal but it seems to cause her a bit of stress/panting and sometimes crazy sprinting. The other day she decided to jump into a local lake and paddle around - and seemed to be having fun for a minute or so then suddenly seemed to 'spook' and started panting and charging.
She will come back on command and has learned to sit at my feet to calm herself - I'm wondering if it is some kind of 'overload' with her having been kenneled at the shelter (in a concrete/wire enclosure with little stimulation other than daily walks) for so long and having little 'outside world' exposure?
I say this because she is much better on lanes and trails where there is an obvious direction to follow and doesnt get quite so excited - although sniffs like a bloodhound still!
She will walk well to heel on-leash and sometimes after she has had a 'crazy' she seems relieved that I "take charge" and heel-walk her back to the car or home.
We are in quite a remote area and can walk for miles without seeing other people or cars -- and if she sees something she will often stare/bark -- apparently to warn me -- however if we start off somewhere busy (like in a town) she will take all the distrations in her stride and not be fussed.
Another thing I've found is that she doesn't seem to know how to play -- no interest whatsoever in fetching/tugging/playing ball (she sits and watches me intently encouraging her and then gives a look whch says "why would I want to do that?") -- although she does have a soft toy which she seems to like carrying around in her mouth! She also loves chewing bones/rope -- things she can do alone lying in the sun -- although she is quite social and will often check up what I'm doing periodically then return...
I'm thinking that its probably down to lack of puppyhood experience/socialisation -- and hopefully that will come with time and by continued exposure to all kinds of different situations - taking her whereever I go.... the situation is managable but I'm hoping that with time and effort she'll become calmer when outside in wide open spaces -- or at least manage her exictment a little more
This is in total contrast to my Dad's GSD-greyhound cross (in England), who loves to fetch and will otherwise trot a few feet around him anywhere off leash! --although I think his dog was only at his local rescue center for a month or so and was older - around 2
Any comments/thoughts/advice gratefully received.... thanks in advance
She has an excellent temprament - especially indoors and in enclosed spaces - and responds well to commands. However I've noticed that in wide open spaces she can seems to get 'over excited' - incessantly sniffing every shrub/bush/tree/rock and darting around randomly - maybe quite normal but it seems to cause her a bit of stress/panting and sometimes crazy sprinting. The other day she decided to jump into a local lake and paddle around - and seemed to be having fun for a minute or so then suddenly seemed to 'spook' and started panting and charging.
She will come back on command and has learned to sit at my feet to calm herself - I'm wondering if it is some kind of 'overload' with her having been kenneled at the shelter (in a concrete/wire enclosure with little stimulation other than daily walks) for so long and having little 'outside world' exposure?
I say this because she is much better on lanes and trails where there is an obvious direction to follow and doesnt get quite so excited - although sniffs like a bloodhound still!
She will walk well to heel on-leash and sometimes after she has had a 'crazy' she seems relieved that I "take charge" and heel-walk her back to the car or home.
We are in quite a remote area and can walk for miles without seeing other people or cars -- and if she sees something she will often stare/bark -- apparently to warn me -- however if we start off somewhere busy (like in a town) she will take all the distrations in her stride and not be fussed.
Another thing I've found is that she doesn't seem to know how to play -- no interest whatsoever in fetching/tugging/playing ball (she sits and watches me intently encouraging her and then gives a look whch says "why would I want to do that?") -- although she does have a soft toy which she seems to like carrying around in her mouth! She also loves chewing bones/rope -- things she can do alone lying in the sun -- although she is quite social and will often check up what I'm doing periodically then return...
I'm thinking that its probably down to lack of puppyhood experience/socialisation -- and hopefully that will come with time and by continued exposure to all kinds of different situations - taking her whereever I go.... the situation is managable but I'm hoping that with time and effort she'll become calmer when outside in wide open spaces -- or at least manage her exictment a little more
This is in total contrast to my Dad's GSD-greyhound cross (in England), who loves to fetch and will otherwise trot a few feet around him anywhere off leash! --although I think his dog was only at his local rescue center for a month or so and was older - around 2
Any comments/thoughts/advice gratefully received.... thanks in advance
