Thinking of rehoming Rosie

[aldo98229]

Rosie is a beautiful, healthy 4 year old German Shepherd. I adopted her on New Year's Day eve, 6+ months ago.

She is a sweet dog; loves people and is incapable of turning against a human.

Anything on 4 legs is fair game, though. Three or four other times she has run off deep into the forest chasing after one thing or another. Two months ago she attacked someone's spaniel puppy.

We go on walks twice a day, but it can be a struggle. She wants to chase after every dog, cat, squirrel, rabbit or deer that we encounter. This morning she took off after a deer into the forest, leash and all. She bolted unexpectedly and snapped the leash off my hand. I spent ten minutes calling her at the top of my lungs, waking everyone up in a half-mile radius.

She also suffers from separation anxiety, likely due to the fact that her previous family had to give her up after three years, landing her in the shelter for three months before I adopted her. Since it is just she and I in the household and I am unable to leave her alone, I finding it difficult go about daily life.

I have tried the crate, YouTube videos, training lessons, private lessons, but to no avail. To be fair to her, my brain does not seem wired to think like a dog trainer. So I am thinking the unthinkable: to rehome her. Might be the best for two of us.

I am open to guidance and suggestions. I only ask to please be respectful.

Thanks.

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[Wheelin98TJ]

If you could somehow get her to be good around other dogs, doggie day care could be an option to help with the separation anxiety. And it'll wear her out some so hopefully she's not chasing everything when you're on walks.

I hope you figure something out! She's beautiful!

 

[aldo98229]

Thanks.

She gets along with my neighbors' dog; they are about the same size. They bark at each other for a few minutes and then they are good with each other after that. But she will attack anything smaller.

 

[BUZZHEAD]

Its all about being a pack animal you have to be the dominant one. Leader of the pack. I am on my third shepherd .Nice looking dog . They are great dogs when trained .I believe in treat training which takes a long time ,beating them and yelling at them does nothing good.
I was against crate training but let me tell you it bothered me putting her in there more then her. Maxine is now 2 has never made a mess in the house. Time, dont give up .
I also volunteer at a wolf sactuary last year we received 2 4 wk .old grey wolfs from MN. We use the same routine in training them to be social with humans. You have to DEVOTE a lot of your time .A couple suggestions put her in crate with a couple chew toys and radio playing - LEAVE for an hour until she gets used to the routine . Routine is the important part on any training . They are very protective of their space and their pack- thats you.
If you were closer to me I would enjoy helping you.
There are a couple good books out there to also help you.
Dont use just a collar use a harness better control.
You are the leader of the pack she needs to learn this.

 

[BUZZHEAD]

MAXINE just turned 2 years old last week. SPARROW at 5 years old.

 

[kevman65]

If you're not ready to give up, try contacting a German Shepherd Rescue in your area and tell them everything. They are used to handling aggressive issues.

 

[aldo98229]

For the first time today Rosie got to walk without pulling!

It took 100 corrections in 20 minutes but she finally got it.

She is so smart and eager to please.

This might be the start of a new beginning...

 

[aldo98229]

She is also making progress on the anxiety front.

Yesterday I took the Fiat Spider around the block for 5 minutes and came home. Then around the neighborhood for 10 minutes and came home. Found her lying down on the landing behind the front door, completely relaxed.

I will continue lengthening my escapades until she gets it that she has nothing to fear about staying home alone.

 

[Alfonz]

Please be patient. We are also having issues with a recued dog we got back in May 2023. We have made much progress in the past 14 months, but still have much more to work on. We don't know what life he would have had we not adopted him and had patience to go through the struggles.

 

[BUZZHEAD]

She is also making progress on the anxiety front.

Yesterday I took the Fiat Spider around the block for 5 minutes and came home. Then around the neighborhood for 10 minutes and came home. Found her lying down on the landing behind the front door, completely relaxed.

I will continue lengthening my escapades until she gets it that she has nothing to fear about staying home alone.

It will take time my friend . Thats great you are noticing her changes. My experience with GS they are puppies well into 3 years old. Great progress keep the same routine and give me treats when I do good.

 

[Hootbro]

There is no Magic 8 Ball that will tell you when a rescue will make the turn for the better if ever.

I have had regret returning a couple of rescues over the years because I just had too much of an expectation it would either be turn key or with minimal effort. That was my shortcoming and a failure towards the dogs of just not putting in the time.

My last rescue was a beagle that immediately after getting home, showed aggression towards the wife and bit her 2-3 times spaced out over 6 months. Surprisingly my wife was the one to convince to me to stick it out and put in the time. Took almost 2 years of work but we are now 4+ years in with a great dog we would not trade for anything.

 

[kevman65]

The biggest thing, you have to get her to commit to you 100%.

Once she does, she'll "ask" permission before she goes all weirdo.

 

[aldo98229]

Rosie started wearing the prong collar two days ago: the change was striking and immediate. She is so much better behaved and more manageable on our walks.

Which makes me think that she may have been trained on a prong collar by her prior owners.

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