Fine job! How ya'll doin?wxtornado said:
Well, I said if I ever got another dog...
- Thread starter Ponytail
- Start date
wxtornado said:
I wouldn't mention the crates, tho'...
Getting anything good this year?wxtornado said:How ya'll doin, Vic. I'm just cruisin around causin trouble, as usual
Congrats PT - she's beautiful!
We got an OEM pup two months ago. He was very timid when we first got him (hence his name Grumpy) but has become a totally different dog since then and is more outgoing than our other dogs. I think you'll find your dog's shyness will dissolve rather quickly. And, as you said, that's not necessarily a good thing--When he gets excited and wants to play, we all run and hide so we don't get whipped by his tail or swatted with the huge paws
I nearly got an American Mastiff rather than the OEM but after a lot of research, I was disappointed in what I found. There's only about 3 generations of the Americans and despite my asking a group of breeders how exactly they are breeding the dogs, I never got an answer.
We got an OEM pup two months ago. He was very timid when we first got him (hence his name Grumpy) but has become a totally different dog since then and is more outgoing than our other dogs. I think you'll find your dog's shyness will dissolve rather quickly. And, as you said, that's not necessarily a good thing--When he gets excited and wants to play, we all run and hide so we don't get whipped by his tail or swatted with the huge paws
I nearly got an American Mastiff rather than the OEM but after a lot of research, I was disappointed in what I found. There's only about 3 generations of the Americans and despite my asking a group of breeders how exactly they are breeding the dogs, I never got an answer.
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Ponytail
New Member
marianne said:Congrats PT - she's beautiful!
We got an OEM pup two months ago. He was very timid when we first got him (hence his name Grumpy) but has become a totally different dog since then and is more outgoing than our other dogs. I think you'll find your dog's shyness will dissolve rather quickly. And, as you said, that's not necessarily a good thing--When he gets excited and wants to play, we all run and hide so we don't get whipped by his tail or swatted with the huge paws
I nearly got an American Mastiff rather than the OEM but after a lot of research, I was disappointed in what I found. There's only about 3 generations of the Americans and despite my asking a group of breeders how exactly they are breeding the dogs, I never got an answer.
I had to look SEVERAL times at that picture...looked like a GIANT dog in front of a window. The first thing that ran thru my mind was "Clifford, the Big Red Dog." Then I noticed they were louvers, not blinds that were behind him. :shrug: I still suffer from those fleeting blonde moments from time to time.
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Ponytail
New Member
Update:
Ok, it's been 5 days since I got this walking fur farm. I can't call her a dog, because other than looking like one, eating and crapping like one, she possesses no other canine qualities...yet.
This dog has come SUCH a long way since Wednesday night. Yesterday she made some HUGE strides toward becoming a loyal household pet. Until yesterday, to get this dog to go ANYWHERE, I can only equate it to fighting a stubborn schizophrenic mule. I'd have to put her on the flexi-leash (rated for 150 lbs cuz she bound up the 80 lb one I had), and lead her where I wanted her to go, be it outside or just to the bedroom for the nite. She would usually head in the right direction then get scared and haul ass the other way to the end of the leash, then wander back, and do this several times before giving in. I NEVER forced this dog anywhere. I don't drag her. I'd lose if I tried. I have only given her tugs, talking to her softly, and she eventually goes.
Poor girl, took her for a short ride on Saturday, and she had a case of the hershey squirts. It was a struggle to get her into the truck, and when I finally did, the effort was just too much for her. Thankfully, the "end result" had some velocity to it and came to rest on the plastic sill and the cement floor, I still had to wipe her ass when I got to the final destination and that, she had no trouble with. I think I'm growing on her. But the carpet in the truck was spared once more.
At the house, she's getting better with the front door and the stairs. I haven't figured this part out, but she totally freaks when going through the door and down stairs, though she has made HUGE strides in overcoming that fear as well. Now, she goes through the door, still "peeling wheels" but then stops at the top step till I say "OK".
On the way in though, she still "peels out" going through the door and hauls ass through the living room till she gets to her spot.
Last night, after the concert, myself, the gf and my bud from Philly were just chillin in the LR, and without any coaxing at all, Samantha got up from her spot and wandered over to be pet and even better than that, she visited each of us. It was SOO sweet. Prior to this, she wouldn't get up to go see ANYTHING without a HELLUVA lot of coaxing.
Last night, long after she had returned to her spot and was sound asleep, I got up and proceded to shut off the lights and go to bed. She lifted her head and looked at me and I said "Come on Sam, Lets go to bed". She got up, went back to my bedroom and laid down on her mat and left me behind. She did it all on her own. I want this dog in my room at night because I just don't think she will wake me up otherwise when it's time for her to go out. Having her sleep in my room gets her used to me, AND on my schedule and she won't relieve herself in the room. Even if she starts pacing she'll wake me up. And since Thursday night, this has been the case.
This morning though, she woke me up at 5 to go outside by laying her head on my chest. She's not done that before. After the walk, I layed down on the couch for awhile, and at 6, Samantha woke me up again by gently laying her head on my chest. This time, she was hungry.
I am SO proud of this girl. Still not acting much like a dog. She has no idea what to do with rawhides or any other dog toys. She is VERY unsure about taking food from my hand or even eating while I'm watching her. It's wierd. It's obvious that she's still unsure about being pet. She is barely showing that she enjoys it, and is starting to move her head around and position her body so that you get the areas she wants you to scratch. It's so funny. She does it but is obvious that she's not sure if she is supposed to.
But she has come a LONG way in a very short time. I'm thinking she'll be just fine.
She has been introduced to a half dozen other dogs, 3 cats, a deer and a squirrel in that time. None of them phased her. She couldn't have cared less.
I think I may have found me a dog...at least, the shadow of one. I'll continue to work with her and see what develops. She has an appointment to get spayed this weekend, and I may postpone it another week or so till she gets more accustomed to being around me and getting in and out of the truck.
Ok, it's been 5 days since I got this walking fur farm. I can't call her a dog, because other than looking like one, eating and crapping like one, she possesses no other canine qualities...yet.
This dog has come SUCH a long way since Wednesday night. Yesterday she made some HUGE strides toward becoming a loyal household pet. Until yesterday, to get this dog to go ANYWHERE, I can only equate it to fighting a stubborn schizophrenic mule. I'd have to put her on the flexi-leash (rated for 150 lbs cuz she bound up the 80 lb one I had), and lead her where I wanted her to go, be it outside or just to the bedroom for the nite. She would usually head in the right direction then get scared and haul ass the other way to the end of the leash, then wander back, and do this several times before giving in. I NEVER forced this dog anywhere. I don't drag her. I'd lose if I tried. I have only given her tugs, talking to her softly, and she eventually goes.
Poor girl, took her for a short ride on Saturday, and she had a case of the hershey squirts. It was a struggle to get her into the truck, and when I finally did, the effort was just too much for her. Thankfully, the "end result" had some velocity to it and came to rest on the plastic sill and the cement floor, I still had to wipe her ass when I got to the final destination and that, she had no trouble with. I think I'm growing on her.
But the carpet in the truck was spared once more. At the house, she's getting better with the front door and the stairs. I haven't figured this part out, but she totally freaks when going through the door and down stairs, though she has made HUGE strides in overcoming that fear as well. Now, she goes through the door, still "peeling wheels" but then stops at the top step till I say "OK".
On the way in though, she still "peels out" going through the door and hauls ass through the living room till she gets to her spot. Last night, after the concert, myself, the gf and my bud from Philly were just chillin in the LR, and without any coaxing at all, Samantha got up from her spot and wandered over to be pet and even better than that, she visited each of us. It was SOO sweet. Prior to this, she wouldn't get up to go see ANYTHING without a HELLUVA lot of coaxing.
Last night, long after she had returned to her spot and was sound asleep, I got up and proceded to shut off the lights and go to bed. She lifted her head and looked at me and I said "Come on Sam, Lets go to bed". She got up, went back to my bedroom and laid down on her mat and left me behind. She did it all on her own.
I want this dog in my room at night because I just don't think she will wake me up otherwise when it's time for her to go out. Having her sleep in my room gets her used to me, AND on my schedule and she won't relieve herself in the room. Even if she starts pacing she'll wake me up. And since Thursday night, this has been the case.This morning though, she woke me up at 5 to go outside by laying her head on my chest. She's not done that before. After the walk, I layed down on the couch for awhile, and at 6, Samantha woke me up again by gently laying her head on my chest. This time, she was hungry.
I am SO proud of this girl. Still not acting much like a dog. She has no idea what to do with rawhides or any other dog toys. She is VERY unsure about taking food from my hand or even eating while I'm watching her. It's wierd. It's obvious that she's still unsure about being pet. She is barely showing that she enjoys it, and is starting to move her head around and position her body so that you get the areas she wants you to scratch. It's so funny. She does it but is obvious that she's not sure if she is supposed to.
But she has come a LONG way in a very short time. I'm thinking she'll be just fine.
She has been introduced to a half dozen other dogs, 3 cats, a deer and a squirrel in that time. None of them phased her. She couldn't have cared less.
I think I may have found me a dog...at least, the shadow of one. I'll continue to work with her and see what develops. She has an appointment to get spayed this weekend, and I may postpone it another week or so till she gets more accustomed to being around me and getting in and out of the truck.
Ponytail
New Member
Lilypad said:only 1 itsy bitsy suggestion-use a short lead to work with her-be it just walking or directing her...using a flexi lead on a dog that big could get someone hurt-IMHO
Good luck w/your gal!
I have to use a flexi lead with her though. My footsteps scare the bejeezus out of her when I use the short ones. Been there, done that, went back to the chiropractor.
ANY noise close to her freaks her out BAD. She's getting better even with that though. Now she only jumps and runs a few steps before stopping too find out what the hell that was, whereas before, she would run till the flexi-leash ran out of rope. The one time that I tried running with her to keep her from getting the sudden jolt at the end, only made her run faster and more scared because she heard my footsteps.And no, I'm not flat footed nor do I wear a size 18 shoe. Even if I stepped on a small twig or scraped my foot along the ground, she'd take off for the hills.
Thanks though. I've had several people tell me to use the short leash. It's just that in this case, it's not an option.
:heavysigh:Ponytail said:I am SO proud of this girl. .....
I think I may have found me a dog...at least, the shadow of one. I'll continue to work with her and see what develops. She has an appointment to get spayed this weekend, and I may postpone it another week or so till she gets more accustomed to being around me and getting in and out of the truck.
mastiff
We had an English Mastiff for 11 years, she was a great dog but timid out of her element. We used a halter for her instead of a collar, she couldn't pull as hard. It took a bit for her to get used to but once she did it worked. I still have it if you want it, it is a Promise halter, a little heavier then the ones I've seen on my client's dogs.
We had an English Mastiff for 11 years, she was a great dog but timid out of her element. We used a halter for her instead of a collar, she couldn't pull as hard. It took a bit for her to get used to but once she did it worked. I still have it if you want it, it is a Promise halter, a little heavier then the ones I've seen on my client's dogs.
Ponytail
New Member
cattitude said:
That was the first attempt at "going slowly". This dog goes to the door when she want to go out, but runs like hell when I pick up the leash.
I just don't know 'bout this.I have her adjusted to my schedule finally, though, she will walk for miles and hold it, till she's back in my living room.
I'm losing patience. A few more things to try and if they don't work, she's gone. Just when I think she's getting better, she'll take 3 steps back.I gave her a bath on Sunday, and she gave me NO trouble at all. She actually ran to me when I turned the hose on, like she knew what that was. She didn't fight me at all...till it was time to dry her off. She was afraid of the towel.
She doesn't mind fireworks, thunder, lightening, at any distance. But if a Harley is heard within 5 miles, she bolts.
Im not seeing any patterns, rhymes or reasons behind the stuff that freaks her out and the stuff that doesn't. I just can't make any sense of it. And it seems to change from day to day. Could I have a schizofrenic dog with alzheimers on my hands?
The other day on our morning walk, she was spooked by the road sign that we have passed at least a dozen times. Now, 3 days later, we can't go near that sign without her keeping a VERY close eye on it from the other side of the street. She also doesn't like mailboxes.
