mel121 Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 Hi Need some advice.... I purchased an older dog about 2 weeks ago from a breeder interstate that was recommended to me.. From the minute this little dog arrived it has been TERRIFIED of people.. I have seen scared dogs before but this is different. She cant bear to have anyone look at her or go near he. II understand they need time to settle into a new home and i have let it hide in its crate and kept it quiet etc but things are not improving. I have tried to contact the breeder for advice by email and phone numerous times but she doesnt return any emails or calls... I'm beginning to be very worried that the is something not right here. I had specifically spoken to her about purchasing this little girl and explained we need a well socialised dog etc as we take our other dog everywhere and have heaps of contact with children etc and she assured me this would be the right dog for us... I have been a foster carer before for rescued dogs so understand the need for time to settle but there seems to be something not quite right here... The breeder is a registered breeder who also shows dogs in here state. Im not wanting to cause trouble for her but dont know what else to do..... any advice appreciated... especially from other breeders.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 Send her back,email the breeder telling them the dog isn't suitable & will be returned . I have just placed an older dog out & they keep in contact & i email once a week so not to annoy them they phone when they had a query & felt they could .All our older dogs go on a trial basis but strictly after many meet & greets. We had alot of interstate people make calls & whilst im sure some may have been great the most wonderful home came up here & well worth the wait for all parties & if it didn't settle or work out its a 20 min drive Maybe ask the person who recommended them to you if there contact details have changed or if there away at present as your wanting to talk with them ,i wouldn't say why Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 (edited) What was this little girl's situation at the breeder's ? cage/shed/house? Was this dog shown/bred from, or just 'kept'? Have you taken her for a vet check ? This way you also get something on record . Could something have happened to during transprt? not a good start Edited February 7, 2013 by persephone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel121 Posted February 7, 2013 Author Share Posted February 7, 2013 Unfortunately the breeder is not responding to any emails or calls so i cant tell her I'm sending the dog back.... I had wanted avoided telling the other breeder about the situation as i know she will feel responsible for recommending her.... The breeder she came from told me she was both in the house and in kennels but bought up as a family dog... I can see on the website now that she does have dogs with family and friends for minding due a a number restriction imposed by local council... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 Has the dog been vet checked? Is she eating/drinking? It seems odd the breeder is not responding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel121 Posted February 7, 2013 Author Share Posted February 7, 2013 yes. was terrified at vet but that was on second day so we expected that. Drinking well but picking at food... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 yes. was terrified at vet but that was on second day so we expected that. Drinking well but picking at food... poor dog - just from your posts it seems she is really stressed by the change in circumstances , and perhaps has not had much life experience out of her own environment ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tralee Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 Hi mel121 How old is this 'older dog'? You will need to test for a number of possible scenarios if you want to solve this mystery. First hypothesis. Extremely traumatic separation and journey to you from breeder. Suspect stress and anxiety and treat for same. Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel121 Posted February 7, 2013 Author Share Posted February 7, 2013 Hi mel121 How old is this 'older dog'? You will need to test for a number of possible scenarios if you want to solve this mystery. First hypothesis. Extremely traumatic separation and journey to you from breeder. Suspect stress and anxiety and treat for same. Good Luck Hi Tralee. She is 5 years old Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TessnSean Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 It could also be that she was so attached to the breeder and her family that she is grieving for them at present. I have one here that is a very sensitive girl. We got her at 14 months and she was very, very shy for a good 6 to 8 weeks. When I visited her in quarantine she hid under bed She has come right out of her shell now and is happy and outgoing. Visitors come and she will hide from them but does come around much quicker than when she arrived. Her breeders were amazed that she was so shy to start with. They sent me pictures before she came of her out and about at shows, markets and parks so I know she she was socialized. Just give her some time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Her Majesty Dogmad Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 In July 2012, my rescue group found some Chinese Cresteds being sold/given away (if not sold by deadline) by a breeder who was moving - all undesexed being offered on Trading Post. We were sent pictures of these dogs, all who looked beautiful. We were told they had been inside/outside dogs etc. They were all older, none were puppies. I'm not sure what happened between the photos being taken and us getting them (we worked with another rescue group and ended up taking 1 Powder Puff female aged 2) but they all arrived in an awful and neglected state. None were housetrained, all were terrified apart from the poor and neglected physical state they were in (cracked and sore skin, bad teeth). The Powder Puff had long term staining of her matted coat. SHe behaved much like a dog that had never had much human contact. All her muscles were wasted and she had trouble getting up 4 stairs from the garden into the house. We think that they had all just been left in cages with little human contact. Our groomer and vet were very worried about the Powder Puff we got - as her behaviour far exceeded the normal nervousness that some pound dogs exhibit from all the traumas of impoundment, collection and so on. Even now, 7 months on, she will not go near strangers. My foster carers are working very hard on her and she lives with a very outgoing dog - I'm sure this helps her but it is a long term prospect. I'm wondering where you live? If you live near a reputable rescue group I would contact them to see if they've had any dogs like this and what they did. It does sound like she's unsuitable for your needs and that your environment will not be the best for her. I wouldn't send her back to the breeder personally, if she came like this then her life may have been living in less than great circumstances for a long time. If it was me, I'd be trying to rehabilitate and rehome but you are most likely a normal dog owner and it isn't fair to ask that of you which is why I'd recommend you contact a local rescue group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christina Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 Give it more time. Try some Tranquil Paste (get it from a fodder store or dog supply shop) it may help a little. I took a dog from awful conditions once. Cage in shed/factory in day, loose at night. She sat in a bed with another dog & kept her head down & only jumped out to eat & toilet right next to the bed. Every day I patted her & spoke to her the same as the other dogs & got no response for 6 weeks. One day I patted the dog in the bed next to her & she licked my hand, barked, 1st sound I heard from her & came out of the bed & through the ever open door into the kitchen. She became one of the crowd, was fine with visitors & at home but no good out of the house unless I was with her. Sometimes it can take quite a long time. She may be ok eventually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gretel Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 She is obviously most unhappy. If I'd sent a dog to someone and they were in that state I'd want them back ASAP. But with the breeder out of contact it makes it difficult! I'm afraid I'd be thinking bad thoughts if I couldn't contact them. But then there is the chance something has happened to them to put them out of contact. Perhaps try other avenues to find out if someone else is in contact with the breeder without letting on there is a problem... Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosetta Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 What a distressing situation for you and this dog. How did the dog travel to you? It is possible that something traumatic happened on the journey to you and the dog is reacting to that. Sorry I don't have any advice I don't know what you can do if the breeder is avoiding you. I think you should contact the person who recommended this breeder and ask that person's advice - perhaps they will know what is going on. Maybe give the dog a few more weeks and see how things go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marion 01 Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 Some dogs take forever to adjust to their new home. Years ago I got a 6 months old Papillon she was a beautiful girl, but took months to actually call us her own. Just go about your daily routine and try not to overcompensate her with too much attention, but talk to her and include her in everything like you would your other dog, just let her come around in her own time. I know she is not what you were expecting, but given time she could be a beaut addition to your household. Hope it all goes well for you and her. I have also had a 7 month old who was kept in a kennel away from the house and household noises, her first trip was by plane from NSW to Qld. She handled that well, but did not understand household noises at all, and was frightened of everything. It took her 12 months to accept my OH as I think her only contact had been with a male who might not have always been kind. She is now 13 and is a real sweetheart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loving my Oldies Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 It is understandable that you are reluctant to contact the person who recommended the breeder to you. However, if the breeder is not returning any of your contact methods, you really are absolutely entitled to do this. You have been handed a very unhappy situation which for the sake of both you and the little dog, needs to be resolved. For someone who cares about dogs, to see a dog scared and unhappy is vey very distressing, so I wish you and the little dog a happy outcome eventually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas Posted February 7, 2013 Share Posted February 7, 2013 I'd definately send her back as soon as you can make contact. There is nothing wrong with saying this dog does not meet the expectations of what you had expected after letting the Breeder know you needed a confident dog. Even my neglected rescues don't behave like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greytmate Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 The dog hasn't got a sound temperament. If you paid money for this dog and have email records of the transaction and attempts to contact her, you can take it to the small claims court. Then the breeder can not avoid having to deal with this. It was wrong of them to claim this dog was suitable for being taken into public situations, and this is causing anxiety in the dog. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
megan_ Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 I agree with sas and Greytmate. A dog with truly weak nerves can never be totally fixed. I have a fearful dog - sometimes fear aggressive. I love her to bits and she is very well managed (hasn't growled on a walk for years). It took a year for the aggression to actually show itself - before that she was a gentle, cowering little girl. I get compliments on her behaviour all the time now. It has been years of work, heartache and money though. It has impacted my life in many ways, from where I can go to who I can have at my house. I love her dearly but I would never, ever do this again. If I got a dog from a breeder that was fearful they would be returned asap. If the breeder was dodgy and I was worried what might happen to the dog I'd try to find an expert that I could give the dog to who could own it (note: I am not saying rehome to anyone). There is no way I would ever go down this path again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
murve Posted February 8, 2013 Share Posted February 8, 2013 Some dogs take forever to adjust to their new home. Years ago I got a 6 months old Papillon she was a beautiful girl, but took months to actually call us her own. Just go about your daily routine and try not to overcompensate her with too much attention, but talk to her and include her in everything like you would your other dog, just let her come around in her own time. I know she is not what you were expecting, but given time she could be a beaut addition to your household. Hope it all goes well for you and her. I have also had a 7 month old who was kept in a kennel away from the house and household noises, her first trip was by plane from NSW to Qld. She handled that well, but did not understand household noises at all, and was frightened of everything. It took her 12 months to accept my OH as I think her only contact had been with a male who might not have always been kind. She is now 13 and is a real sweetheart. oh bugger you beat me Marion 1 :D I was going to suggest the same thing, go about your daily routine, don't try & make a fuss of her, but knowledge her presence, if you read The dog Whisperer, Jan Fennell says the same thing. I am about to do her Amichien Bonding course, even though we do work on the similar lines as she does, I just want to be qualified :laugh: Like you Marion1 we have had the same thing with taking in rescue dogs, rehabilitate them & have placed them in loving homes :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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