Torn about what to do about adopted dog?

Question

When you adopt a dog from a shelter it is hard to know what kind of personality they will have or how they will fit into your lifestyle.
I recently adopted a pomeranian cross who was taken to me immediatley so I had to have her. Unfortunalty there are two other adults in the house that are supposed to care for her but she does not like them. One of them actually stays home all day and does the feeding etc, so the theory of the others doing more doesnt work. My dog is also like Dr jeckal/Mr hyde as one time she will be nice to them while another time she will growl.
This was supposed to be a family dog and the shelter told us she was well behaved. Now i dont know what to do. I dont think i can afford a behaviourist but have already read and tried some teqniques without success.

We've had her for about a month but since day one it seems like she has made up her mind about who she wants to interact with. I must look like one of her previous owners because im the only one she will interact with.

I got her from a no kill shelter and the whole family did go to see her. But it is still hard to tell in that atmosphere how they are going to be once home. The shelter also can mislead you.

Answer 1

Wow! Kiki B must have shelter phobia. NO reputable shelter would knowingly deceive a person about an adopted animal. What would be the purpose? A shelter's main goal is to find good homes for animals.
You are absolutely correct about not always knowing the dog's personality when you meet them in a shelter environment. If you can imagine how animals end up in shelters, living on their own on the streets, having a loving owner die on them, being left there by a family who doesn't want them anymore. Then there is the fact that they are now living in cages. Forget potty training, because most shelters do not have enough volunteers to take the dogs for walks. So they poop and pee in their cages, as there is nothing else they can do.
And then there is the barking and the crying and the whining. It goes on all the time, so rest is out of the question, and the stress level is immense. Alot of dogs in an environment like this actually shut down and go into survival mode. Once they do this, it is difficult to judge what kind of personalities they have.
It is possible that the dog you adopted has some "baggage" that will make it impossible for you to keep her, but in that case, most shelters will take the dog back, and armed with that new knowledge of her personality, will attempt to find a better fit for her in a home in the future.
Don't be discouraged about this-it does happen, and most shelters and rescue groups are used to it. They are all doing the best they can, with the info they have.

Answer 2

I read and re-read your story, and I can see where you made the mistake of choosing a dog because YOU had to have it, and then, expect to be a family dog. If you wanted a family dog you should have gone with the other two member of your family, and look together at the possible family addition.
Most dogs are a one person only dogs, as it is the dog in question.
You should have given more thoughts about adopting before you actually did. Now, you and family members are unhappy, the dog is unhappy: a losing combination for all involved. Who pays at the end is the dog, it's always the pet, who will probably end up back to the shelter or worst :(

Answer 3

You didn't say how long you have had her, but it takes time for a dog to adjust to a new home.

If you just got her, give her several weeks to settle in. It can take several months for everyone to have the routines down.

The growling could be because she is trying to assert dominance. She sees you as the alpha in the pack and the others as her inferiors.

When she growls, they should tell her "no" in a firm voice and then ignore her. Do not let her growl and then pet her or coddle her, as this is reinforcing that behavior.
It is not a question of her liking them. Whatever they are doing is allowing her to feel like she is in charge.

I have 2 rescue dogs and one of them exhibited similar behavior at first. Any dog can do this, from puppies to adults.

That is why training is so important for the dogs and the people who own them.

Make sure she is being taken on long walks on a leash every day.

Almost any dog can become a great pet.

Good for you for adopting! She will do fine once everyone is on the same page.

Answer 4

Some dogs are a one owner type animal. It may just take the dog some time to get used to the rest of the family and accept everyone as part of the pack.

And it could be that the others in your household remind the dog of someone who was cruel to her in the past. Give her some time, and just have the other people let the dog come to them when she is ready. Don't force her to interact with everyone in the house until she can handle it.

Also make sure that the people in your house aren't being mean to the animal. You never know with some people, after all. Just be patient, give her as much attention as you can, and leave her be when she growls. Just don't let her be aggressive, if that occures, you may have to get rid of her.

Answer 5

How long have you had the dog? If it's not been long, she could be adjusting. Just give her time.

If you have had her a while, the problem could be that she sees you as the alpha dog of the pack (so she's below you in pack order) but sees herself as out ranking the other humans. When one dog out ranks another, they express it by growling at the lower ranking dog.

Have you had the other adults in the home try the techniques? If you do it, you may just be reinforcing your role as pack leader. The other humans need to do it too.

Does your dog have her basic commands (sit, stay, down). Sometimes having the other humans in the house work on these commands with her can also help to reinforce that they out rank the Pompom in the pack pecking order.

The Dog Whisperer on National Geographic may be helpful to watch. He explains pack mentality a lot.

Answer 6

Bring the dog back to the shelter and explain the situation. Some animals just don't work out. I know our shelter allows you to return an animal and select another one depending on what the situation was. Yours is not actually an unusual situation. My sister's dog does not like men and it took more than 6 months before my Dad could pet her. She would not have done well in many other homes due to her fearfulness of men (she was a stray).

Answer 7

Have you talked to the shelter? What about your veterinarian? I would recommend looking into the investment of a professional trainer or behaviorist, because there may be something that's going on in the house that YOU don't "see" because you're there, but that's causing this reaction in your dog and someone who's a third party observer might be able to identify.

Answer 8

Sometimes adopted dogs take some time. Just keep working with her and reasearching ways to help her behavior. Keep in mind that she may have been traumatized and she may just need time to feel safe.
Sometimes dogs that have been abused will fear people that resemble the people that abused them. This may be the case, and again, it just requires time.
Keep at it, with proper training, the dog should turn around.
Research the Nothing in Life is Free way of training. It works.
http://www.pets.ca/articles/article-dog_nilf.htm

EDIT: Sometimes it can take several months for a dog to settle in. Just be patient!!

Answer 9

How approximately adopting a canine by way of a breed rescue or a foster-based rescue corporation? canine that are in breed rescues/foster-based rescues tend to be extra thoroughly evaluated than canine from the look after simply by fact they're frequently residing in a house-environment in the foster domicile particularly than in a kennel environment (that could create some behaviors that at the instant are not particularly popular of that particular) like a glance after or pound. no remember in case you pass by way of an excellent breeder or a rescue/look after/pound you're nonetheless in a position to coach the canine your self. All canine want guidance regardless of their age or the place they arrive from and guidance is the terrific thank you to construct a bond with a sparkling canine. additionally, canine of each and every age are in want of recent residences. in case you have your coronary heart set on a domestic dog then you particularly can nonetheless get a domestic dog, even a youthful domestic dog, by way of a rescue concern. you basically could could be somewhat extra affected person simply by fact doggies are extra promptly accompanied than older canine and that they do tend back in somewhat much less in many circumstances than adolescent and grownup canine. Filling out an adoption utility and getting it pre-approved whether the corporation does not at the instant have any canine which you have an activity in will velocity issues up and help you lots while you're searching for a domestic dog. whilst all look after canine are going back with some form of "luggage," this does not unavoidably recommend that they are going to be extra artwork than a domestic dog from a good breeder. the vast majority of canine in want of recent residences have in no way been abused and are there simply by fact their previous vendors did not comprehend the dedication that a canine needs. maximum of their "subject concerns" are elementary guidance fixes (like pulling on the leash or leaping up on human beings) and something which you will could artwork on with any domestic dog besides. the only disadvantage is they have had longer to get into the habit than a domestic dog. yet as long as you're consistent then they are going to promptly methods to act appropriate.

Answer 10

you are going to need training for the dog and it dont cost much go to petsmart its only 109 for a 8 week class and if you are not happy you can take the class again for free or get you money back