Nearly 1 year in and I still don't love my rescue :/

[softbelly]

Just wondering if anyone can give me some reassurance.

After rehoming 2 dogs who were amazing, both rescues, both staffies, we rehomed a 3rd rescue dog last August.

He has staffie, pug and jack russell in him.

He was never let out of his house, so never experienced people, other dogs, or traffic (we live in a town).

The first 3 months were traumatic to say the least! He would shriek when he saw other dogs, try to run into traffic going by and generally was unmanageable.

We got some help from a fab dog trainer, and soon he relaxed seeing other dogs, and now he's pretty good on a busy road except when it's raining (everything's louder).

Now we're at a point where we can let him off the lead. Usually he's lovely and happy with most dogs, but with some he will approach them with tail stalked up and be hostile to them. Others, he may start playing with but the level of aggression will ramp up as he plays.

It's never an actual fight but he is so difficult to read.

He also zones out... one moment you're having a lovely walk and the next he's face planted into a lake and is swim chasing birds. It doesn't matter what you do, he won't hear you calling him. (This happened this evening and I thought he was going to drown).

We can preempt situations (and we do!) but sometimes we can't.

I really don't want to have him permanently on the lead but we clearly can't control him in certain situations, and we cant seem to predict those situations.

His randomness in how he choses to greet other dogs causes me massive anxiety. I don't want him on the lead all the time to prevent his weirdness 20% of the time, but I can't handle the 20% situation where he reacts badly.

Help!

Is there anything I could be doing better? Like I said, he's my 3rd rescue staffie so I've been around the block, but he's really challenging me and I find myself struggling to love him when he's do hard to read :(

I'm no expert, but when our dog had unreliable recall, we just let his lead dangle on the ground when we let him off, so it was much easier to grab him if anything went wrong. It wasn't a long line - just a normal lead, but it's much easier to grab the lead or step on it rather than trying to grab the harness/collar

What about keeping him on a long line? That way he has some freedom and you have some control?

I would let him off less stress all round
dogs do not need to greet other dogs they need to be neutral and basically be calm and ignore the other dog.
On walks i would just keep him away from other dogs tbh you’ll all be happier for it.

Wouldn’t let him off

Yes to long line.

My rescue terrier was on one for 18 months before I cracked recall. I got the longest I could - always on at the start of a walk. Off for a good period of time if he was steady and not too many distractions around, lots of "fake" recalls just for treats,without going back on the line. Then back on the line for the final bit. Basically the middle part of the walk, when he was off line, just got gradually extended.

He's now just on a normal lead at the start and end of walks, and will come to me to go back on lead at any point if I need to.

So it took 18 months, and I did worry I'd never get there - he was the toughest to train I've had - but he's a lovely boy now. I still have to be more alert to where he is and what's around us than I do with my other dogs, but worth the effort.

It sounds to me like you're making great progress! The continuing issues could be because he's still going through a teen stage (even if you think he's too old for that, unsocialised dogs do sometimes need to get caught up on the bits they've missed). Or it could be because he's still settling in, or he could just be a tiny weird asshole and you will eventually grow to love him for it.

The only thing I would say is, if you can't predict his recall and he is sometimes hostile to other dogs, he does have to stay on the lead I'm afraid. He sounds like a reactive timebomb - all it takes is for one dog to attack him or pin him, and you'll have a nightmare on your hands.

Dogs are naturally meant to run wild and free, keeping them on a lead all the time is a miserable experiance, in the wild they would be forever on the move and sorting out disputes with other dogs quite adequately without human intervention.
l have rehomed dogs that show aggression to other dogs and walked/ ran them remotely which l know isn't always possible, l have found keeping them on a lead only adds to their aggression as they don't feel in control, aggression is often fear based, working on making them more confident around other dogs is hard is you are keeping them tethered, by allowing a dog to run free it burns off alot of energy, humans use running as tool towards mental health, most runners do not run to lose weight, they run for the mental benefits. l have found by exercising a dog well that alone can create a much calmer passive dog and much better than distraction techniques.

I agree with this. Our dog is definitely much happier running free than on a lead.

This is very controversial, but I also don't agree that dogs need to be completely "neutral" to other dogs and not play with them. I think it's a bit sad if dogs are not allowed to socialise and play with other dogs.

It’s about socialising with the right dogs @XelaM and in the right way. No one’s saying dogs can’t play but if your dog is already reactive you need to ensure they have positive experiences and some dogs just don’t like other dogs

Sounds like you are doing great to me!

Our dog is a rescue who we have had a year. Still no recall( thanks EmotionalSupportWyram- you have given me hope that all is not lost). We are fortunate that we have a dog enclosure where we go everyday so he meets the same dogs and owners usually so no surprises for our very nervous mutt and if an unknown dog turns up who is as big as him it is usually easier to handle the situation as he is on a long line that I let trail so has the freedom to run unlike in the main park where unleash dogs ambush him and he is tethered.

Your dog is happy with some dogs, hostile to others which from my limited experience seems pretty normal dog behaviour. The hardest part I find owning a dog is ‘reading’ their owners and the way they handle their dogs in difficult situations.

Thanks everyone so much for all the advice, it's much appreciated! (And the reassurance!)
He's just turned 3 so he has a lot of catching up to do as 2/3 of his life so far has been indoors and largely crated.
I'm also very keen that he's not permanently on a lead. I think there's nothing more uplifting seeing dogs playing together. I do have a long line so I'll go back to that for the time being so we can stop him before he zones out.
JesusintheCabbageVan he is just that, a tiny weird asshole 😂
We've had a great day today. A park walk with a dog he gets on well with. We also have a forest nearby which he absolutely loves.

I guess it's just a case of carrying on carrying on and letting him off the lead when we are confident of what's going around us and back on the long line when we're not.
It's such a different experience from my last 2 staffies who were basically bombproof!

supersizeforaquid I don't think that's possible even if it were desirable! There are so many dogs out there now who charge up to other dogs in the park (mine included on occasion) that would be impossible for a dog to be neutral about it.
But if we're walking down a road and another dog is walking down the other side of the road, my boy is now totally calm and neutral, a far cry from the shrieking of the first 3 months!
I guess it's the context and what's going on around them and in their faces.

Thanks so much again everyone 🙏

You need to have him permanently on a long lead. It's selfish he's being aggressive or funny with other dogs, plain and simple, and you can't control it!

@kickingupdaisies erm, thanks for that.

You seem not to have read this entire thread... but I understand, we're all time poor...

I have taken advice from some lovely people on here and will be working on my lovely damaged dog. Ultimately, I hope that one day I will have him off the lead all day long. In the meantime, I will muddle along and I will refuse to let him off the lead permanently until he learns to interact with all the other dogs he will come to meet in his travels.

Your idea seems to be to be admitting defeat to actually what is a natural desire with dogs to interact.

If you have a dog, I feel kind of sad...

And @kickingupdaisies... I posted here for advice not to be ordered around.

People on this thread might have expressed different ideas to mine but they have been helpful and have explained their thought process...

And you have not.

You've essentially told me I have a "wrong" dog and to keep him on a lead.

Respectfully, I will take on board the advice of other dog lovers who have given me both sides of the story.

Like I said, I have had rescue dogs in my life for over 20 years now and this guy is a proper challenge. But I won't give up on him and will continue to try and iron out his neuroses...

I don't know if I'll post again but I really want to thank all the posters who offered me advice and help, thanks so much xx

Have you tried a vibrating collar? Friend rescued a highly reactive dead dog and its been a brilliant training and recall aid. Obviously not harmful / doesn't deliver shocks..But if he's zoning out on walks he might respond better to it?

Good luck, he's very lucky to have found you!

The reality is that you may end up with a dog who can never be trusted off the lead - not all dogs can be, no matter how much work the owners put in to their training.

Like a PP has said, it's also not a fair risk to take with other dogs. I walk a dog with flawless recall but he can be crap with unknown dogs so he's never given the chance to play - he goes back on his lead until he passes safely.

The fun he might get from playing with another dog isn't work the risk of him potentially causing them a nasty injury and lifelong reactivity issues.

He sounds a bit like my old rescue boy. He has been similarly tricky as responds very badly to the presence of unneutered males but it took me a while to see the pattern
I've had him 12 years now and walks always been careful and a bit stressful. My other dogs are easy so it has been all about him
When he was younger we used to go running , we walk very early anyway and now know a lot of dogs on our routes and whether he likes them or not!
It makes it hard but in the house he the most affectionate one
Nice to children kittens and rabbits just fear aggressive.
Is there a pattern with your dog? Not that you can do anything about it. I remember one dog he hated and then one day didn't react to because he had been neutered.
It sounds to me like you're trying really hard and doing all the right things.
He's very old now and I feel he's had the best life he could given how he is.

I can't let my dog off the lead. He's a lurcher with a very strong prey drive and reacts to other dogs if they get too close as he wasn't socialised with other dogs in his previous home, not aggressively but he's too strong to let that happen.
It's been a lot of work and at first he couldn't even cope with gulls, crows etc so I do sympathise. Mainly it takes time and perseverance but I accept the limitations which will always be there.

He gets a good run around in a secure field which costs £10 per hour, as often as I can manage. Would that be a possibility?

I’ve got a fear aggressive rescue & park walks were just so stressful. He would be fine with some dogs not with others & the stress of other dogs coming over to him bombarding him was just too much. He doesn’t have that basic confidence & security that he should have learned as a puppy & despite a lot of time & effort, he’s much happier as am I when walking in more open & rural spaces. He is more confident with more space around him & not multiple dogs off lead coming up to him. He’s great off lead but I just decided that the park & the owners there didn’t suit us, whereas lots of other walks where owners are more respectful to each other do. For some reason they just have the same dog etiquette that suits my dog - where you both see each other approaching & immediately recall your dog, put them on the lead if you need to pass each other on a path or something, pass calmly & friendly & then let them off their leads again. You sound like you’re doing fantastically with your dog & I know how stressful the unpredictability can be. Mine had never been given the opportunity to learn as a pup how to approach dogs & so would look aggressive with tail up & fur up but actually be just overly excited. Other times be absolutely fine. Of course other dogs & their owners don’t know this (& nor would I 100%). It was just safer & less stressful to walk in less busy spaces & he still got to play with dogs every now & then. However even dogs wanting to come up & play showing complete friendly vibes would send him running blindly away bashing into me because he couldn’t look ahead because he’d be so fearful of the dog behind. I think you have to work with the dog you have & maybe adjust your expectations a little to what they’re going to be capable of - he might not ever be as confident as all your other rescues have been with other dogs or be able to socialise with other dogs as much as they could. It doesn’t mean never being off lead however & never playing with others - just doing so where he feels safe & you do to. Second enclosed fields too for burning off energy & complete freedom for him. We battled a lot with what we thought & wanted our dog to be like versus what he was actually like. Which caused more disappointment/stress. Each rescue dog has had a different background & so sometimes comparing them with your old dogs & what you think they should be able to be like can work out unhelpful in the end.

@Moonface123 what a great analogy that most human runners run for the mental health benefits (I know I do). I’d never thought about it in those terms but it’s certainly true that my rescue is calmer and sleeps better when he has good exercise.

@OP - you’re doing really really well. I have a large breed rescue who’s been here for just over 18 months and had an awful time before he came to us. He has different issues than yours but all are rooted in fear. We have made some progress and we’ll keep going but I think you’re doing an amazing job and it sounds like you’ve brought him a really long way. Be patient and be proud of him and you.

The selective deafness is a bit of a Jack Russell trait to be fair. I’ve had JRTs for a long time and they do like to ignore me when something far more interesting comes along.

Walk you dog on a longline there is nothing wrong with this many dogs are walked on them. Look for a good quality one. Your dog is a rescue like one of mine. If my dog is left alone by other dogs and people he's fine. Mine will react if a dog runs up to him and bothers him. My dog does not like to socialise with other dogs and there is nothing wrong with that. As for being off leash many dogs cant be off leash. I live rural no dogs can be off leash where I live due to livestock. They can have a good sniff and run on a longline and be safe. Look at a dog parkour for a good off leash run.

Hang in there OP. It sounds like you’re doing your upmost to train your rescue properly.

We tried to get a rescue but we’re told as we have kids, it was unlikely. Instead we opted for a Lab from a breeders.
He’s our very first dog and had I known how much work was involved training a dog WITHOUT issues, I would never have tried for a rescue.
I have huge admiration for those who take on rescue dogs.

Sending a big hug.

@movemyshed
We also have a fear reactive lurcher with a strong prey drive and we also let him off in the local dog exercise field. Ours charges £5 for half an hour. We have found a few other pointynoses he gets on with and we invite them along one at a time so he's not overwhelmed.
OP maybe this would work for you too.

3beesinmybonnet

Have you put him into kennels at all? I'll have to if I want to go further afield on holiday (so far I've stayed within a five or six hour drive so he comes too), and I worry he'll find it stressful.
My previous lurchers weren't fazed by other dogs and slept most of the time so they were ok.