My fault or the dogs?

[Pembshunter 23]

Ok, you probably all saw my posts about Italian Greyhounds etc...I have wanted a dog for a long time but lacked a big open garden, Well from what I have read and saw, My space wasnt that terribly small and the dog would be getting a lot of exercise, so should be ok

 

I found a whippet lurcher, not even a year old, the man brought her to me, he said he had worked him a few times and he was coming on well....

 

After the man left, I began to notice the dog extremely nervous...I mean, to the point where if I made any sudden movements, he would lye down and yelp, Later that evening, I decided to take him out to show him his new kennel and small run, He came behind me, run lick f*** and cleared the fence, I was gutted....

 

2 days past and I saw a poster with his picture yesterday morning, saying found, So I went to pick him up and bring him back, the lady that had him said he was a pleasure with her 2 springers, although a tad nervous

 

So we gets home, and I decided to spend all day with him and get him used to me and his surroundings....I had a bag of little treat things I got for him and he wouldnt even come near me to take one unless I threw out on the grass to him and if I moved while he was eating, he wold be off like a shot...

 

He wouldnt let me near him, I persisted until eventually he let me stroke him for a while and I gave him more treats and talked to him, But again...Sneeze and he was off!

 

Then came feeding time, I put the bowl out, food in it and he was obviously very hungry after his escapades and came towards the bowl, but stopped far back, when I moved away from it, he ate, when I moved at all, he run....I left him to eat and returned around midnight after giving him time to himself, I took the lead hoping to take a run round the block before bed, No a hope, he wasnt having no lead, no contact, no nothing!

 

I eventually after much persuasion and trickery, got him into his pen, I came out this morning and let him out and he wouldnt leave the pen until I went in the house...So I have him some time alone again....I returned before lunch to find him gone, But after his first escape I adjusted my fence wih batons of wood so he couldnt clear it....And then I found a hole where he dug his way below the fence....

 

I have looked for him for 8 or 9 ours today, Put up posters and rung around...Nothing, Im thinking he's gone for good and Im upset as it seemed the dog just didnt like me? I tried to make friends, I offered him treats, a nice run, a quiet setting....everything I could do for him....

 

He seemed to be very scared, and had no training at all, no sit or stay or anything, I tried learning him to sit on one of the occassions I atually got close to him and he didnt seem to want to know.

 

What do you all think...did this dog not like me, Am I too inexperienced, or is it just the normal routine for dogs getting used to owners?

 

I so badly want a companion for ferreting, But Im starting to wonder am I better off without a dog, and are they better off without me....

[Antonia 0]

I don't think it's you at all! This dog sounds like he's had a rough start, dogs aren't nervous of people for no reason. Yes perhaps a more experienced dog person, i.e. the woman with the Springers, was able to gain his trust a little more, and the fact she had other dogs would have helped, he's more than likely been with other dogs since a pup.

 

This is very sad, I think a lot more thought and advice should have gone into your decision as to where to get a dog - how much do you know about this guy and the dogs past?

 

If you do get him back, and I hope you do, you will have to think seriously as to whether this is the right dog for you, it obviously needs a lot of trust building. If you are up for it, great, but it may be a slow process and you'll have to up your security! Is there any particular reason it's kept outside? With no other dog for company, it's not much fun!

[blackpack 70]

honestly its not you but if it comes back give it back to the person who gave it you. Get a pup then you can bond with it train it etc the dog sounds mentally disturbed

[Attack Fell Terrier 864]

Sounds like the dog is a nervous wreck to me. If you get him back I'd phone the bloke up and pass him back to him, because it sounds to me like it's got some serious issues.

 

A more experienced dog owner could probably help the dog, but as you said you've not been round dogs long enough to cope with a dog like this, so I'd get a different dog.

 

Shame, hopefully there will be someone to sort the dog out with time and give it the graft he was bred for.

 

All the best looking for a dog mate.

[Hannah4181 260]

Don't beat yourself up about this at all. From your description it sounds like the dog had been mistreated, that said some dogs are born very very nervy. The fact it yelped and lay down would tell me that it has been hit and lost its trust in people. It would also indicate to me that it might have been better with women, due to how it reacted with the lady and her springers.

 

As it's been advised above perhaps in hindsight keeping it in the house may have helped the dog to bond with you better.

 

I rescued a collie a few years ago that had been ill treated and was a jibbering wreck, it took 2 weeks to get near the dog. I had 2 other dogs at the time and just completely ignored the dog to start with, i put food down and avoided looking at it at all. It would lay under the table watching every move i made, in the evening it would move to the hall and hide behind the plant just watching me! After 2 weeks it couldn't resist coming up to me to take food and get a stroke, once it finally did this it was like a cling on!! Wouldn't leave me alone, it took a further 4 weeks to over come a few other issues before i could consider finding it a home. It went to a farrier i know in the end and even now when i see it it goes ballistic and literally knocks me to the ground licking and whining and leaping all over me!

 

My assumption from your very honest post is that your desperate for a dog and just made a bad choice, go back to the drawing board and check your fences etc then consider getting a puppy, they are hard work and take lots of time and patience, but you strike me as someone that is willing to put in the dedication needed and i'm sure will end up with a fantastic ferreting companion. I would consider a beddie X whippet as a breed for you, small and although sometimes stubborn they are IMO a great 1st timers dog.

 

If the dog returns i'd look into finding it an expierenced foster/rescue placement.

 

Best of luck to you.

[Antonia 0]

Defo agree with Hannah - don't give it back to the guy! Rescue will be much better for it:)

[lee micheal kennels 12]

Ok, you probably all saw my posts about Italian Greyhounds etc...I have wanted a dog for a long time but lacked a big open garden, Well from what I have read and saw, My space wasnt that terribly small and the dog would be getting a lot of exercise, so should be ok

 

I found a whippet lurcher, not even a year old, the man brought her to me, he said he had worked him a few times and he was coming on well....

 

After the man left, I began to notice the dog extremely nervous...I mean, to the point where if I made any sudden movements, he would lye down and yelp, Later that evening, I decided to take him out to show him his new kennel and small run, He came behind me, run lick f*** and cleared the fence, I was gutted....

 

2 days past and I saw a poster with his picture yesterday morning, saying found, So I went to pick him up and bring him back, the lady that had him said he was a pleasure with her 2 springers, although a tad nervous

 

So we gets home, and I decided to spend all day with him and get him used to me and his surroundings....I had a bag of little treat things I got for him and he wouldnt even come near me to take one unless I threw out on the grass to him and if I moved while he was eating, he wold be off like a shot...

 

He wouldnt let me near him, I persisted until eventually he let me stroke him for a while and I gave him more treats and talked to him, But again...Sneeze and he was off! sum dogs are born nervous but sound like he got a few kickings before u got him mate.. get a pup rare yourself,, good luck

 

Then came feeding time, I put the bowl out, food in it and he was obviously very hungry after his escapades and came towards the bowl, but stopped far back, when I moved away from it, he ate, when I moved at all, he run....I left him to eat and returned around midnight after giving him time to himself, I took the lead hoping to take a run round the block before bed, No a hope, he wasnt having no lead, no contact, no nothing!

 

I eventually after much persuasion and trickery, got him into his pen, I came out this morning and let him out and he wouldnt leave the pen until I went in the house...So I have him some time alone again....I returned before lunch to find him gone, But after his first escape I adjusted my fence wih batons of wood so he couldnt clear it....And then I found a hole where he dug his way below the fence....

 

I have looked for him for 8 or 9 ours today, Put up posters and rung around...Nothing, Im thinking he's gone for good and Im upset as it seemed the dog just didnt like me? I tried to make friends, I offered him treats, a nice run, a quiet setting....everything I could do for him....

 

He seemed to be very scared, and had no training at all, no sit or stay or anything, I tried learning him to sit on one of the occassions I atually got close to him and he didnt seem to want to know.

 

What do you all think...did this dog not like me, Am I too inexperienced, or is it just the normal routine for dogs getting used to owners?

 

I so badly want a companion for ferreting, But Im starting to wonder am I better off without a dog, and are they better off without me....

[Kay 3,709]

I would be inclined to keep the dog & at least try to bring it round, madge was a little timmid when i took her on, new surroundings etc & going from out door living to indoor living

 

I hope you succed with this dog as it will be so rewarding when the dog starts to relax

 

Good luck

[spookster1 24]

Defo agree with Hannah - don't give it back to the guy! Rescue will be much better for it:)

I agree don't give the pup back to the guy, sounds like the pup has had a really difficult start. He may have trusted the woman more because she was a woman and has not had any harm done to him by a woman. I hope you get him back and can find him an experienced home to bring him on. I hope you get yourself a dog soon

[Tallyho 181]

its not your fault for one minit, but the sounds of it you did every thing right, but the dog was ruined from the start, i would get hold of the bloke and ask him what happened to the dog, by the sounds of it he has been mistreated in one way or another, but dont blame yourself.

[skycat 6,174]

Don't give the dog back to the guy you got it from: the best advice has already been given: the dog needs to live with other OK dogs so it can learn to be OK too. And with very experienced owner. You need to start with a well reared well socialised puppy so you can learn together. I've had rescue dogs that have behaved in the same way: lack of early socialisation will make a dog behave like this and it will probably only ever bond with one person: not being unkind, but you yourself said that you don't have a lot of experience: this dog needs someone who can read it like a book. I hope for its sake that you find it and rehome it carefully: it makes me sick that so many people out there just never treat dogs correctly: at least you are trying to do the right thing by it.

[labsnlurchers 39]

Honestly its not your fault, the dog has had a bad start and just needs to learn to trust you. Where abouts are you from? if you get him back and your not too far i dont mind giving you a hand with him. Its not too hard to bring them round and once you do they are probably the most loyal dogs you can get, its like they appreciate what you have done. He will probably always be nervous of starngers but once he knows you wont hurt him he will stick close to you and make a good ferreting companion. Good luck finding him

[Malt 379]

Mate, if the Pembs in your username is Pembrokeshire, drop me a PM.

 

I've got a young lurcher pup myself, and a little JRT bitch, both well socialised & friendly. It might be worth meeting up, so your dog can get a bit of it's own company, if you're not too far away.

[Pembshunter 23]

Guys, thanks for all your kind replies...My title "My fault or the dogs" was wrong, It is obviously in no way the little dogs fault whatsoever, because as a lot of you have stated, he was obviously treated badly. I just became very confused because I was thinking was I doing something wrong or was this just the way dogs where to begin until they settled etc,

 

To be honest, I has put me off my dog idea a little, It is very unfortunate what has happened, I had so many hopes for Charlie and imagined him tagging along to next seasons ferreting every saturday, and walking him around the fields just having a nosey about with me in the summer evenings, But unfortunately it just hasnt worked, Some of you are right, that I should have looked into the owner and the dog more, But I was looking so long for a whippet cross that I just jumped at the chance when I saw it...And that was wrong, I keep thinking perhaps a dog is just not for me, I saw my neighbours dogs this morning, one of which she has only had a couple of weeks and as soon as she opened the front door they where off, One quick whistle from her and they turned and sat where they where....I just had hoped to see Charlie do the same

 

Maybe I will get him back and If I do I will have to consider if I have the experience to keep him, I know deep in his heart he was an extremely clever little dog and someone who knew what they where doing could bring him out of his shell...And maybe at the same time, it could be good for me to try...No experience like hands on experience!

 

I just dont know what to do or think now, Its hard to explain...Because I have never had my own dog before I just didnt know what to expect and Im weary of getting another....because I dont want the same thing to happen again, not on my part, But I wouldnt want to put another little dog through that again....

 

I will keep you all updated if and when I find him...

 

Thanks

 

PH

[Geoff.C 0]

A sad story indeed PH. I think everyone has got through to you that this is not your fault. When I read your first post, I thought the dog had been knocked about, and being a man, this puts you at a disadvantage. He seemed ok with the "spaniel lady". Hope you get him back soon.

If you get him, FFS don't give him back. Prepare for a period of never being off lead, even in the garden. Quiet voice and treats etc.

Be careful how you do anything, even like picking up a newspaper, don't let him think you are about to strike with anything. A GSD we rescued some years ago, had a real panic when my wife got the ironing board out, then attacked it!! You can only imagine why these strange things happen and just try to give them back the confidence they should have. Definitely if you are near enough, have some time with Maltenby, and get the dog some therapy. All the best.