At least I think it gives hope. This is the story of Cassie my beautiful girl. We have had three rescue dogs by 2011. We were left with Jake our gorgeous black boy but he was 11 years old. I had decided on another rescue so put us back on lab rescue Scotland list. I asked at my vets to be told there was a local family looking to rehome their chocolate lab and yellow lab ( Cassie). My O H wasn't keen on three dogs again as it really is hard work. I talked him around. We visited the dogs in their home and both of us agreed that they would fit in to our home. We went back and introduced Jake. He had no problems with them, Jake is one of the few dogs that I have been fortunate to know that never grumbled or showed any sign of having problems with other dogs. I made arrangements for both dogs and we brought them home with us. I really couldn't believe our luck with these two. They were trained. Penny recall and lead walking after a weeks refresher course was exceptional. I have never had a dog like her before. Outside she stuck to me like glue. Not scared or wary but really attentive. Cassie was one of those dogs that doesn't run away , but likes to go too far in front and is the puller from hell on a lead. Now when we got the dogs Cassie was six and Penny was three. They were really close to each other , played together slept together. Perfect ! What could go wrong? I did. I didn't know it at the time as although I had worked in kennels I never read the signs, I just didn't see it. I played with the dogs when I got home from work, ( part time work) i would get lunch and then I took them individually for training. I say training, but they had had the basics it was my chance to have really well behaved dogs. We thought we had hit the jackpot with these two. We were the proud keepers of a black a chocolate and a yellow labrador. It was a beautiful sight. The first indication of something not "right" was when putting three dogs into the car and a lady with her two JRT came past and started barking. Well my three gave "chase" . The noise was deafening although it took me a couple of minutes to realise it was mostly bluff. Jake stood at the back of them penny came when called and Cassie seemed intent on gbh. My fault I must do more training especially with Cassie. About a week later, I don't know the cause Penny and Cassie got into a fight with each other. I walked out the room and ignored them peace regained. This happened again,I couldn't work out what had started it. I would take them out to play with the ball, we used it as a training session as well , brilliant for teaching drop it and wait. Another skirmish. By this point I was getting worried so I found a trainer . Before we got to see her i came home from work and let the three dogs outside and all hell broke loose. Blood was drawn this time. So off to the vets and as well as checking over puncture wounds we discussed a behaviourist. We also booked Cassie in to get spayed. Within ours of getting home, ( i had now separated both dogs when out) Cassie managed to get to Penny and they were at it again. Back to the vets. As a matter of urgency my vet decided to cancel Cassie spaying and get her seen by a qualified behaviourist. At this stage it was imperative that both dogs couldn't see each other never mind be in the same room. The behaviourist arrived and the first comment from her mouth on seeing Penny was , she's sleekit. (Sly) I was livid but I hid it as she's supposed to be the expert and she charged us £150. On her recommendation we were to get a dog gate , we did that immediately. Now my house is not big we have a front and back garden and a family that come and go on a regular basis. So she made it clear from the start that this would be hard work and I was going to have to walk each dog individually. Jake had a bad back and couldn't do the same as the other two. This thought was a major consideration. Trying to repair the damage I had allowed was going to be a long term commitment. i was so out my depth. One of the things she said I was to use ,was Jake. As in coochy coo Jake and when Cassie came running into the room I was given a word to use to let her know that he's the one getting the attention. With my Scottish accent git said in a low voice sounds really guttural but extremely effective. Cassie it turns out was resource guarding me. I was her resourse and for some reason Jake never sent any signals that he was bothered , which made him an excellent participant in Cassie rehabilitation. He lapped up getting all this extra attention and paid no heed to Cassie trying to push in. I contacted Lab rescue,I know I never got the dogs through them but I was still in contact with Carolyne. She was wonderful. She asked for all behaviourist notes on both dogs and gave it to a trainer she knows. We talked it through and she explained that two bitches who now can't look at each other without wanting to kill, are not very likely to be able to share the same room unsupervised again. So after a lot of tears and guilt oh my goodness the guilt. No one will ever know the guilt that I felt over all of this but the decision that me and my family made was that one of the dogs had to be rehomed. Now the only one that could be rehomed was Penny. She was three years old a wee sweety in nature and such an obedient dog. If I could have had the choice it would have been Penny I kept. But I helped create this conflict and it would have been highly irresponsible to rehome Cassie. So I knew what was going to happen and I knew all these dogs were my responsibility, so Penny was to be rehomed. Within days I had a phone call to say there was a family interested in Penny. A meeting was set up , they drove from inverness to ayrshire to meet her. They had a springer a male who was the independent type. The lady had always hoped for this cuddly dog and one that would run along side her when she went riding. Although she loved her boy he couldn't give her that, I knew Penny could. They took her back with them. I spoke to her a couple of weeks later and she was over the moon. Her 14 year old son now had a dog to "play" with and she had her cuddly dog that ran along side her horse when she went riding. I was so pleased and Although I never heard from them again, I really hope that Penny is as loved as she was here and with her first family. Having Penny removed from the situation gave us all some breathing space. I knew I had to continue working with Cassie. So off we went to training. I found out the training was a laed up to agility. Euuuuk. I don't do sport of any description and running about a field wellllllll! Arrived in the field and we had some basic training for the first few weeks, then a few weeks practice on the course. I was expected to run. Me run! Well lets try it . I need to focus on getting a non aggressive dog. What a mistake . After weeks of no reaction from Cassie and her doing all the tasks asked of her with flying colours we were to run down one side of the course while another dog ran down the other . I kept her on the lead. I was told to let her off the lead. First couple of weeks it was young males at other side of the field. Cassie would be fine for five minutes then she would spot the other dog and give chase. Recall out the window. She never managed to catch them. Then we had to run with a bitch at other side. I really wasn't happy with her being off lead, I had been blamed at some point of transferring my issues down the lead. Off she went, as soon as the bitch saw her there was a fight. I just kept apologising. I couldn't stop shaking. Next week same again let her off lead, in between we have the two dogs sit side by side with me feeding both dogs ( none of this being my idea) . I trusted the "trainer" . Let off again other dog runs Cassie sees it and gives chase , fight. I was in tears. It seemed I had a really vicious dog and I had no idea waht I was doing. When I got home the trainer phoned me and asked me not to bring Cassie back. So I am now on my own. I cried a lot. I had the most wonderful dog in the home . I had a dog that would obey a three year old childin the house, but the devil dog when we met other dogs outside. I decided to do what I love doing read. I ordered lots of books. Ian dunbar patricia cornwell among others. I then proceeded to "manage" Cassie I tried to learn how to understand her. I'm not perfect at it, but I have got good at reading her signals. For the first two years we walked where ther was little chance of meetings other dogs. I slowly gained some of my confidence back with her . Last year Jake died and Cassie and I bonded even more. I then worried that she would never allow another dog in the house. So we decided to get a pup a male pup. By the time Cupar is fully mature, Cassie will be about 11. I practiced the lets play lots and lots of attention to my two year old granddaughter ( Cassie really is so gentle around my grandchildren, although I don't leave them on there own unsupervised) she is brilliant at it . When Cassie comes running through and ignored it taught her she can't just push in and get my attention. She has to wait. So this year decision made , find a pup. Now I had to start walking Cassie around busier places. For the first time since 2011 we have been going to parks where there is other dogs. I still stay back from dogs that are running about. But dogs that run up to Cassie especially males she seems relaxed with. We can keep walking and she doesn't react. We can't let her off the lead if there is other dogs about. I have a fifty foot line that I use in public parks. My O H can't believe how aware of other dogs and of how many there are in a park I am. I have had to learn to manage Cassie issues outside. We have a couple of male dogs that she runs with but I would never ever let her near a bitch off lead. We've met a few bitches while on lead and had to walk past and she's fine . I had a few sleepless nights worrying about her reaction to Cupar, but she surprised us all. He gave her a new friend to play with and she allows him to snuggle up on the sofa. I know more now so I am better prepared for any changes in her attitude towards him. For the first time in two years I have hope for a normal doggy life. For the rest of Cassies life she will be monitored by me , but now I know she can live with another dog again and lead a semi normal, sometimes off lead time. We're fortunate here. There is farmers fields where I can let her run free safely. This is to all those who despair with the dog that has some issues and feel there is no light at the end. Cassie is here to say there is. I and my family love this dog to bits and I wouldn't change her for anything. She has taught me so much and for that I give thanks , but most of all i give thanks for another cuddly dog.
Re: Cassie and Penny a story of hope Bless your heart for all the work and love you have given and shown to Cassie. I'm glad things are working out with your new pup, and hope you have many more years of happiness with them both!
Re: Cassie and Penny a story of hope What a fascinating story. Full credit to you for your insight and self-education and hard work to help Cassie. Definitely a story of hope and perseverance.
Re: Cassie and Penny a story of hope Well done for your perseverance and determination. I hope you have lots of fun with Cassie and Cupar
Re: Cassie and Penny a story of hope Welll that was quite a rollercoaster! Thank you for sharing and thank you for your perseverance and dedication to helping Cassie be as happy as she can be
Re: Cassie and Penny a story of hope Wow, that brought a tear to my eye :'( your dedication to Cassie is amazing
Re: Cassie and Penny a story of hope An amazing story - well done for your dedication and perseverance xx
Re: Cassie and Penny a story of hope Wow what an amazing read. I know so many (and probably truth be know myself included) who would have rehomed her rather than putting the hard work and dedication in to Cassie. Well done. Now where did I put my hankie!
Re: Cassie and Penny a story of hope Thank you very much for taking the time to share your story. Im so glad everything has worked out well for you all. My two are very reactive with people although they have improved so I can really appreciate what you went through and how hard it must've been. Did anybody suggest why Cassie had started resource guarding you and why that had put her off all other dogs ? Was she ok with other dogs before this behaviour started ?
Re: Cassie and Penny a story of hope [quote author=Jen link=topic=9078.msg130142#msg130142 date=1418490676] Thank you very much for taking the time to share your story. Im so glad everything has worked out well for you all. My two are very reactive with people although they have improved so I can really appreciate what you went through and how hard it must've been. Did anybody suggest why Cassie had started resource guarding you and why that had put her off all other dogs ? Was she ok with other dogs before this behaviour started ? [/quote] Some of the " experts " reckoned they had had these issues before and that could have been a reason to rehome them. Personally I believe it was more to do with lack of human attention . They came from a small house shut up in a small room all day alone , then when owners arrived home with three small children, the dogs were put outside. So most of their day was spent without human company and when they did get human contact there was lots of humans to interact with. When I took both dogs , they only had one human contact, me. I fed them, I walked them and spent lots of time training them individually. I never read Cassies signs that she was ( I shall use a human term) "jealous ". I could have prevented this if I had understood more. I should not have allowed any of the dogs to push or shove their way in. I really do believe that if I had trained each dog that ,when I called one dog , that was the dog I wanted . I'm not explaining that very well, but I do know it is important. I've had dogs do it before without any problems, but some dogs need to be reminded they are not the only dog. As for her problems with other dogs. It's not all dogs. Ie: in a field you have Cassie off lead fetching her ball. Another dog (bitch) comes into field and gets a ball thrown for her. Cassie sees other dog running, she then runs at other dog and if she catches them pins them to the ground. Fight ensues. Change bitch to young male and she's unlikely to catch them. I can only tell you what happened at so called training classes. Jen , unfortunately I haven't come across any experts that agree on Cassies issues. I've had all sorts of advice and opinions. Everyones an expert now. They've googled it so it must be true! In the meantime we have an amazing dog that my whole family dote on. so we will guddle along and do the best we can and accept what is , is.
Re: Cassie and Penny a story of hope That would make sense that suddenly getting a lot of human interaction Cassie wanted it all, if see what I mean. I really don't think you need to feel guilty about not spotting the signs. Dog signals are very difficult to interpret although I bet your pretty much an expert now. When I think back I can think of lots of mistakes I made with my two when they were pups which had I realised then what I was dealing with they may not have got so bad :-\ hindsight is a wonderful thing. : The trainer/behaviourist I had to my dogs at 8 months wasn't much help. She told me they were very nervous, I needed to expose them more to their triggers and if i didnt do something they could easily bite, shortly after having thrown a lead at them to stop them barking!!!! I have wondered if behaviourist was just added to her title although she was highly recommended. I then did like you and started reading. Can I ask which books you found most helpful ?
Re: Cassie and Penny a story of hope Thankyou all for the lovely comments. I haven't done anything special, we didn't hand over any money and I did go in with my eyes open. When I said we have an amazing dog, we have ,and she may have some issues but she makes up for them in the love that she gives all of us back. I put this on here as I find it cathartic. It helps me put into perspective how much goodness there is in Cassie, in amid the bad. If I was into maths and statistics, given the problems arise outside the house , so saying she was walked for roughly two hours a day , I am awake 14 hours and work maybe 3 hours a day. That gives me 9 hours plus the three that she's on her own 12 hours a day of the most wonderful and amazing dog I have the pleasure of looking after. Jen, the books that I found helpful were the ones that killed that myth about dominant dogs. I downloaded to my kindle In defense of dogs by John Bradshaw. The other end of the leash and fiesty fido both by Patricia B McConnell, these were useful, I have Sophia Yin and Turid Rugass. A few of these are in paperback. ( I by ALL my reference books in real book form now as it's much easier to go back and forward. I can't say any were my favourite, but having two Patricia McC probably them. Thanks to John Bradshaw and his ilk my dogs get up on the sofas, all of them.
Re: Cassie and Penny a story of hope What a fabulous thing you have done for Cassie. Now...pass the tissues when you are done :'(
