Hi Folks, just to let you know that Shandy's assement has been put back until 2nd February 2015 due to my wife having to go into hospital for major operations. In my first posts (Shandyboy... A sad story so Far) I explained how Shandy had bitten my wife a few times and once required a visit to the hospital. He is still lying right in front of my wife. At times right on her feet. Lately he also lies down in front of my wife and just simply stares and stares at her, watching her every movement. Of course, she has become very nervous of this. If she tries to pat him he simply pulls his head out of the way of her hand. She does not do this very often for fear of her been bitten. I've at last found a place where I can walk him off the lead. He so enjoys it, running around sniffing everything and rolling around in the long grass. Sometimes when I call him he does come back BUT sometimes he seems to get into some sort of a "zone" and simply ignores me. I've tried various treats but he ignoes them as well!!! Shandy also sometimes sits in front of her and whines and gives small barks as if he is wanting something. Does anybody have any suggestions/explanations for me please. Thanks a lot.....John
Re: Shandyboy......Staring & update Sorry John, ignore my last post, I've just found your other posts and can see the story with Shandy! It sounds like you are both doing a fantastic job with Shandy - complete respect here from me. I've no sensible advice to offer (I'm a complete novice) but sending you all lots of good wishes. Rosie
Re: Shandyboy......Staring & update It sounds to me like Shandy is just interested in your wife, and is perhaps also asking for food or attention. Dogs don't necessarily want pats as attention though. Next time Shandy stares and whines, see if your wife can engage him in a short training session. Get the treats out and do something simple and fun - this will involve food and attention without touching (which it seems he does not like). If he seems to happily engage in that then I'd assume that he was just wanting some interaction. If I was your wife I'd just avoid trying to touch or pat him at all as he seem to find it a bit confronting. I don't think Shandy would necessarily mean anything threatening by the staring. Dogs are often just very attentive out of interest or attachment.
Re: Shandyboy......Staring & update It sounds like you're doing ever so well. My boy doesn't like being touched on his head from above and often ducks away. It really is best not to put them under pressure and avoid touching them in ways that make them uncomfortable. I think Rachaels advice is spot on. Do engaging stuff that doesn't involve physical contact. Wishing you and your wife lots of luck with the hospital trip and the behaviourist
Re: Shandyboy......Staring & update Good advice from Rachael and Barbara. I hope things work out, it does seem like progress. February isn't far away, I hope the assessment with the behaviourist helps too. Great to here that he is getting some off lead walks. Recall can be tricky. Have you got a copy of the book Total Recall? It's great, really helpful.
Re: Shandyboy......Staring & update This might sound a bit nuts...sorry, but I still thought it worth mentioning. If your wife looks back at him when he is staring, briefly, then looks away to the side and makes her eyes go all sleepy, and close slowly a few times, like she is nodding off to sleep...see what he does. She can throw in a few yawns for good measure. Some dogs, including my dog, respond to humans doing this as a signal that means "everything is cool and relaxed, let's have a snooze". It might give her comfort that he is just watching her like some dogs watch a family member, to see what's going to happen next.
Re: Shandyboy......Staring & update This article might help too. If he gets used to only good things happening during training he might start to relax at least when it's onlu you and your OH around. http://totallygundogs.com/what-is-a-positive-gundog/
Re: Shandyboy......Staring & update Oh hell, yesterday Shandy bit my son badly. He first put his paw out as if to shake hands/paws and when my son took it, Shandy launched his attack. It was a bad one. I had to take my son to hospital for attension and back again this Wednesday. The thing is, Shandy( now 6)(Golden Lab) did not display any warning signs we could recognise. No ears back, no licking of lips, no wide eyed staring etc, nothing. Unfortunately the behavorist can only come 2nd Feb 2015 to see him. I'm at my wits end, just dont know what to do. He is loving and fine with me, so far. Its just hard to expect my family to live in fear of been bitten. I'm really really desperate now. John
Re: Shandyboy......Staring & update I am really sorry to hear this John. I don't have any helpful advice to offer I am afraid. I do hope your son is okay. Such a shock. I hope you are all okay. Thinking of you.
Re: Shandyboy......Staring & update I'm so sorry. That is awful news. I'm so sorry for your son. What do you see as your options at this point? What does your wife think?
Re: Shandyboy......Staring & update What a horrible situation for you, your family, and Shandy. There's not much we can do to help really, but we are here to listen to you, if you want to talk through your options. Please know you have our support in this difficult time.
Re: Shandyboy......Staring & update I am truly sorry to read about this , I hope your son is alright and that his hospital visit goes well on Wednesday . This is an awful situation for you and your family , I really feel for you and wish you well , whichever route you go down
Re: Shandyboy......Staring & update I was talking to a vet nurse last week and she mentioned that Golden Retrievers do bite without any warning first, so they are always wary of them. It seems that Shandy doesn't like physical touching, maybe something happened way back which has really made him very wary? I am sorry this is happening for you, very distressing as I am sure you love Shandy very much.
Re: Shandyboy......Staring & update I'm very sorry this has happened and I hope your son is alright. Have you been in touch with the behaviourist since this happened ? If not maybe if you contacted them and explained the situation and that it's a matter of urgency that shandy gets assessed they could come sooner. I'm sorry I can't remember but was this behaviourist recommended by your vet. Might it be worth contacting the vet and asking if there are any other behaviourists they'd recommend ? I don't know if this is possible without an assessment but maybe the vet could prescribe something short term to keep him calm. I guess the difficulty with that is you don't really know why he's behaving this way. Most aggression is fear based so something to calm him might help but if it's resource guarding or similar it might not. The only practical suggestion I could make is probably obvious the only person who interacts closely/touches shandy until he is assessed is you. Unfortunately I think that's the only way until you know what your dealing with and the best way to deal with it. I wish you all the luck. Shandy is very lucky to have you.
Re: Shandyboy......Staring & update Oh John,I'm terribly sorry to read this post.... How is your son doing?i am totally out of my depth to advise you.....safety of your human family is priority though.Is the rescue organization supporting you at all?please come on here and work through your thoughts and options ......there is a lot of experience and wisdom on the forum and members will be empathetic to your situation. Best wishes Angela
Re: Shandyboy......Staring & update I am so terribly sorry to hear about your son. I thought everything was going so well with you and Shadyboy. I hope you can sort out this latest blip. No one could have tried harder or been more patient with him. Makes you wonder what is in his past to make him so unpredictable. My best wishes.
Re: Shandyboy......Staring & update Hope your son is recovering. Very sorry to hear this has happened- it must be so difficult to know what to do next. I hope you can get some help sooner than you've been told.
Re: Shandyboy......Staring & update Hello everybody, it is a very difficult time. My son has just been taken into hospital, his hand now needs to be operated on. The behavorist situation is a tricky one. My wife needs to be included as the problem first started with her. She has just had her thrord operation on her knee and is only home for 4 weeks and then back in for what we hope is her final knee replacement. So we are trying to time the behavorist visit with a time wher she can participate as well. Thoughts on Shandy. I think deep down my wife would now like to hand him back to the rescue centre. I cant say I blame her. I do know she loves him dearly but is now scared of him. Myself, I feel we as humans are responsible for his condition, it's not his fault and so why should he be forever tormented by not having a loving and stable home. I'm going to fight on with him in an effort to help him get over his problems. I was brought up on a farm and spent many years of my life in the African bush. When I walk with Shandy in the local forests in Scotland with Shandy I feel free, he helps me to remember these times. I will never ever forget the look on his face when he was behind the cage at the rescue centre.Never. I will say the rescue centre have been very supportive indeed. I still take a bag of food up to them on a tregular basis and have a chat with the staff. ( I dare not go and look at the dogs as I would most probabaly bring another one home!!!) I also somehow think that when Shandys original family handed him in, thet did not tell the rescue centre the full story. Originally he was handed back because he dropped too much hair?????? Then I was told the family also had a new baby and Shandy was putting the baby in danger by running around like a mad lunatic?? So, not sure what to read into it all. Anyway, will keepm you kind folk posted....John
Re: Shandyboy......Staring & update [quote author=Shandyboy link=topic=8717.msg130968#msg130968 date=1418819347] Hello everybody, it is a very difficult time. My son has just been taken into hospital, his hand now needs to be operated on. The behavorist situation is a tricky one. My wife needs to be included as the problem first started with her. She has just had her thrord operation on her knee and is only home for 4 weeks and then back in for what we hope is her final knee replacement. So we are trying to time the behavorist visit with a time wher she can participate as well. [/quote] Thank you for letting us know how you and your family are doing John. It must be an incredibly difficult time for you all. I hope the operation goes well for your son. I totally understand why you need your wife involved (and indeed all your family), would it be possible to get more than one appointment/meeting? Then you could have the first one as soon as possible and you may get some ways to manage or cope as a result with follow up sessions that include everyone. Saying you're unable to keep a dog you've rehomed must be a completely heartbreaking thing to do. I am a firm believer though in the safety of the people in the home being paramount and finding the right home for the dog and any issues they might have. I wish you, your family and Shandy all the very best!
