Hello Everyone.
This is my first post, just looking for a bit of advice or suggestions.
In Feb myself and my partner rescued two dogs both 7.. Eddie a Sprollie & Ozzy a Lab.
As Eddies recall is non existant he is always walked on the lead but as a nice change last Monday I hired a paddock so I could let him off and launch his tenninps ball for him. I did this and as really really bad luck would have it he went down a rabbit hole and broke his radius and ulna just above his left wrist.
He had surgery last Wednesday and now has a plate and screws.
As you can imagine keeping a Sprollie calm has not been easy but our vet was suprised at how well he was doing after a week when we went for a dressing change yesterday.
Our problem is that Eddie has started to growl and bare his teeth at us.. This has only started to happen over the last couple of days. We are leaving him alome as obviously we don't want to make the situation worse but he looks or comes to us for a fuss and then when we do he warns us to back off. I would say he was a slightly anxious dog before but more towards other dogs and his he heckles go up if he hears another dog when he is in the back garden or someone knocks at the door.
Just looking for any advice or suggestions from the community, we are just concerned as we havent had him long and he is usally such a loving boy we don't want him to associate us as bad.
Many thanks everyone.
Need a bit of advice
Moderators: emmabeth, BoardHost
Re: Need a bit of advice
Ah, the poor lad - he's been through something very stressful, and is probably still in some pain.
When my dog had surgery a year or so ago, when OH and I tried to leave the house at the weekend a full week after his surgery, he went NUTS. He has a degree of separation anxiety anyway, but he turned very aggressive in an attempt to stop us leaving the house. A week later he was fine. I have no idea whether this was just down to stress or an effect of some of the drugs he had, but it does show how profoundly dogs can be affected.
I would say to be as hands-off as possible. If he comes to you for a fuss, go slowly and aim for the places he usually likes being petted (maybe chest, shoulders, ears - not top of head). At the first sign of a growl (even just a barely noticeable change in breathing, or a look in his eye), back off - or maybe it would be better to pet him very briefly, stop regardless, and see if he asks for more. If he realised you will always listen to him, he may be able to relax more. And of course, never ever tell him off if he does growl - apologise to him instead.
Also, try to find mental games he enjoys - there's loads of ideas here: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1135 A bored dog who isn't getting the exercise he needs can become pretty grumpy.
When my dog had surgery a year or so ago, when OH and I tried to leave the house at the weekend a full week after his surgery, he went NUTS. He has a degree of separation anxiety anyway, but he turned very aggressive in an attempt to stop us leaving the house. A week later he was fine. I have no idea whether this was just down to stress or an effect of some of the drugs he had, but it does show how profoundly dogs can be affected.
I would say to be as hands-off as possible. If he comes to you for a fuss, go slowly and aim for the places he usually likes being petted (maybe chest, shoulders, ears - not top of head). At the first sign of a growl (even just a barely noticeable change in breathing, or a look in his eye), back off - or maybe it would be better to pet him very briefly, stop regardless, and see if he asks for more. If he realised you will always listen to him, he may be able to relax more. And of course, never ever tell him off if he does growl - apologise to him instead.
Also, try to find mental games he enjoys - there's loads of ideas here: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1135 A bored dog who isn't getting the exercise he needs can become pretty grumpy.
Jasper, lurcher, born December 2009
Re: Need a bit of advice
Great advice as always from JudyN - he is in pain, has had a real fright, undergone some unhappy experiences, and doesn't want any more. He only has limited ways of telling you this.
A being-growled-at checklist goes:
1. Stop whatever you were doing and BACK OFF. Then turn sideways.
2. Think over what you were doing that might have caused that reaction - did you have strong eye contact, were you bending over him, talking loudly, reaching out/touching him, blocking his escape route, anything else you can think of?
3. Think on the thing you wanted to do, if it is vital to do it now, how you can do it in a less confrontational way.
4. Do NOT take his reaction personally - he is communicating not being mean to you (you already know this, but often others read posts and don't add a comment, so this is for them).
Once you have taught him you are listening to his appeals, you can build on that. Because he can now trust you to stop as soon as he asks, he will become more tolerant. Anaesthetic does affect mindset in some dogs, but they get back to normal. I have a pinned and plated radius and ulna also, and I can tell you it hurts and will go on hurting for very likely all his life. Could be he wants a caress or reassurance but not to be touched anywhere near his leg.
Finally, because I have a tidy mind
there is no way he could have gone down a rabbit hole, so what actually happened?
A being-growled-at checklist goes:
1. Stop whatever you were doing and BACK OFF. Then turn sideways.
2. Think over what you were doing that might have caused that reaction - did you have strong eye contact, were you bending over him, talking loudly, reaching out/touching him, blocking his escape route, anything else you can think of?
3. Think on the thing you wanted to do, if it is vital to do it now, how you can do it in a less confrontational way.
4. Do NOT take his reaction personally - he is communicating not being mean to you (you already know this, but often others read posts and don't add a comment, so this is for them).
Once you have taught him you are listening to his appeals, you can build on that. Because he can now trust you to stop as soon as he asks, he will become more tolerant. Anaesthetic does affect mindset in some dogs, but they get back to normal. I have a pinned and plated radius and ulna also, and I can tell you it hurts and will go on hurting for very likely all his life. Could be he wants a caress or reassurance but not to be touched anywhere near his leg.
Finally, because I have a tidy mind
there is no way he could have gone down a rabbit hole, so what actually happened?A dog is never bad or naughty - it is simply being a dog
SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS
SET YOURSELF UP FOR SUCCESS
-
Charlie2103
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Tue May 17, 2016 2:29 am
Re: Need a bit of advice
Thank you both for your fantastic replys. I will take all of your advice on board.
Genuinely hand on heart the break didn't happen any other way. I went to an emergncy vet immediately after the incident, my regular vet and a specialist and all of them cannot believe he managed it and have said he did a good job.
Just can't wait to get him back to full health again
Genuinely hand on heart the break didn't happen any other way. I went to an emergncy vet immediately after the incident, my regular vet and a specialist and all of them cannot believe he managed it and have said he did a good job.
Just can't wait to get him back to full health again