Hello all, I am new here but not new to the breed.
Two and a half years ago I adopted a rescued Sheltie MIX (then age 3), who now lives with her Full Shetland sister( then age ten). The rescue society gave me very little information on her life before our family. Only that she was in a trailer with 17 others dogs. I was told she was skittish of outdoors as she had never been outdoors before. When I got her home, I found she loved outdoors. What I have found, She hates confinement and bent a steel crate door to a point it would no longer close. Yet when we had to Kennel her with our other dog for a few days, we were told she did fine.( she was kenneled not crated there)
Otherwise she is my shadow, totally my shadow. She is fearful of others. Very timid not aggressive. With me she leans, flops, and cuddles, In fact she's a bit of a tripping hazard when we are indoors, In the yard she stay within sight of me.
Truthfully she has adjusted well to her new home, except she is extremely bonded to ME...the other members of the household she will let pet her, or will take food when offered. BUT it is me as the only one that can hold her, walk her, etc. When my sister or other company comes, she shivers, sits at my feet, will knock over furniture, fans, potted plants to get to me, should I walk to a place where my sister is between myself and the dog...while she avoids getting near my sister or whoever...Yet she is even worse if I try to put her in the bedroom when we have company, she will claw the doors. She insists more on sitting at my feet shaking.
I find it hard to believe she never had "LAPTIME" as she is so floppy and silly, and snuggle cozy with me right from the start. But not with others. ( honestly I think it makes my sister jealous when she visits, she loves animals but Bella will have nothing of others in that way) My sister insists this a "PROBLEM DOG" waiting to happen, and that I should "break" this habit, My sister's obedience trainer ( whom she told about my dog while she was training a new puppy) told her this is a VERY BAD thing for my dog to do. ( yes we tried getting others to give her treats etc....nothing works)
I understand and want Bella to be well adjusted and confident, not neurotic; but also I think it is just a bit good that she is afraid of strangers as years ago someone tried to Lure our pure bred Sheltie into a car, with us standing in the front yard with her (just stopped the car and tried to call the dog over with us standing right there talking with the neighbors)
Should I Worry about this behavior in Bella after knowing she had come from a not so good place, not knowing really what happened to her in the past...am I babying my fluff ball by cuddling and allowing it so much? How do I help her not be afraid to be without me when we have company, I don't want to confine her, but I hate seeing her panting and shaking too.
I DONT know what to think or DO. For those of you with more experience in rescues or training Please give some advice.
Two and a half years ago I adopted a rescued Sheltie MIX (then age 3), who now lives with her Full Shetland sister( then age ten). The rescue society gave me very little information on her life before our family. Only that she was in a trailer with 17 others dogs. I was told she was skittish of outdoors as she had never been outdoors before. When I got her home, I found she loved outdoors. What I have found, She hates confinement and bent a steel crate door to a point it would no longer close. Yet when we had to Kennel her with our other dog for a few days, we were told she did fine.( she was kenneled not crated there)
Otherwise she is my shadow, totally my shadow. She is fearful of others. Very timid not aggressive. With me she leans, flops, and cuddles, In fact she's a bit of a tripping hazard when we are indoors, In the yard she stay within sight of me.
Truthfully she has adjusted well to her new home, except she is extremely bonded to ME...the other members of the household she will let pet her, or will take food when offered. BUT it is me as the only one that can hold her, walk her, etc. When my sister or other company comes, she shivers, sits at my feet, will knock over furniture, fans, potted plants to get to me, should I walk to a place where my sister is between myself and the dog...while she avoids getting near my sister or whoever...Yet she is even worse if I try to put her in the bedroom when we have company, she will claw the doors. She insists more on sitting at my feet shaking.
I find it hard to believe she never had "LAPTIME" as she is so floppy and silly, and snuggle cozy with me right from the start. But not with others. ( honestly I think it makes my sister jealous when she visits, she loves animals but Bella will have nothing of others in that way) My sister insists this a "PROBLEM DOG" waiting to happen, and that I should "break" this habit, My sister's obedience trainer ( whom she told about my dog while she was training a new puppy) told her this is a VERY BAD thing for my dog to do. ( yes we tried getting others to give her treats etc....nothing works)
I understand and want Bella to be well adjusted and confident, not neurotic; but also I think it is just a bit good that she is afraid of strangers as years ago someone tried to Lure our pure bred Sheltie into a car, with us standing in the front yard with her (just stopped the car and tried to call the dog over with us standing right there talking with the neighbors)
Should I Worry about this behavior in Bella after knowing she had come from a not so good place, not knowing really what happened to her in the past...am I babying my fluff ball by cuddling and allowing it so much? How do I help her not be afraid to be without me when we have company, I don't want to confine her, but I hate seeing her panting and shaking too.
I DONT know what to think or DO. For those of you with more experience in rescues or training Please give some advice.
Sussie ?
