Pet dogs turning feral

When we got our Jack from a shady breeder in PA. Amish country, he exhibited all of these behaviours being referred to as "Feral". We had just started to make some progress with him when, on our daily walk near the house a hunter in his truck terrified him & he slipped his harness (which we have since replaced with another better one) and ran off into the woods. Six hours later, after searching & calling as day turned into night, he returned to our yard on his own.

he wouldn't let us near him , we frightened him so much he leaped over our fence & escaped into the neighborhood. After another hour of searching he returned to the yard(we had left the gates open) and finally made his way into the house on his own around 9pm.

I've never been so scared or worried in my life. This was a dog that had never been "right" (and still isn't really), but did have the sense to return to the only place that he had ever received love.

all our hard work with Jack payed off in one way, but he definately took a couple steps back in his development after this traumatic event.

hopefully, Party will be caught & can get back her rightfull owners & recover quickly (she was being "shown" -right?)

scott
 
I'm reminded of dogs that get loose at an outdoor dog show. Inveritably they run blind even though the owners are calling them. If it wasn't for the fact that there are usually a lot of people blocking their path, they would be "in the wind". I'm usually the calm one if things go really bad but when my husband's coworker showed up at the door in the middle of the afternoon to tell me that they had sent him to the hospital with suspected massive heart attack, I lost all sense of reason or control and would have got lost trying to drive myself to the hospital. I know that Lauri was talking to me but I have no idea what she was saying. My daughter's friend had a labrador retriever that was usually calm, unflappable and well trained. One day it was investigating at the other side of the field as they walked and the farmer next door started his tractor. The dog had heard tractors many times but this time it was behind a cedar fenceline and so wasn't visable. The dog bolted and they never did find it. Adrenalin will do many things to the body and it doesn't just go away once the crisis is over. I don't believe that a normal dog with normal social skills reverts to feral in 24 hours. I don't believe it is all nuture or training that prevents these stories either. I do worry that breeds like Shelties and Belgians are losing their ability to recover from being startled and are becoming too sensitive. This breed is a herding breed and should be able to be off lead to be able to do it's job. Can you imagine a shepherd out with his shelties working the sheep and a hunter near by shoots a pheasant leading the dogs to take off? I am amused by people at dog shows and obedience events telling all willing to listen why their dog didn't perform well today. Most of the breeds there were bred to do a job and they couldn't even get around a ring and do one thing without stressing out. God forbid that the majority of these dogs ever got loose! To me, a feral animal is one that has lived as a wild animal and is able to support itself. It has no affiliation with humans and prefers it that way.
 
Tagg said:
I do worry that breeds like Shelties and Belgians are losing their ability to recover from being startled and are becoming too sensitive. This breed is a herding breed and should be able to be off lead to be able to do it's job. Can you imagine a shepherd out with his shelties working the sheep and a hunter near by shoots a pheasant leading the dogs to take off? I am amused by people at dog shows and obedience events telling all willing to listen why their dog didn't perform well today. Most of the breeds there were bred to do a job and they couldn't even get around a ring and do one thing without stressing out.
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I agree with you. This is what I was trying to say. It bothers me that the temperaments of so many, many Shelties today are weak and not robust. When the breeder of my shy girl decided that the line wasn't one she wanted to continue, and s/n my girl's parents, she did the right thing.
 
I was running agility last week at class and the neighbor set off a whole thing of firecrackers at once. Other than a barely visible flinch, my dog kept right on working. I can't say it for everyone else's, but MY shelties truly have stable temperaments :) but then, I'm still breeding for and expect all dogs I have to be working dogs and pets first. I have no use for slinking spooky behavior/temperaments.
Mine should be able to handle about everything. Several used to go to horse shows where there were often county fairs complete with rides and sometimes tractor pulls. They also used to go to the barn. I expect mine to handle whatever is thrown at them as if it's no big deal. No excuses for mine at dog shows as far as noise and environment go.
 
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Sunny (my <3 dog) got loose. My inlaws were away on vac. Their next door neighbors called us and asked why "the pretty dog" slept on the in laws porch over night. Yep, Sunny went to his beloved Grandmas house!

Lilly (my rescue) would be feral in no time flat. Of that, I am sadly sure.

My experience says to me that personality would play a part to some small extent.
 
Hopeshelties: I applaud you for trying to maintain a working mentality in your dogs along with structure and beauty. I also realize that in every litter there will be a variety in temperment and always was. Not every dog born will be able to handle the job it was born to do but it shouldn't be the norm that the majority will be like that.
Tinsel, my puppymill rescue, isn't noise sensitive - except to barking dogs which is understandable as he lived his life in close quarters with over 500 -
but he is movement sensitive. He would be gone in a heartbeat and wouldn't look to humans to save him. Maybe he will in a couple of years but not right now.
I have always admired this breed for it's beauty and brains. It scares me though how sensitive they have become. Hopefully more breeders will start to address this issue.
 
We did not get Sally from a breeder, she was rescued from Craig's list at about 4 mos old by a client who offered her to me, so I have no idea of her lineage (sp). She has been shy from the get go and is very noise sensitive and this is something we are always working on, probably always will. She is very tuned into my husband and I and constantly watching our faces for guidance. Definately has a flight over fight response to stimuli. If she got loose AND was stressed I think she would flee. She has been off lead in safe spots and taken off after bunnies but does come back- but she doesn't stop as soon as we call. But we had fireworks right next door last week and she really just shut down for about a half hour or so...you breeders have your work cut out for you with sensitivity issues...
 
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