Dogs » My dog won't let me come near her to take off ticks?
CaitM
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This question is related to: Honey the Dog  Honey | Age: | 8 months |
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| Gender: | Female |
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| Breed: | German Sheppard, Pitbull Mix |
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| Neutered: | No |
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| Weight: | 45 |
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My dog won't let me come near her to take off ticks?
She's a really jumpy dog. And lately, since the tick problem, she hasn't looked at me or let me even pet her. I don't know what to do.
Advice?
7/8/12 Answer this question
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Chicco
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There is a lot of advice you will find online with training sites in abundance, however, if you are saying that this dog will now not actually allow you even near her then it is time to call in a behaviourist.
You don't say quite what she does do when you try.. is it just run.. or is it growl and you fear you will get bitten. Either way never corner her and make her feel threatened otherwise there will be a bite.
I would love to sit here and give you advice on what to try but if I got it wrong when I can't see this dog's body language then it could get worse.. and for that reason, advice on other sites could do the same.
What I will say is that you must allow her to come to you, don't force issues, and be VERY VERY patient. I have a rottweiler working in my class at the moment that nearly lost his home through a very similar situation. The owner had to treat him for something and then couldn't get near him. Luckily she found us and we worked through it with her and now the dog is fantastic.
7/8/12
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CaitM
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She just jumps really really high, she dodges us from even getting close to her. She does bite when we try and hold her down. The tick problem is getting worse everyday and I can't take her in. But she does have a spay appointment on the 1st of September. Do you think they'll help us if we still have a problem by then?
7/8/12
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Chicco
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The vet will be able to remove any ticks but this isn't going to solve the problem and a dog shouldn't be left that long infested with ticks otherwise you could end up with a bigger problem. The vet could also treat her with a spot on treatment to try and prevent further infestation.
The vet isn't there to help you with this kind of behavioural problem either, and it could be that in trying to hold her down long enough to give an examination and pre-med injection will make her worse.
You need to try and deal with it by then.
Is this dog just left in a yard and untrained. Bringing her in isn't going to hurt you or your family if you keep her in a small room that can easily be hoovered should any of the ticks drop off.. She needs to have far more trust in you than this otherwise you will never be able to treat her for anything and the only way we do that is hours and hours of training.
7/8/12
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CaitM
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Oh, she's a great dog most of the time, it's been lately where she's been acting weird. She doesn't even look at me.
She's been coming inside since I got her, but since the tick problem, she's been outside quite a bit.
We don't have a fear of her, she knows simple commands, sit, lay down, paw shake, stay. Lately, she doesn't even come near me and when she feels threatened she does try to snap at us. It might also be because she was an abandoned pup do you think? I know she was abandoned as a really small puppy, I just don't know how much it affected her.
7/8/12
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Chicco
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Their first 8 weeks in life is VERY important and anyone taking on a pup like that does need to understand all this.
OK... start with food time then.. the most important. Sit on the floor and hand feed her everything to get her trust back again.
At some point after a couple of days use one hand with food and the other to slowly start touching her... If you rush this it will not work so don't be impatient. Progress like that until she is allowing you to touch her body even without the food there...
If at some point you can put liquid soap straight onto the ticks that will make them fall off as they can't breathe.
Come back here and let me know how you are progressing, but please don't expect to get all the above done in one day. The better she is when you get to the vets in September the better for them and you...
7/8/12
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stuart
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thanks Chicco.
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