OT: remedy needed for dog

[Guest guest]

Hi,

 

After over 20 years of using homeopathy and 16 years of owning dogs (mostly

Golden Retrievers), we need constructive suggestions for our dog named Lady

just over age two. Lady is a cross between German Shepherd and Doberman

(maybe Doberman Pincher). She is a large dog for a German Shepherd/Doberman

mix.

 

We adopted Lady two years ago, when she was seven months. She was obviously

doped up in order to get rid of her. At that time, my Golden Retriever,

Muffin, who was older, shortlegged, and never a prime physical speciman ran

at least twice as fast as did Lady. As Lady's physical condition improved,

and she came to run at least three times the speed of Muffin, she barked at

some strangers, chased them, and has a tendancy to sometimes bite.

Although, she also charms strangers, this is not a chance we can take. We

cannot foresee and avoid every possible situation.

 

It became clear that Lady feared those who run faster, moving wheels, and

objects that she feared would hit her. For example, if a person was

descending down the stairs when Lady was in her cage, Lady would become

fearful and possibly bite, but if Lady was standing up when the person was

sitting down in a chair, she would be very friendly and gentle, which is

Lady's way when she knows people and/or has no fear.

 

Lady used to cower when I closed the spa cover or when I walked with any

kind of bucket swinging even a little from my hands. She knew me and would

not bite even if she was afraid. I did get bitten once when going into my

pool backwards down a slide, although I think Lady thought this was a game

(taught to her by past people she met before we met her).

 

Lady would jump into the pool to urinate, and when we used to take her on

dog walks before we decided it was not worth it, she would jump into the

lake and urinate there. She urinates with any tension, even sometimes being

asked to sit, even when she has just come indoors.

 

The homeopathic remedy, causticum, does seem to relax her.

 

Any suggestions would be welcome. I am reluctant to use a trainer or

behaviorist, as I have yet to find any who make any sense. The best I can

hope for with these people is that Lady may be safe in the yard with us

there, and only one indicated that this could happen without a prong lease,

shock, or being doped up.

 

There are homeopathic veterinarians. Some work on the telephone, and some

in person. I am no beginner, and need to go only with people who may be

able to actually help. Lady is a very nice dog, but she has a sometimes

biting problem with some strangers due to fear. Any holistic suggestions

would be welcome.

 

Any resources in the Washington, DC area would be welcome. Resources

outside the Washington, DC area that are possible to utilize by people who

live far away would also be welcome. We live in the Rockville/Olney area of

Maryland.

 

We have an invisible fence, which works well, but people still come into our

yard. Our physcial fence would work for Lady, but our Golden Retriever,

Muffin, digs under the fence and lets Lady out of the physical fence that

way. Even if we leave Lady in the stockade garden fence, Muffin would

perform this service for Lady. All three of our dogs, Lady, Muffin, and our

16 month old black lab mix (Karina) are close and loyal to one another. We

cannot financially afford a fence that includes underground protection, and

we would like Lady to be able to be in our yard without being tied up. We

would like her to be able to enjoy being loose within the invisible fence

like our other dogs. Muffin, Karina, and my original two Golden Retrievers

(now deceased) all did very well loose in the yard within the invisible

fence. The dogs have two acres within the invisible fence.

 

Marian Spitzer