Nervous first time dog owner here. I've adopted a gorgeous girlie called Cara (turning 3 in Oct) who loves cuddles, people, her food and hates the entire outside world (apart from my parents house!) We're nearly 3.5 months in with the below challenges. We've been to a a beginner's obedience training course where I think she learnt loads, and we spend a short time each day practicing what we learnt plus some new things. I'm using a clicker. There are a few things going on that I can't lie, have made me cry a lot with frustration and worry about how we're ever going to get out the other side - so I guess I'm looking for some reassurance from other people that things will get better and any tips and advise.
Won't walk - she consistently statues. Most the time I can't get her out of the doorway. She's maybe been for about 10 walks where I live since I've had her. I've tried luring her with food (which she will eat so she's not too over threshold to do that!) but most the time she'll hit the threshold of drive turning into street and she will not budge. I used to drive her places to get her to walk but she doesn't love the car, it would be challenging to get her in and out and I decided I was just avoiding the issue and we need to get comfortable with my road as I can't maintain driving her for a walk 2 x a day. Rescue have come out and she will walk with them and they have said some stuff about how she needs to know I'm the 'leader of the pack' (not into that) but also that she needs to believe I'm in control and will keep her safe (which I do think they are right about)- and to do this I basically have to drag her by the lead/neck until she starts walking and knows that I make the decisions - which I just can't do, it's awful. So we're stuck indoors! My dad has a higher success rate with her when she has stayed with them - maybe about 50%.
Resource guarding - this is a relatively newer thing since about the two month mark that I feel is escalating. She had growled at me across the room several times when I stood up to leave and has ran across the garden 'yipping' to stop me coming closer to something. She just doesn't get these things any more now (one was a knuckle bone, the other a goats ear) We're very slowly working on leave it and trading up but I am really now hesitant of taking anything off her at all. I want to start on drop it but she really doesnt 'hold' things in her mouth unless she's eating them so at a bit of a loss on how to start.
Reactivity to other dogs - when I adopted her I was told she was 'good with dogs of all sizes.' This is definitely not the case. Due to the lack of walking I haven't been able to determine any pattern with any certainly or even really work on it - but she will bark growl and lunge at some dogs. She doesn't seem phased by other dogs barking at her . I took her to a meet up as I was told she would be fine with other sighthounds by the rescue - nope, loads of growling and barking and had to leave. I don't need her to like other dogs, just be able to walk past one without reacting. I am letting her look and rewarding for disengaging (we mainly do this sat in my front garden due to lack of walking!)
Prey drive - super into cats, I'm going to get her a muzzle as I think she would catch and kill one. Hopefully as we improve her leave it she'll be able to start disengaging.
Terrified of certain noises - trucks, the beeping sound of something reversing, the rubbish bin especially (goes past 3 x week) and helicopters. Doesn't blink at sirens though. She runs and hides and shakes and can be reluctant, sometimes for the rest of the day, to go out into the garden. She eats her meals out the front of the house now to try to desensitize her (recordings to desensitize her don't phase her so I think it's something more she feels than she hears) Will she ever just be okay with these noises - they really do effect her wellbeing.
I've met with one trainer who I am not keen on and am not going to continue with - she uses slip leads and talked about correcting by basically pinching the dog on the side which is definitely not happening! So the search continues. I already love her to bits but she's not the dog I wanted or was told I was getting - I feel a bit like I'm grieving what I thought life would be like with her. Sp please tell me it will be alright!
