Hello! As a new dog caretaker I am just joining this forum.
A little about myself. Female, college vet student, just recently moved in with my boyfriend, my friend Mary, and my BF's band mate. Said band mate (Jake) got a new dog, named Jerry, just a few days ago.
When I heard that Jerry was a 1 year old half border collie, half german shepherd, I worried a bit. Would he be too hyper? Would he chase my cats ( have one adult and one kitten)? Would he nip heels? I was even more worried when I learned that he'd spent the first year of his life unleashed, outside, living with very little attention paid to his training and socialization. On the first day, Jerry was very afraid in the car, causing him to vomit. He didn't want to come in the house- I don't think he trusted the stairs. We finally coaxed him in and he didn't want to walk on the carpet. Poor guy, everything was so new for him.
In waltzes Chica, my kitten. Who forgot to shut the door?! I wonder, quite nervous and ready to remove her quickly. But Jerry shies away from her and Chica surprisingly struts right over to him! For the rest of the evening, Jerry had a little stalker, who really wanted to meet him but Jerry continued to avoid her and dodge her attempts to approach. By the end of the first night, Jerry finally sniffed Chica and gave her a play-bow when she pawed at his nose. I think they are on the way to being good friends.
Actually, I think Jerry will be very happy here. His energy is a perfect match for our household. He walks very well, and he DOES act iffy around other dogs (pulling, barking after them) but he reacts to a gentle tug on the leash accompanied by a sharp "SHHH" sound. He'll turn and look at me all like "oh my gosh! What did I do??" and proceed to heel quite close and behave. So far I am not sure if he is house trained. He's lived all his life outside and had no accidents thus far but we have been very careful. It seems he likes to hold it for a while because he didn't pee for over 7 hours, until finally peeing for almost a minute straight outside! After the first night in his kennel, which he did quite well at (slept the whole night, no crying no accidents) he was quite happy to see me in the morning. He went on the carpet without hesitation and he even was playing around a corner with Chica! She would pop out and swat and he would jump with his butt in the air and push his nose into her. SO cute!
But then breakfast time rolls around. He likes to steal the kitty's food so he eats in his kennel. I fed him and shut the door and he was happily munching away when Chica strolled too close. He sort of lunged at her in a threatening way, obviously trying to protect his food. He didn't bark or growl or bare his teeth, but still, I am not quite sure I like that behavior. As of now the crate keeps Chica safe. I would like to know some advice about how to manage this so it does not escalate- I don't want my kitten being hurt accidently! The other day, I was able to remove his bowl from him while he ate without signs of aggression, so it isn't me that I am worried about.
Should he continue to eat in his crate or are there ways to manage this behavior so that he can eat out in the kitchen with everyone? I am also worried should some circumstance arise- for example someone forgets to remove the cat bowls and lets Jerry out of his crate, and he gets into them and perhaps guards them against the cats when they come in for a nibble. (I have been working on teaching him that the cat bowls are off limit. We are at the point where he knows he's not supposed to, but when I'm not looking the smell is just too tempting)
Any advise is appreciated!
((OH, and in case you are wondering about my older cat. He does not seem afraid, I attribute that to him not wanting to seem like a fraidy cat when little Chica is so brave. He sits from some perch on his cat tree or the couch and grumbles to himself about it. He will even enter the kitchen with Jerry in there but he's quite slinky, and he gives Jerry 'the eye' letting him know that he does not want to be approached. Jerry seems to get it, because there has not been a Nito+Jerry confrontation so far. I'm pretty sure if there way, that Jerry would get smacked
))
A little about myself. Female, college vet student, just recently moved in with my boyfriend, my friend Mary, and my BF's band mate. Said band mate (Jake) got a new dog, named Jerry, just a few days ago.
When I heard that Jerry was a 1 year old half border collie, half german shepherd, I worried a bit. Would he be too hyper? Would he chase my cats ( have one adult and one kitten)? Would he nip heels? I was even more worried when I learned that he'd spent the first year of his life unleashed, outside, living with very little attention paid to his training and socialization. On the first day, Jerry was very afraid in the car, causing him to vomit. He didn't want to come in the house- I don't think he trusted the stairs. We finally coaxed him in and he didn't want to walk on the carpet. Poor guy, everything was so new for him.
In waltzes Chica, my kitten. Who forgot to shut the door?! I wonder, quite nervous and ready to remove her quickly. But Jerry shies away from her and Chica surprisingly struts right over to him! For the rest of the evening, Jerry had a little stalker, who really wanted to meet him but Jerry continued to avoid her and dodge her attempts to approach. By the end of the first night, Jerry finally sniffed Chica and gave her a play-bow when she pawed at his nose. I think they are on the way to being good friends.
Actually, I think Jerry will be very happy here. His energy is a perfect match for our household. He walks very well, and he DOES act iffy around other dogs (pulling, barking after them) but he reacts to a gentle tug on the leash accompanied by a sharp "SHHH" sound. He'll turn and look at me all like "oh my gosh! What did I do??" and proceed to heel quite close and behave. So far I am not sure if he is house trained. He's lived all his life outside and had no accidents thus far but we have been very careful. It seems he likes to hold it for a while because he didn't pee for over 7 hours, until finally peeing for almost a minute straight outside! After the first night in his kennel, which he did quite well at (slept the whole night, no crying no accidents) he was quite happy to see me in the morning. He went on the carpet without hesitation and he even was playing around a corner with Chica! She would pop out and swat and he would jump with his butt in the air and push his nose into her. SO cute!
But then breakfast time rolls around. He likes to steal the kitty's food so he eats in his kennel. I fed him and shut the door and he was happily munching away when Chica strolled too close. He sort of lunged at her in a threatening way, obviously trying to protect his food. He didn't bark or growl or bare his teeth, but still, I am not quite sure I like that behavior. As of now the crate keeps Chica safe. I would like to know some advice about how to manage this so it does not escalate- I don't want my kitten being hurt accidently! The other day, I was able to remove his bowl from him while he ate without signs of aggression, so it isn't me that I am worried about.
Should he continue to eat in his crate or are there ways to manage this behavior so that he can eat out in the kitchen with everyone? I am also worried should some circumstance arise- for example someone forgets to remove the cat bowls and lets Jerry out of his crate, and he gets into them and perhaps guards them against the cats when they come in for a nibble. (I have been working on teaching him that the cat bowls are off limit. We are at the point where he knows he's not supposed to, but when I'm not looking the smell is just too tempting)
Any advise is appreciated!
((OH, and in case you are wondering about my older cat. He does not seem afraid, I attribute that to him not wanting to seem like a fraidy cat when little Chica is so brave. He sits from some perch on his cat tree or the couch and grumbles to himself about it. He will even enter the kitchen with Jerry in there but he's quite slinky, and he gives Jerry 'the eye' letting him know that he does not want to be approached. Jerry seems to get it, because there has not been a Nito+Jerry confrontation so far. I'm pretty sure if there way, that Jerry would get smacked
))
