Sensitive?

[funkyhunky]

Hey all. Yesterday i caught my young female shredding the bark off a tree in the backyard.
I went out the door, to give her a bit of a hard time about it. I guess from the way I was walking she knew she was in trouble. She so over reacted, she was running away from me and screaming.... I've never touched her before and I didn't this time either(other than a bit of a shake on her collar). I didn't go yelling and screaming, I just said HEY and WALKED towards her. It's now the next day and she is still totally keeping her distance from me, but she's being totally cool with the wife and kids.
I had "bulldogs" before and I was pretty hard on them and did ruff them up a little at times, but this isn't the case with the dutchie, as I know they can be handler sensitive...but this episode has really surprised me.
She's really into the "pack" structure..... I want her to respect the pack leader but not be scared shitless of me.
An ideas? I'm sure she warm back up to me, but has anyone else experienced this?
dan

[vneerland]

While the word sensitive is often used in regards to the breed (and I don't deny it) it is not supposed to be fear. More a willingness to comply with the handlers wishes and some uncertainty that can arise from not understanding how to 'do it right'.
I don't know the history of your dog. Have you always had her? Is she a rescue that may have been corrected for bad behavior, without the person communicating what exactly she was doing wrong at the time of a possibly harsh correction?

Also, Dan. Maybe create a little signature line with your name in it so you don't have to keep manually signing your posts?

[funkyhunky]

Thanks for the reply. We got Aneek when she was already 8 months old. From what I know she was primarily raised by a woman but " trained" by a man. I have noticed that she is far more trusting of women, although until now she hasn't had a problem with me.... she definitely has some "man" issues.
She grew up being switched from a kennel, to a chain to the house.
dan

[funkyhunky]

^^^
I think I just answered my own question.
By the way, she's back to her old self.
dan

[vneerland]

^^^
I think I just answered my own question.
By the way, she's back to her old self.
dan

You may have Just be patient, and try to communicate clearly. You do not have to handle her with kid gloves, but make sure that corrections are given at the correct time (when you catch her in the act) and make sure that you are fair, maybe on the soft side for a while, until she starts to trust you.
Thank you for giving her a good new home, and worrying about her trust issues.
I have no doubt your kindness will be rewarded. Just hang in there, and interact with Aneek as much as you can in an atmosphere were you can lavish praise for a job well done, so she will learn to handle an occasional disapproval in (better) stride.

[funkyhunky]

Thanks Judith. I'm sure she'll be fine. She's not a rescue by any means and has really been a great dog with only this hiccup really. I had "pitbulls" for 15+ years and had to choose a new breed for us because of the ridiculous ban up here. Because of my experience with mals when I was doing french ring, I was apprehensive about the DS ...But, we really couldn't be happier with her.
We caught her in "the act" again this morning but my wife went out to correct her....the dog just wagged her tail...totally different reaction than when I did it even though my wife did basically the same as me...
dan

[Dutchringgirl]

your wife, to you, may have done the same thing as you, but remember, the dogs can pick up the smallest body language difference too. She may have had a different body carriage, or tone of voice or a hundred other differences that Aneek picked up on. I had alot of 'man/ women issues with horses too.

[funkyhunky]

I had alot of 'man/ women issues with horses too.

Ponies are the worst for this!!!

[Dutchringgirl]

Ponies are the worst for this!!!

oh yes, ponies can be worst for alot of things. Stubborn little buggers.