Dutch Shepherd Forum

My 11 year old stepdaughter is visiting for the holidays from out of state. She came yesterday... met Stella for the first time was greeted with kisses and a wagging tail. One on one they are fine. She played tug with her, practices commands with her etc.

Last night my stepdaughter is running around with her brothers "playing cops" Stella aggressively barked at her when she was chasing my 8 year old son. We corrected her made her lay down and that was it.

This morning my stepdaughter is holding Vivian and singing to her, Stella does the same bark, I sternly said her name she comes whining to me. Almost the exact scenario that I had a while back with my mom making the baby laugh.

Just now Stella is next to me on the couch (I'm holding the baby) and my step daughter just walked by Stella growled and then went to bite her! Her teeth just grazed her hand I grabbed her collar as soon as she growled. We kenneled her at that point. I called the lady from the rescue and she said that she's showing a "protection drive" and that I need to keep her kenneled (off and on all day) and put a drag leash back on her. She said she's viewing my stepdaughter as an outsider and we need to just limit Stella's free roaming time and re establish out "pack leadership"

Y'all have seen how sweet this dog is with our 4 kids that live here... My stepdaughter will be back for spring break and lives with us during the summer. As always I'm willing to do whatever we need to do to correct this I think we're on the right track but wanted to run this past you guys in case you had any additional suggestions.

Yeah, it sounds like stella is treating your stepdaughter as an outsider, you need to tell Stella that she is part of the pack and is allowed to be there.

Dutchringgirl wrote:Yeah, it sounds like stella is treating your stepdaughter as an outsider, you need to tell Stella that she is part of the pack and is allowed to be there.

I think more than that, you need to tell her YOU are the one controlling who can or cannot enter the pack, she has no part in defending or controlling any pack members, so, back to establishing a leader position.

Obviously I can never judge this by a written post, but just guessing:

What is wrong here?:

Just now Stella is next to me on the couch (I'm holding the baby) and my step daughter just walked by Stella growled

....


think again...












she is on the couch with you, maybe that is a too high position for her, I would suggest back to the floor. Some dogs also get really unsure when given a too high position (in the pack), they actually feel better if you are being strict with them

Marjolein wrote:
What is wrong here?:

Just now Stella is next to me on the couch (I'm holding the baby) and my step daughter just walked by Stella growled

....


think again...












she is on the couch with you, maybe that is a too high position for her, I would suggest back to the floor. Some dogs also get really unsure when given a too high position (in the pack), they actually feel better if you are being strict with them

I know I joked about it in my other post but she did start misbehaving here and there shortly after we let her on the couch and right after allowing her upstairs and on our bed. She is no longer allowed in any of those places. She did much better when we had stricter limits on where she could go in the house. She doesn't seem as comfortable lately.... more anxious like she just isn't sure where she belongs.... We're definitely letting her know!

This is a good time (albeit, hectic time) to also increase mental and physical stimulation. She went through a ton of changes recently, and only just came out of her shell and acted comfortable. Now she has shear chaos with the holidays. I would really try to run her butt off (I always say I play fetch 3 throws past them wanting to lay down) and do some brain activities. A tired dog is a much more content dog.

marjolein and christie m are in right!
so you ave a lot of stress, and the dogs too. my dogs are realy nice with childs, BUT i´m at my parents in law and there are 2 young girl here. tosca love the girls, but in the moment it´s is very loud and the girls are playing and running... so i put her in the sleeping room. think thats better... tosca has no stress, the girls can have fun and i hmm... i envy tosca *lol* after lunch we will go outside with tosca and the kidds and they can play outside.

it´s a normal behavior from stella! so we have to look, that our dogs have no stress and sometimes is it better when to dogs go into another room, or a roomkennel.

I've been spending every minute of my "down time" exercising her. Tug, ball (I literally bundled the baby up and stood just inside the patio door nursing Vivian and throwing the ball for Stella with my free hand) and any time my husband or I have a quick errand to run we take Stella with. She used to go with me everyday to drop off and pick up my older sons from school, but they're on break so that was a break in her routine too. She hasn't growled at my step daughter anymore but I make her respect Stella's space too. I moved her bed to the dining room for right now so she has a nice quiet area to go to.

My husbands family is coming for dinner tomorrow night.. His pre teen and teenaged nephews are awful.... loud, disrespectful etc... I'll be putting Stella's kennel in our finished basement and putting her down there. I'm terrified one of the little shits will tease her or let her out.... they tease and try to wrestle with my (much younger) boys and I can only imagine how Stella would take that! I may have to have my husband put a lock on the basement door tonight!

Looking forward to the holidays being over and things returning to normal around here!

Poor Stella. I hope you can keep the brats away from her.

May be tell the parents, Stella has a very contagious desease and that's why she is in the basement. You might get some support from them to stay away from her.

Schlussdibusti wrote:
May be tell the parents, Stella has a very contagious desease and that's why she is in the basement. You might get some support from them to stay away from her.

Ha! Their parents wouldn't care lol as long as they didn't have to parent their own children! I may just grab a bottle (or 3) of wine and hang out with Stella in the basement!

katm4110 wrote:

Schlussdibusti wrote:
May be tell the parents, Stella has a very contagious desease and that's why she is in the basement. You might get some support from them to stay away from her.

Ha! Their parents wouldn't care lol as long as they didn't have to parent their own children! I may just grab a bottle (or 3) of wine and hang out with Stella in the basement!

Odin and I will join you when my in laws come in town. I'll bring a couple bottles.

Glad to hear Stella is doing better with your stepdaughter!

Sorry to hear about the incoming relatives, though! Eek! Yes, a lock may be a good idea. On a bright note, nothing makes you appreciate your own kids like having to be around others'! Working at a school gives me my daily dose of perspective! I'm reminded every day how much I love my own son, and even at his worst, I try to remind myself he's actually not all that bad, especially in comparison to some!

I hope you survive the onslaught, and I'm sure you'll have a story or two to share, after!

LyonsFamily wrote: Odin and I will join you when my in laws come in town. I'll bring a couple bottles.

Lol how about Stella and I join you and Odin.... Chicago is much better then Springfield (I'm originally from northern IL)



Autumn

We survived! No one messed with Stella.... they came earlier then we thought so my husband got her leash on her and took her down to the basement. They took one look at her and cleared a path so he could kennel her.

It is amazing how much being around them makes me appreciate my kids! For the record I much prefer the company of my dog then his nephews! I would have rather kenneled them!


She's doing so much better with my stepdaughter she doesn't even try and put herself in between Kindsey and Vivian anymore when they are playing. I never leave Stella alone with them but am pretty happy with her improvement. I kind of like that she isn't on the couches any more too... less dog hair on my clothes!

Oh my goodness what beautiful pictures. My dog has had a rough time this week too, and I am still learning a lot aout what to do with her. She is only 11 mos old and I have been on the forum constantly the past 2 days! I am happy that things are getting better for you, and it makes me feel like I can work out the kinks in our house!

sounds good! Cute pics