Thanks for your lovely responses; nice people on here!
Amber arrived in a pet carrier, we unzipped the front and brought her carefully in to her new home. She cowered in the corner of it fearful of moving, eventually claimed ‘Stars’ bed and remained there all night, we weren’t sure what to expect that first night.Would she cry, start scratching to escape;it was like having a new baby!
She wasn’t house trained and that worried us, would our home be awash in wee and poo? In reality we’ve had only a few accidents, our two other dogs helped I think. When one wee’s the others follow, realise the value of these dogs being rehomed with others! Star our German Shepherd quickly became therapy dog; Amber was fearful and spent lots of time hiding behind bushes in the garden. The garden which had been checked as dog proof we quickly realised was no match for the fight or flight adrenaline fuelled will of Amber. She was a magnet for any gap or weak spot, digging for freedom! I believe it’s a feature with these dogs, they will endeavour to return to what they know however bad !We spent the first few days re -dog proofing, boulders at base of fence, chicken wire , you name it we did it. Coaxing her out of hiding was a challenge, one night I sat in the garden for almost an hour scared to leave her in case she started her escape. Eventually we sent Star in for her and that was a breakthrough and gave her the confidence to leave her hiding places.
What are others experience of the fight or flight trait, does it ever leave them? Wondering if we will ever be able to trust her off the lead?
Hoping to post some more over next few weeks and hoping for pearls of wisdom from any veterans? We were so focused on trying to do the right thing , read the advice re crate training and the need for them to have a safe haven. Wrong!! When zipped in overnight she ripped the roof of the luxurious £50pet carrier!! Reluctantly had to trust she wouldn’t wreck the house and that Star and Mia would accept their new furry sister, yes that’s right girls she in it for the long haul not just a sleepover!,
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