Prick ears and seriously twitchy...

[TimB]

Hi,

I would like a bit if advice please. I am fostering a one year old (yet another - what is it with BCs at this age?) petite pure-bred prick-eared gorgeous BC. Unlike the other BCs I have looked after this one seems to be both low-drive (or at least judging by what I have seen do far) and super nervous. As best I can tell she was bred in a quiet rural setting, probably with no men around, and came to her last household at about four months old - so not much socialization. She has basic house-manners but little else. She is super reactive and twitchy - jumps when the breeze picks up, when she sees something on the horizon...you know the picture. When I walk her it isn't that she pulls but rather jumps off in random directions either to see something or to get away from some environmental change. In the present circumstances I don't have access to a quiet empty fenced off area so I am tending to walk/work with her on a long 20 leash. I have been patient and in the home let her come to me...responds to some bribery.

 

My question is really where to start with her? I don't think I will have her too long as the owners may be able to take her back..but you never know. She is super smart - well, she is a BC - and I tend to believe that engagement is key. But then all the BCs I have worked with have been drivey so once engaged they were lots of fun (if hard work). Some of my non-BC fosters have been really shut-down nervy types and I know it is just time often...but I wonder if there is any more BC-specific advice on engaging this type.

 

Thanks for any thoughts.

[GentleLake]

You don't say how long you've had her, but I think you probably answered your own question. . . . Time. Work on giving her positive and low key exposure to new things at a rate she can handle them, but let her set the pace. You have experience with this type of dog, so you know what to do. She may just be a more extreme case and take more time.

 

Thanks for taking her in and working with her. She's lucky to have landed with you.

[alligande]

We have found that just giving them loads of space and not asking for much has helped our foster dogs relax and get comfortable. I have always found there is a point where you know that you can start to work with them. There is a post in adoptable dogs about Kelso, search for it and start reading his journey with D'elle and it might give you some ideas.

[urge to herd]

You've already started - and it sounds like you're doing a good job. If she's letting you leash her and walk her, that's a good start right there.

 

What the others have said are good ideas. You may reach a 'tipping point' where you can start to be a bit stand-offish yourself, and you can reinforce when she seeks you out.

 

Good luck with her!

 

Ruth and Gibbs

[Islanddog]

Just here to say that when I got Sonic he was seriously skittish, reactive, weird, had nightmares. Five months later, pretty much normal as far as lively spirited dogs go. Sometimes they just need to settle.