Hi ... my newly adopted 5 year old Lhasa Apso female is doing so well considering she was terrified from being in the humane society for 3 days. She comes when I call her, goes on walk very nicely and is eager to listen and please.

I have her complete vet record from 6 weeks on as well as her registration papers and the previous owners name and phone number. In fact, I talked to the previous owner twice the day I adopted her.

Today when my neighbor knocked and I answered the door, Maggie May barked twice ad growled at my neighbor. She was cowering as she growled. I immediately verbally corrected her with my hand outward saying, "Maggie, no growl". My neighbor has taken her out twice for walks and has a key to my apartment.

have had numerous new people here the past few days without any incident. In fact, Maggie May has gotten up on a couple of laps. There has been a lot of traffic in the building and in the parking lot which she's watched, been very alert but calm.

All I could think of is that no one has knocked on my apartment door until this morning. All my visitors either came in with me or through my patio door.

I talked to her former owner who told me she barked whenever anyone rang the doorbell and she did growl once. Maggie May has lead a very sheltered life without a lot of outside interaction. The former owner said she didn't come when called, didn't walk on the leash (she had a fenced in back yard). The reason she gave her up is that she has two other small dogs (ages 12 and 1 who she loves and won't give up). Maggie was supposed the alpha dog which I find hard to believe.

I lost my 16 year old black Lab, Sugar, on Tuesday. I didn't expect to adopt so fast but really fell in love with Maggie May. I believe in exposing any dog to as much as the dog can handle ... in a slow careful manner. I can't believe the difference in Maggie May from Tuesday until today as she's progressed so far.

Any suggestions concerning the growling when someone knocks and I answer my door would be appreciated. I was thinking that I would correct her verbally and then invite the person in and ignore her until she appeared OK. She did not show any aggression ... rather fear and cowering.

Thanks so much.

Deb

[chevy & karen]

Originally Posted by Kimshana

Hi ... my newly adopted 5 year old Lhasa Apso female is doing so well considering she was terrified from being in the humane society for 3 days. She comes when I call her, goes on walk very nicely and is eager to listen and please.

I have her complete vet record from 6 weeks on as well as her registration papers and the previous owners name and phone number. In fact, I talked to the previous owner twice the day I adopted her.

Today when my neighbor knocked and I answered the door, Maggie May barked twice ad growled at my neighbor. She was cowering as she growled. I immediately verbally corrected her with my hand outward saying, "Maggie, no growl". My neighbor has taken her out twice for walks and has a key to my apartment.

have had numerous new people here the past few days without any incident. In fact, Maggie May has gotten up on a couple of laps. There has been a lot of traffic in the building and in the parking lot which she's watched, been very alert but calm.

All I could think of is that no one has knocked on my apartment door until this morning. All my visitors either came in with me or through my patio door.

I talked to her former owner who told me she barked whenever anyone rang the doorbell and she did growl once. Maggie May has lead a very sheltered life without a lot of outside interaction. The former owner said she didn't come when called, didn't walk on the leash (she had a fenced in back yard). The reason she gave her up is that she has two other small dogs (ages 12 and 1 who she loves and won't give up). Maggie was supposed the alpha dog which I find hard to believe.

I lost my 16 year old black Lab, Sugar, on Tuesday. I didn't expect to adopt so fast but really fell in love with Maggie May. I believe in exposing any dog to as much as the dog can handle ... in a slow careful manner. I can't believe the difference in Maggie May from Tuesday until today as she's progressed so far.

Any suggestions concerning the growling when someone knocks and I answer my door would be appreciated. I was thinking that I would correct her verbally and then invite the person in and ignore her until she appeared OK. She did not show any aggression ... rather fear and cowering.

Thanks so much.

Deb

Hi Deb, Maggie May might be trying to protect you since she does'nt know who's on the other side of the door being as she is use to visitor's entering with you or through the patio door (where she can probably see the person) I don't know how to stop it because my chevy does the same thing until he know's who is there... Hopefully a trainer will come along with some suggestion's for you..

[AuntieDale]

I think you're on the right track - as long as Maggie is just cowering, ignore her until she calms down...correct her as you did if she growls, but it sounds like she had a sheltered life before, so all this new action is scary to her - repetition will eventually win, in my humble opinion!

Thanks so much for your advice. My neighbor came in today without knocking and Maggie went right up to her. We'll be working on the knocking and growling. Otherwise, 6 days after adoption, she's doing better than I could have ever expected or hoped for.

Deb

[AuntieDale]

Good for you! And good for adopting, too -

my neighbor adopted a cute little dog named Ralph a few years ago, and at first he barked (and growled a bit) at everyone, then at just the men, now he just barks at a few dogs - he was scared of everyone at first.

I learned he liked to chase after sticks, so when he barked at me the first time, I threw a stick, and he just automatically went after it, brought it back to me, then looked at me, like "Oh, I forgot, I'm supposed to be scared of you!!"

:-D

Hi Everyone ... just thought I'd give you an update on Maggie May now that she's been with me 4 weeks yesterday. She no longer barks when someone knocks at my door or growls at people. In fact, she usually is wagging her tail so much that I think it might fall off <GGG> and is so happy to see anyone. Her transformation from a very traumatized dog to a proud, happy and sure of herself girl is positive amazing. She does sit, down, stay and recall both on and off leash. When I come home from work, I am constantly amazed at her greeting. For a dog that had a previous owner who said she didn't wag her tail, give kisses, sit with a person, walk on leash, etc. she does it all. I'm really hooked on her ... and I always had large dogs in the past.

Deb