My girlfriend and her mother recently adopted a 7 year old, un-neutered collie cross from a rescue centre named Walter. Not much is known of Walter's life before December, when he was found on the streets emaciated and ill.

He has always had a lovely nature, apparently, was a favourite amongst the carers at the home, and the only reason he hadnt found a new family by now is because of his age. But we loved him instantly and took him home. I'm 20, my girlfriend is 18, and her and her mother are experienced dog owners. The 3 of us are really devoted to him and make sure he is almost never left alone, looking after him in shifts etc.

We've had him for about 4 weeks and for that the first 2 weeks time he was AMAZING. The perfect dog- we couldnt believe our luck. He was well trained, had no accidents, has no interest in other dogs and doesnt bark at them or pull toward them. Because of his poor health beforehand, he had been on puppy food for the 2 or 3 weeks but we gradually introduced him to adult dog food.

Since just about the same time, he has had a complete change of attitude. He now seems terrified of my girlfriend. She is very calm with him, not loud or high pitched, not too firm but firm enough when he is naughty etc. But whenever she goes to stroke him now he emits a low growl. He doesnt act aggresivley, he'll just sit there, hang his head as though in shame, and growl. Doesnt expose the teeth, but will just make the growl for as long as she strokes him, and if he can, will get up and move off elsewhere. He wont respond to her call, and wont go anywhere near her when walking around the house. But Walter loves being taken for walks, and as soon as my girlfriend picks up the leash she is his best friend again, but as soon as the walk is over he reverts back to his ways. He'll even think twice about eating food that she puts out for him.

Yesterday my girlfriend called on him to come see her, and he just went behind her mother and hid. When her mother instructed him to go see my girlfriend, he walked over but he was seriously shaking like a leaf.

Also, curiously, he has become increasingly attatched to her mother. He actually wont leave her side. If she shifts on the couch he'll jump to look at her to make sure she isnt leaving the room and sleeps outside her bedroom desperate for her door to open.

Whenever i visit he is great with me, playing with me etc. He is fine with strangers and new places, and even loves our 6 year old neice (maybe a little too much- slight humpage). So its pretty heartbreaking for us to see him refuse to bond with someone who loves him more than anyone else.

We thought he was testing his dominance at first, so we made my girlfriend the primary carer and do everything for him so he completely relied on her for walks and feeding, and the rest of us ignored him for a while but it hasnt had any effect. No amount of telling off or affection seems to change his attitude.

The only change in his care has been the switch to adult dog food, and getting it served to him twice daily instead of the 3 times daily bowls of puppy food he was getting to help him put weight back on. Anyone have any clue why he has started acting like this? Or any kind of remedy? He showed no sign of this for the first 2 weeks so we are completely at a loss.

Thanks, Dave

You may want to look into getting him fixed and a vet checkup...some health issues with animals can cause weird issues with their behavior and it can get pretty scary.... since he is relatively new, this could be normal for him and the last few weeks before that he was NOT acting like himself since he was thrown into a new situation, food changed, lots of people around...big change in environment can alter behavior, and he may just be getting comfortable.

Also, could've been something small..like your gf did something that made a very large noise that startled him, or accidentally stepped on his tail while he was sleeping or punished him for doing something naughty and he is just the type of dog to hold a grudge... there are a few different options.
try having her call him and anytime he does go to her, have her speak in a soft soothing voice, give him a treat and scratch him in his favorite spot

Please go to your VET and let her check him up. Any instant changes could be something. It would be wise for you to understand more about it at once. A dog normal reaction is based on the experience he have received.

I thinks scottydoggie got it right. Maybe it has something to do with the food change. He resented that. Maybe he took it differently. Your cutting down on his meal or the sudden change in the frequency of your feeding him, not to mention the quality of the food, may have been taken as a sign of decreasing affection. Was your girlfriend the one who served the adult food to him?...

i know this one from experience, when my 6 year old dog was a puppy we left her with my mother-in-law, for a week when we went on vacation. after we came home and picked her up she started acting nervous when ever someone ever talked loudly, we didn't think anything of it, but then summer came and we had to get out the fly swatter, when we did this, she went totally crazy up on the couch right on top of my husband shaking and crying, we couldn't figure it out, we talked to my mother in law and she said that flugie (our dog) wouldn't stop crying so she hit her with it, which we don't ever do, nor ever would(that was the last time she stayed there) now 5 years later she is very scared of my mother in law and tries to hide from her when she comes, i am not saying that your girlfriend would or did any thing wrong, its just that any little thing can set off the dog, and you may not know the real reason it may be small, but could be complex, your girlfriend may have unintentionally raised her voice, not even to the dog, but in general and the dog got scared

Days ago the images of a beating were seen by television a dog in a small town of Galicia, in the north of Spain.
This man had to pay 6000 euros of indemnification by this action but now he returns to have 2 dogs but.
Many of their neighbors support to him because they do not consider crime to mistreat an animal. The dog ate two hens.

The dog died few days later due to the beating of this man.

I leave to a pair of links and the videos them of the beating in case you would can to spread them.
Apalea a su perro..., y le ovacionan - 20minutos.es

In addition the connection to a collection of companies in favor of the animals…

Thank you very much!

Hard images!Dog beaten!:

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.


Please, it supports the creation of a national law in defense of the animals.
Sign!
Amnistia Animal Madrid - Campañas

First I would take your dog to the vet, just to make sure the sudden change isn't a symptom of an illness or anything. Then, if the vet gives him a clean bill of health, I would start thinking back to the first day he started acting like this. Was the switch to adult food sudden, or did you mix the puppy food & adult food together, gradually increasing the adult food while decreasing the puppy chow? If your girlfriend just suddenly gave him a whole bowl of adult food, he could be resenting the change and is 'punishing' her. If the change was gradual, then maybe he doesn't like the flavor of the adult food. I know a few dogs that won't eat a specific brand of dog food, I mean they will not eat at all if that's what they are given. If none of that seems to solve the problem, maybe your girlfriend accidentally stepped on his tail or she punished him for being naughty & he doesn't accept that he was being naughty. There are alot of things that could be causing this change in personality... personally, I would definitely take him to a vet for a complete check up because personality changes are often the first symptom of an illness.

it could be the food change, it could be something in his past like a familar perfume or some sort of clothing that brings back a bad memory...

definitely discuss with a dog handler or the vet asap!

Any updates for us?

I think the dog needs a check up first of all, even if just for your peace of mind.

It may have been a small incident with your girlfreind which triggered thoughts of the past for the dog. It has obviously had a hell of a life, and even a few months of happiness will mean more to that dog than we could ever imagine.

If I had the correct environment, I would love to take in abused animals. Those poor things break you heart when you hear what "people" have done to them.

Definitely have him checked out. If he just growls when she tries to pet him, he might have hurt his back. It could also be that he's holding a grudge. One of my dogs will regularly pee on my mother's side of the bed and poop all over the house once we get back from vacation. He could be jealous or upset.