Needy Dane

[crazyshirley2100]

Hey,
I have had this now 11 month old dane female for about a month. She was kind of a rescue. Family with small child. Wife went back to work. Dane in small pen. Fortunately they had enough sense to know that was no life for this lovely dog. So she is with me now.

Here is my question.... Keira follows us around constantly seeking attention at every opportunity. She tries to jump in front of the other dogs when we pet or play with them. She chases my sox in the morning when I am putting them on. She is trying to nibble my hands right now as I type. She is getting much better behaved all in all, but I wonder about the constant attention seeking. Is it normal for her age? If not, how do I let her know she is with us for good and will never be kept away from her pack again?

thanks,

shirley

 

[Doberluv]

I'd get her enrolled in a obedience class where positive, gentle methods are used and practice obedience at home. When she tries to push too much when you're patting another dog, you can ask her for a down/stay and then invite her to come for a pat. If she's pushing too much, ignore it. If you're paying any attention to her when she pushes, that reinforces that behavior. Try being the one who instigates a lot of the times when there is to be games or attention instead of responding to her all the time. Have her earn some of her goodies; toys, treats, dinner, going outside etc by giving you a sit or down. She needs to know that she belongs and has a job to do. That makes her secure. Don't mistakenly think that giving her everything she wants because you feel sorry for her because of her past will make her secure. Her past is in the past. Dogs don't move forward and backward through time like we do. She's not thinking about her past. Go forward from here and set the family group up with boundaries, rules, lessons to learn and she'll feel much better about where she fits in.

You can browse around the forum and see what you can find as far as any tips. Good luck!

Congrats on rescuing such a wonderful breed.

 

[Carolyn]

Good advice Doberluv.

As well as all the above, also practice the NILIF program (Nothing in life is free) If you do a search, if you don't know already, on NILIF heaps of info will come up

Good luck, and I'd love to see some pics of your pets.

My boy is a Dane X