Aggression/Trauma

[angelchampy]

Hi Everyone:

I have been doing rescues and adoptions for about 9 years now. Since I just lost my last dog, I've just been doing babysitting and fosters. I didn't have other dogs in my house with my own so this part is new to me. Recently, an owner died and left 4 dogs. Two of the dogs are siblings, the other two were strays that she took in. I have one of the strays, the others are at another home. One of the siblings, Scarlet, has become aggressive with people, the foster woman, the other dogs and her own sibling. While I understand why she's doing this - between the loss of her owner, her home, her friends, strange new people and not feeling secure and is totally confused. What I don't know about is how to deal with it and how long will it go on for? Do we keep her alone without any other dogs or will that do more harm? Should we just keep her quiet or try to give some normalcy as soon as possible? It's a bad situation and I feel terrible for the foster mom. She's not sure if she should leave her be or if she needs to be held. Any advice?

[borzoimom]

Hi Everyone:

I have been doing rescues and adoptions for about 9 years now. Since I just lost my last dog, I've just been doing babysitting and fosters. I didn't have other dogs in my house with my own so this part is new to me. Recently, an owner died and left 4 dogs. Two of the dogs are siblings, the other two were strays that she took in. I have one of the strays, the others are at another home. One of the siblings, Scarlet, has become aggressive with people, the foster woman, the other dogs and her own sibling. While I understand why she's doing this - between the loss of her owner, her home, her friends, strange new people and not feeling secure and is totally confused. What I don't know about is how to deal with it and how long will it go on for? Do we keep her alone without any other dogs or will that do more harm? Should we just keep her quiet or try to give some normalcy as soon as possible? It's a bad situation and I feel terrible for the foster mom. She's not sure if she should leave her be or if she needs to be held. Any advice?

Oh wow- I think your analogy is right. Having a routine will help her alot. I got a foster once with the same problem. I just did a routine that was in stone- feeding times, walks etc .. She pullled out of it.
The other situation could be that one of her seperated housemates could have been the boss that " kept her in line".. I know its asking alot but maybe you could take that one also- give her some kind of "object permanence" so to speak.
If I could see her, I might be able to help more.. You only have her right??

[angelchampy]

No I have one of the other ones that was a rescue the old lady took in. Scaret (the aggressive one) is the sister of Trouble. Those two are together - or were until she started going after him too. Now the foster mom just lets Trouble in with her a little while each day. She already got in the middle of Scarlet and the one I have and got pushed through a glass storm door trying to break it up. That's why I have the other one. We needed to separate them fast. Scarlet and Trouble (brother and sister) are in the same house but since Scarlet started acting this way, she is in a room by herself for most of the day, with the exception of the foster mom going in from time to time. I kinda' feel that leaving her alone alot is going to do more harm but I can see that the foster mom is real nervous. She also growled at the foster mom when she went to hug her. I would be nervous too after what happened.

[borzoimom]

Well seperating her will only make her feel more like she needs to make the point when she is out. Can you crate her in the same room as the others? Then alternate who is crated for now? Being left out of the pack may only make resentment..

[borzoimom]

And maybe she needs to be in a single dog household. At her age= she may not be able to adjust without the cues from her brother...

[angelchampy]

I'll let the foster mom know about the crate idea. Thanks for the advice.