Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I adopted a small collie mix over the weekend. At the pound I never saw any aggression in her. Over last couple days she growled a deep growl at men- one was just a very nice teenager at McDonalds, the other at a gas station she went bonkers acting like a guard dog, snarling and barking ferocously. After she was calm and looked happy as if she had done her job.
help- what should I do (I dont have hundreds of dollars for dog trainer)
thank you!!

Did you go back to the pound and check where these agression might have started. Maybe they can help and get you to the source of the problem.

Rescue dogs need time to acclimate to their new homes before their "real" personality shines through. I'd suggest stopping the outtings with this pup for about 2 weeks. Let her get comfortable in your home, with you, and her routine before bringing her out again.

It may not seem like it, but this poor dog is scared and probably just acting out of confusion and a need to react to a situation in order for her to try to control it (herding breeds tend to do that genrally anyway).

So, after a few weeks, see what a wonderful pet you have. Slowly start taking her out and see how she reacts then. IF this is a real problem, you can adress it then. If it isn't, good.

Also, in my humble opinion going to positive reinforcement obedience class is critical to developing a strong relationship with a pet- especially a rescue. Many are not that expensive ($10 for a one hour class) and are tons of fun. You don t'need a behaviorist or specialist at this point, just go to a class and develop a communication system with your pup.
-----
Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles