Introducing Dog help

Good Morning everyone!

Okay, here is my problem: I am housing for some people who keep their dog in a crate, and when I say keep in, I mean keep in. And they walk by the crate as if the dog (Buster) and the crate are pieces of furniture. To get the dog back in they use one of those spikey collars or beat the dogs back end. I broke down in tears while sitting for the dog, I could not do these things.

So, my bright idea, bring Buster home with me. Buster does not have any of the behavioral problems that the owners claimed he has. And he has been around cats, which he likes to chase.

Anna is not happy about me brining home a big black lab. She will not come out and introduce her self, She is hiding , but I find her every time.

I told the people that if they wanted I would take Buster so he could live a good life here, not in some crate. They have not given me a answer as of yet. So, how do I help Anna thru this, or will Buster and Anna figure it out on their own?

~donna

Anna needs safe places where the dog cannot reach her.  They can be up high (cats love high places) or rooms that are gated off from the dog.  Buster needs training about chasing cats--first thing is to get solid basics, like down stay, and leave it.  Then as Anna becomes a bit braver she can learn that Buster will not chase her as he is in a down stay.

Our dogs are never permitted to chase cats, however tempting.  The cats have a few rooms plus the basement that are off-limits to dogs, and new cats eventually learn the dogs will not bother them, although it can take weeks.

Just an FYI, there is nothing wrong with using a plastic or metal crate for a dog when it is used judiciously--not as punishment or for excessive lengths of time.  Our Great Dane loves her crate and will go in there when she wants an undisturbed nap, and stays in it when no one is home as she cannot keep herself off the counter.  But we never put her in there because she is naughty; it should be a safe haven, kind of like her own room.  If someone is home to supervise the door to the crate is open and many times she prefers the couch, and that is fine.

Thank you very much for your input. The people who owned Buster, never trained him, said he was a stupid dog, and had him crated 20 hours a day. He was only let out to go "potty" The owners are back from their trip and said take the dog, we do not want him! Come to find out, they never wanted a dog, but that is another story all together.

Anna is staying in the back room. I fixed her up a little bit for now, because she is even hissing at me. Guess I really P.O.d her off , huh!? I think a lot of this has to do with when she was feral she must of learned to hate dogs and was afraid of them. I want her to know I still love her and am not going to ignore her. So, I think every day, even today! I will visit with her in her safe place and coo her. I feel so bad, I was hoping for a easy transfer.

~donna