Mel a 2yo deerhound bitch. The breeder kept her, but although he is experienced with another breed he is fairly new to deerhounds and maybe hasn’t quite got on the right wavelength yet. He was never harsh with her but was strict and expected a high level of obedience. Mel became very unhappy so she came to us about 6 months ago. Since then she has come on a lot but things are still not right. She has established herself in the back hall and won’t come into the kitchen unless she is forced. If we do make her come through she doesn’t settle and paces around obviously feeling very uncomfortable.

She is more openly affectionate and keen to please than her sister (Teelin the Terrible) and our other deers but I don’t think there is anything at all wrong with her basic temperament She’s fine and quite assertive with the other dogs and confident with new people and new places. She’s just very clearly in a constant state of worry about doing something wrong and as a result she spends far too much time curled up trying to be invisible.

Sometimes the poor wee thing forgets that she might do something naughty and has a mad turn but then she remembers and suddenly her heart rate doubles and she heads back to the hall. Obviously we would far rather see her naughty and happy but we’re not managing to persuade her of that.

Has anyone any ideas on how to bring her out of herself? I also wonder if our household of cheerful canine anarchists is the best place for her. The very last thing we want to do is shift her again but would be grateful for opinions and advice.

Hi Sharon
I sometimes wonder what goes on in our giant babies heads! :rolleyes:
Like Mel, Roddy is a very loving, obedient dog but he has a *mental block* too.
It's not about rooms as Mel's is, it's people, Roddy doesn't like meeting strangers. :( Particularly men. :( :( He exhibits the same behaviour as you describe with Mel, even if we are out on a walk or at a show, he obviously feels v.v.uncomfortable and it shows.
This was the main reason he came to live with us back in the spring, and he is getting better. He adores Chuck & Jack. It's just v.slow progress with strangers. :)
Don't know what to suggest for Mel except keep trying, perhaps try her in the room with just you and her fave treats
Nicky

Hi Nicky, it would be OK if it was just meeting people with Mel because you can control that. Old Megan wolfhound is fine with people but hates being off her home turf and gets very tense when she is. It meant that we couldn't show her which is a pity as she and Lewis - another can't show!! - are the best wolfies and possibly the best hounds we've had as far as conformation goes. But Megs is quite happy pottering about at home so we don't really care, whereas wee Mel isn't a happy little hound at all.

She loves company and cuddles when she is curled up in her bed but in the kitchen she is just too tense to eat treats or accept attention. Its great when she has a 'mad five minutes' and acts like the youngster she is and I'd love to teach her than she can be like that all the time but I don't know how :(.

Hi sis, Please dont shoot me, but if she were mine, Id keep her with you and the other hounds at all times and not allow her to retreat to the hall. She, like Ben, will come round with time. Cruel to be kind, so to speak.

Hi Phil, I really, really have tried to do that and have kept it up for days at the time but she gets so uptight that I relent. She would obviously love to come into the body of the kirk and be one of the gang. She comes and pokes her nose in tail a-wag quite often, but then seems to decide that she might get into trouble and slopes off again. I knew it would take a while with her but after an initial improvement (she was the original robotic dog at first) we don't seem to be getting anywhere. Ben was different. It was slow but the progress was steady. Mel has a lovely personality when she lets it show but I've no more ideas about how to tell her that she can .

BTW Ben is great now :). I've never met a dog with an expression quite like it but he has a real grin. He still 'switches off' with most people, especially men and he probably alwayd will but he isn't scared so it doesn't really matter. He's very affectionate with children and the few humans that he likes now and all in all is the most cheerful and happy wee soul :). I never in my wildest dreams thought he'd come on so well.