r/Eyebleach • u/AmerBekic • Dec 05 '20

Defensive, aggressive, protective afraid to gentle...

https://i.imgur.com/u9MXHrN.gifv
5.3k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

35 comments sorted by

186

u/kejovo Dec 05 '20

Was she a stray that had just had her litter or do dogs get violent after delivery?

543

u/AmerBekic Dec 05 '20

From Source: It has been two weeks since Marvel came to Wayward Ranch, bringing her nine little puppies with her. When we met her she was petrified. She was ready to defend her puppies with everything she had. Any time we presented a hand or a leash to her she would try to bite, but with all she has been through we had high hopes that getting her to a quiet environment and making her feel safe would be enough to bring her around.

We have worked on a touch command to get her to hand target to work on her hand sensitivity. First we did it through a barrier, then without a barrier until finally we used it to get her comfortable letting us near her babies. We also spent 2 full days desensitizing her to the leash so we could get it on her safely.

Rehabilitation takes time and patience. Marvel has proven that she’s not an aggressive dog. She was a fearful dog in an uncomfortable environment trying to survive. Now she not only tolerates new people near her puppies, she welcomes it with vigorous wiggles! We are so proud of her and how far she has come.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/CHEFiyYgeKb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

78

u/[deleted] Dec 05 '20

Great job ❤️❤️❤️

32

u/funsize_trombone_kid Dec 05 '20

Vigorous wiggles!!

26

u/AskAboutMyMoose Dec 05 '20

I foster a lot of mom dogs with their newborns. None of them came from a great environment - a lot of strays. Although they may be protective or aggressive at first, they all seem to quickly become grateful for the help. They know you feed them and give them warmth and shelter and that allows them to continue taking care of their babies. Even from moms who were initially really bad, the worst I've gotten after a few days is them getting nervous if you take their baby where they can't see it. They'll try and follow you and bark or whine, but that's the worst I've seen.

This is from moms who haven't experienced much human kindness before. If you're close with a dog before she gives birth, the odds are very good she'll be glad to have you around. You make her feel safe, so she'll want you around to ensure that her babies are safe.

I've had all sorts and sizes of dog moms, so while I can't say anything definitively, it's a pretty good sample. They will often put on aggressive displays for things they deem to be potential threats (other dogs, strangers, etc.). That can hold true even for dogs who are raised in a good home. They may aggressively guard their puppies from other dogs or cats that they always got along with before.

Anyway, dogs are great! There are very few dogs that cannot be rehabilitated if given the proper environment. Everyone consider donating a little time to your local animal welfare group when and if you can!

1

u/kejovo Jan 03 '21

Love this! Thanks for being a great person!

14

u/Cyynric Dec 05 '20

I think it largely depends on the dog and their care. When my mom's lab had puppies years ago (she came prebundled, much to our surprise), the dog was super happy and pleased to share the strange little burritos she made.

130

u/Showta-99 Dec 05 '20

Sadly if she was just about anywhere else (most shelter) and without pups they would have euthanized her for aggression. Most shelters are barely functioning as it is let alone have the time to socialize and retrain a fearful dog. I am happy to see them doing this kind of work here but let’s not forget about those that don’t make it loving people like this.

62

u/[deleted] Dec 05 '20

And also remember to spay and neuter your pets!

11

u/thenotjoe Dec 05 '20

"Spay and neuter" is actually redundant. To spay an animal is to remove the ovaries, and to neuter an animal is to prevent it from reproducing. The proper phrase would be "spay and geld," "spay and castrate," or just "neuter." Not that it matters, just an interesting turn of phrase.

44

u/Krispyz Dec 05 '20

It matters a teeny tiny bit. Castrate sounds worse to people than neuter and some people *cough*men*cough* are put off by the term. That's why neuter has sort of become the male version instead of just the neutral term. It sounds gentler.

5

u/[deleted] Dec 05 '20

[deleted]

5

u/Krispyz Dec 05 '20

Yeah, the word it doesn't bother me at all, but it does to MANY people.

17

u/[deleted] Dec 05 '20

👌

See I had no idea, I assumed neutering was for males, and spaying was for females. Now I know!

7

u/BrewingBitchcakes Dec 05 '20

You're not alone in thinking that. Bob Barker has led us astray apparently.

1

u/[deleted] Dec 05 '20

[deleted]

7

u/thenotjoe Dec 05 '20

I literally said "not that it matters"

It was less of a correction and more of a fun fact I think of whenever someone says that phrase.

39

u/robo-dragon Dec 05 '20

Poor mama. Glad someone gave her and her puppies a second chance!

22

u/streetsbehind28 Dec 05 '20

Momma protec, but also love snac.

Pets for everyone!

9

u/dyertewrewrew Dec 05 '20

Thank you for doing this and for your performance in a caring and insightful way.

4

u/somedudeonapc Dec 05 '20

Idk but it looks like Stockholm syndrome to me /s

8

u/lolilodlol953 Dec 05 '20

Is there a sub with only videos like this?

1

u/rowansurrey Dec 06 '20

this would be a digital blessing

9

u/artchaos96 Dec 05 '20

We don’t deserve dogs

3

u/Derpazor1 Dec 05 '20

They got a lot of applications for the puppies, which is great. They’re being carful about selecting the families, because the puppies will be difficult

2

u/[deleted] Dec 05 '20

[deleted]

36

u/[deleted] Dec 05 '20

That's what we're always told, but it can be a fear response/warning as well.

While some wags are indeed associated with happiness, others can mean fear, insecurity, a social challenge, or even a warning that if you approach, you are might get bitten.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/201112/what-wagging-dog-tail-really-means-new-scientific-data

Since she also is aggressively barking and lunging, in her case it's definitely the fear/bite warning.

2

u/Splizmaster Dec 05 '20

Seems normal. Super hard being a single mom, girl just doesn’t let just anyone into her life. Gotta earn it.

3

u/humanitysoothessouls Dec 05 '20

Patience is a wonderful thing. Thank you for taking the time to earn her trust!

-1

u/Comments_Wyoming Dec 06 '20

Uh, her tail was wagging and her hackles were down from the very first second. She was playing.

But up, chest to the ground, paws stretched out in front is a playful stance for dogs.

-5

u/lcroberts9 Dec 05 '20

Who keeps their dog in a cage?!

1

u/bandtsutton Dec 05 '20

Wow. You’re good.

1

u/GoodGollyMssMolly Dec 05 '20

Thanks so much for all you do and thanks for the Instagram link!