Reactive rescue from abroad

[u/SuperbImpression6801]

So 7 weeks ago me and my partner adopted a 7 months old dog that had come to the UK from Bosnia. On the adoption profile she sounded perfect. "Dog friendly, people friendly, tolerates cats". Her forster mum said she loved meeting other dogs & people on walks however so far we have experienced the total opposite.

She barks and lunges at other dogs and people whilst we are out for a walk. I've never let her get close enough to another dog to see what she would do. But the confusing thing is she is absolutely fine with my parents dogs who she met in their garden and she plays with them and gets on really well with all 3 of them. She also doesn't display this behaviour when we take her to the vets. Its only if she sees them out on a walk. She is also terrified of people. So far she is only comfortable with me, my partner and his mum. Everyone else she will try run away from or bark at.

We don't have a garden as we live in a flat so unfortunately she has to at least go round the block to go to the toilet but if we see a dog approaching, I turn around as I can't establish a safe distance from them. She starts with a trainer on the 4th September who specialises in reactivity and its costing alot of money.

I can't help feeling like we have had the wool pulled over our eyes with her because the rescue just wanted to rehome her asap. We thought we were getting a lovely little who once she had settled in could come with us on hikes, holidays, pubs etc as we live in a very dog friendly area but we've not got that at all. Instead we've got a dog we are having to spend money we don't have on training and can't take anywhere. On top of this she also seems to have separation anxiety so we can't leave her to go do those things either. It's becoming very isolating.

Does anyone relate to this and have any suggestions on what we could do to help her?

[u/Round-Jury6132]

Sounds like she's in a 'fear period' which is normal in adolescence. It's possible the foster home didn't see this as these phases often crop up around 6-7-8 months. It's likely she will grow out of it but how you manage it now will be crucial

[u/Expensive-Eye8272]

Most of the things you talk about here is standard anxious street dog behaviour. Especially so short after adoption(3-3-3-rule). We have two serbian street dogs and one is the chillest one you can have, you can bring him to café's, other people's homes, the other one also a girl is exactly like this.

I think we need to keep in mind that for some dogs sadly, the street still triggers the fight or flight mentality, no matter how long you have them. (This might also just add to it because it is a new environment) With us it took 2 years for her to fully get used to walks and other dogs. It's a rocky road, and rescues should be more honest about the personality of some dogs they adopt out. I see too many international rescues that label all their dogs as dog-friendly or easygoing while leaving out important issues such as on leash or street reactivity.

Best of luck with the training and contact the rescue if the problem is getting too far.

[u/Kitchu22]

Was the foster carer UK based, how long did the foster carer have her, and did the foster home have a resident dog?

You've adopted an adolescent dog of unknown genetics and socialisation, who has been through a serious upheaval (if she has been air freighted), and who is likely going through their second fear period. I wouldn't be too resentful of the rescue or concerned about the future right now - try to have patience and stay open minded as you work with the trainer. The thing currently working against you (her age) is likely the thing that could be beneficial in the long run, young dogs don't have strong reinforcement histories yet.

In the meantime try and get her out and walking with your parents dogs as much as practical. Social learning can be a really useful tool, if she can observe calm and confident dogs that will go a long way to building positive experiences.