Kelsie's Story - pet shop pup

We bought our Coolie x Kelpie (Kelsie) from a local petshop. We had initially just gone in there to buy food, and we were actually on our way to see another pup at the time, but we fell in love with her. We already had a 4 month old Rotty x Ridgeback x Staffy (Kaylah, bought directly from a local breeder) though, and my husband thought she might be a bit small to play with her.

So we continued on to see the other pups (Staffy x Ridgeback), but they just weren't the same, so I called the pet shop and asked them to hold on to her for us. She said they had to take her to the vet first because she had a tummy upset, but she should be back by the time we got there.

When we got there they let her out of the cage and she ran straight for the back of the shop, terrified. I was apprehensive about taking her then, wondering how she would cope. But my husband then became the one who really wanted her and I was the one with doubt! We ended up taking her home.

She was funny to start with. At 7 weeks of age she was growling with her teeth out at Kaylah. So I let her sleep inside next to me the first night. The next day I took her outside and gently introduced them, keeping Kaylah on lead. It wasn't going well though, I couldn't get Kelsie to stop growling.

I rang the pet shop and said that I thought we'd made a mistake and that I thought it best to bring her back, and they refused. Told me I would have to take her to Animal Welfare or sell her myself. So I took the week off work to help her settle in. Her and Kaylah eventually worked each other out and now 2 and a half years later they are still best of friends.

But we have always had problems with Kelsie. There was the initial tummy upset which lasted a few days. Then the growling. When she got a bit bigger she started to get aggressive towards Kaylah at feeding time and we had to feed them on lead for quite a while. We have that under control now and they eat without fights, but there were some scary moments.

She wets herself and disappears into a corner when she meets new men. She hates men, takes 2-3 visits for her to get to know most of them and before she'll let them pat her. She hates being wormed - we use Advocate which is only a squirt on the back of her neck!! But the carry on she makes!! It's unbelievable. She whimpers and rolls on her back and sometimes even wets herself. She hates the vet, wets herself there too and hides under the chair. When we took her to puppy pre-school, despite being the biggest dog there, she hid under the chair most of the time.

I love her and I wish I knew how to help her. I have always thought something happened to her before we got her, especially with the way she is with men. My husband is one of the most gentle men I know, there is nothing he would have done to cause it. The food aggression too was a worry. Kaylah never cared if Kelsie came near her food, but Kelsie still lets out a little warning growl sometimes if Kaylah finishes eating first.

It fits. I know she's not a 'designer dog', though to some farmers I guess she is, but I am sure she came from somewhere dodgy. After seeing your website, it just fits. I have forwarded the link to all my friends and I hope your site makes a difference.

I've attached a piccy of the girls too, just cos I love them! :)

Kim K