calming frightened dog

[GLC1968]

We also are fans of Cesar Milan. He definitely advocates that you don't want to increase anxiety by being anxious yourself, trying to be 'soothing' etc...it just reinforces the bad reaction. BUT, just ignoring the dog won't help either if its a pre-existing fear often common to rescue dogs.

I do think you want to teach the dog to ignore the thing that is causing the fear. Playing during a windy time (inside where it's most noisy, in particular) is a good idea. It's helping the dog learn to associate something good with those sounds. We have a rescue that is terrified of many inanimate objects. Luckily, weather doesn't seem to affect her. She's afraid of the vacuum (even when it's not in use), the floor pump (again, even when not in use), a few plastic things in the kitchen (a chopper, a certain cutting board, etc.) We can't find rhyme or reason to her fears, but we are working on them all the time. For the vacuum, we've taken to leaving it in the room with us while we are doing something else with her like playing a game, training, feeding, etc. She's getting better with having it around now. She used to be terrified of our bikes, until we started using them to take her for fast runs around the block. She LOVED that, and now doesn't fear the bikes anymore.

Basically, try to replace bad associations with good ones. And when you do it, do it with calm assertiveness. It works, but you do have to be very consistent and on top of it.

Good luck!

[mimitabby]

my friend who is a dog trainer said:

One thing that might have happened is that the dog is being reinforced for
the wind behavior for the last 7 months. I can't tell from her description
what she has been doing when the behavior is happening. I'd like more
specific information.

She might try rescue remedy. The problem with using it is you have to
give it about 45 minutes BEFORE the event happens or it has no effect. Also
in my experience some dogs and people are not affected by it. I use it on
myself before obedience dog show performances (one reason of many why I
know longer do obedience, no fun) and sometimes it helped but it was less
effective the more I used it on myself. Another thing she might try is a
body wrap for the dog. She can google canine body wraps and find out more
info. I've known people how have used the wrap for thunder phobia dogs with
some success. Another thing to look at is using melatonin. It's been quite
effective with thunder phobic dogs especially in combination with the wrap.
What breed or combination of breeds is the dog? This could also play into
the wind problem. For instance Border Collies are sound insensitive many
times, it's inherited running in some blood lines and not others. If this
dog is upset by 15mph winds, which is not much, there's something going on.
Has she tried crating the dog before the winds kick up? Having the dog in a
secure room as far inside the house as possible to lessen the sound of it
blowing. Also white noise like the TV on.I need to know what she's tried.

Mari

[TsPoet]

my friend who is a dog trainer said:

One thing that might have happened is that the dog is being reinforced for
the wind behavior for the last 7 months. I can't tell from her description
what she has been doing when the behavior is happening. I'd like more
specific information.Mari

Wow, thanks for asking on my behalf.
Finn is a basenji-corgi cross. She's ~2 and was housed outside under a tree in a small (2x3 ft) wire mesh kennel for several months before I adopted her. She had the audacity to get pregnant and her former owner didn't want her running loose so it wouldn't happen again (I've figured out other ways to make sure she doesn't get pregnant again, but we won't go there ).
The only dog experience I have is with my extremely fear aggressive mutt (in my avatar), Being inexperienced when I adopted him I didn't realize how bad he was - even though several people (including a trainer I hired to help me and my vet) told me he needed to be put to sleep. I’ve come a long way with him and he no longer “needs” to be put to sleep, but he still can’t be trusted around anything or anyone that might make him nervous (which is pretty much anything or anyone). But I digress. But, I know not to tell her fear is 'OK'.
When she gets scared she either runs around in circles or she tries desperately to get as close to me as she can, but will only sit a minute or two before having to run around and cry. Then she returns and tries to crawl into me, then runs around and cries... all night long. I've been mostly 'ignoring' this behavior except for trying to get her to lie down and sleep when she lies down.
I don’t know the cause of her fear. We very rarely get thunder here. She is, however, very afraid of noises in general. When a crowd applauded, and Finn jumped from my feet to the top of my head (I was seated) and tried to recreate a scene from Alien. If someone drops something near her she jumps and runs. If I raise my voice to her she falls over on her back… Cars, bicycles, joggers, etc don’t bother her in the least as long as they don’t make noise. The wind fear could be things moving around. Tonight will be the real test if we have the predicted 45 mph winds.
Murphy, my other dog, made a cubby hole for himself in my closet, and she’s taken it over. I will setup a covered crate in my bedroom tonight and see how she does. She seems to prefer to be crated in a car.

[KnottedYet]

My resuce dog had some pretty hefty insecurities and some hefty destructive behaviours, and I was starting to despair.

One of my patients who raises assitance dogs suggested increasing the amount of protien in his diet, that it was a trick he often used for the assitance dogs (who must be even-keeled!).

I switched my dog's food to one with about 2x the protien and started adding yogurt and hardboiled eggs to his Kong, and occaisional turkey burgers. (oh, boy, did he like the turkey burgers!)

Within about a month or 6 weeks he was off his tranquilizers, which I'd put him on out of sheer desperation, and had no more destructive behaviours.

It was a miracle!

[Pedal Wench]

I had a Mastiff who was terrified of bad weather. Singing Joni Mitchell's "The Circle Game" and stroking her belly seemed to work.

[TsPoet]

Wow, I saw this thread and thought "I've got lots of experience there" - then realized it was my old thread!
First, I found out more about her, and not much I was told back then was true -
Finn is a Shiba Inu x Beagle cross
She was Feral the first year of her life, I was her first owner - the farmer who owned the beagles was aware that the family living in the trailer home next door with their shiba moved out and left 3 puppies to fend for themselves. Finn was the only one that survived (how she did that is a complete mystery!) When he noticed she was pregnant, he's guessing about a year later, he caught her in a badger trap and turned her over to a rescue organization - who put her in the small crate and the rest was correct.
She's still the softest dog I've ever known, scared of anything that makes noise. But, we have made long strides.
http://dragons-fly-peacefully.blogsp...g-agility.html
I don't think she'll ever be a brave dog! But, she doesn't bite and she now loves me - took months for her to decide I was OK. So, it's all alright as it is.

[KnottedYet]

Wow, how did that pop up as "new post" when I got on TE? Sorry I posted on it without looking at the date...

[mtbdarby]

For what it's worth on dogs with aggression issues, here's what the behaviorist had me do with a rescue and it worked within minutes:

OWN THE OBJECT! For Rusty it was the doorbell and vacuum (to start with). So I sent the kid out to ring the doorbell and had Rusty on a leash with a choke collar on. When the doorbell rang I instantly stood between him and the door and said sternly "no". If he moved forward he got a collar correct and repositioned. Any other sound or movement away and he got another no or snapping fingers to make him concentrate on me. When he moved away he got a "atta boy". When they start yawning they are ok with it. If their tongue is coming out like they're chewing on something they're nervous.

We did the same with the vacuum. I had to get in front of it and own it - I'm the alpha and the rescue needs to learn that. It provides them with security. It worked wonders! If I didn't catch it this 30 pound dog turned into Kujo and I got bit twice, so nip it in the bud! And please don't give the mail carrier treats. If the dog starts to growl, bark or attack and they're given a treat it will reenforce the behavior.

Hope that helps someone - I paid good money for that lesson!

[hammertime]

hey poet... kudo's to you for rescuing that sweet dog... what a lucky girl she is she may never be a super brave dog, but i'm sure she is lots more warm and fuzzy inside than she ever was... because of you

[NbyNW]

I know this is an old thread, but kudos to the progress you've made with Finn and what wonderful agility pictures!

[Ered_Lithui]

Wow, how did that pop up as "new post" when I got on TE? Sorry I posted on it without looking at the date...

Somebody made a possibly-trollish first-time post about a dog drug shortly before yours today. It has apparently since been deleted, but was still there when you posted.

[Deborajen]

I missed the dog-drug post. Wouldn't read it if it got reposted.

But - I was glad to see this thread. I've been browsing dog training sites, then looking here for cycling & running discussion, etc.-- Congrats, TsPoet on the progress with your dog! Sounds like you've done really well with her, and she sounds like a very special dog. Our Abby has been with us for a week and a half now. She's about 2 years old and has a lot of issues since she had been seized from a puppy mill (she was a mom - aka "manufacturer"). She's not used to leashes or toys or being inside or being around people and getting attention, but she's gentle and sweet and she tries really hard to please us so I know she'll be a great pet and family member. It will take time, though, and it's encouraging to hear how other dogs, like yours, have thrived in spite of some bad beginnings.

Deb