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How we got through the first years of "whacko dog" and some tips for you

Behavioral Issues

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20 Aug 2018, 13:04

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  • T

    Need some creative thinkers for confinement "anxiety" issue

    Behavioral Issues
    45 9 Sept 2013, 22:21
    9 Sept 2013, 22:21
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    24 Posts
    11k Views
    T
    Ha, I know, forum posts are like a novel sometimes - except sometimes you don't always find out what happens at the end. There are lots of posts here where I'm like "well, what happened?!" The long and short of it: we have a "success story". He's always been kind of a strange dog, never doing things by the books. For his anxiety…...nothing I did really helped him. I originally put him on Prozac as a last resort, but overtime he just improved on his own; I know it's not due to the medication, because he's been off of it for awhile. He still hates confinement but he's learned that once he's in...he's not getting out. SO he basically goes through cycles where he'll whine for about a minute or two every so often (30 minutes to 2 hours) or so then goes back to sleep, until I get home. It gets better and better each time. One of our biggest issues I think was him being able to escape, and that fear was feeding off itself. In the beginning he would pull out all the stunts to try and escape, some of them working of course. Once I made it so he could not escape, the major destruction and psychological issues died down. I ended up putting wood pieces around the crate (as suggested above) and that helped immensely to fortify the area. He still does cry, and rip things up while I'm away...sure. But, as long as he isn't endangering himself, getting too worked up, or making a huge racket? It works. After we got that solved. I moved onto trying to get him to be ok in a crate - which has been successful. He goes into it fine, lays down and doesn't cry a whole lot, or try to escape. I think his 'anxiety' is not unusual, or inappropriate. Just a natural fear that dogs have of being alone, confined, and in a new space. I also didn't go over 30 minutes when I was teaching him as a puppy....big mistake. Things that have helped: Music, not having the light on, making the pen one giant bed (instead of allowing an area where he could stand), leaving random tissues around in the pen, not letting him out of the pen directly after coming home, giving a single cookie before leaving and returning if quiet, having the area be inescapable obviously, and brushing his teeth if he comes out of the pen right away. Things that didn't really help: thunder shirt (was working until he ripped it up), medication, mirror outside of the pen, leaving delicious food or toys inside the pen, DAP diffuser, etc.
  • S

    Frequent little "sprinkles" on walks

    Behavioral Issues
    45 15 Jul 2012, 11:06
    15 Jul 2012, 11:06
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    7 Posts
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    C
    This I always my "rule of thumb" and only based on my experience but frequent long urinations= possible UTI and several quick squirts=marking….but every dog is different, even so my mind still automatically looks for those signals
  • A

    "look what i can do"

    Behavioral Issues
    45 21 Feb 2010, 13:51
    21 Feb 2010, 13:51
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    11 Posts
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    K
    @Mango: I can't wait to have a little B ripping around the house… guess I'm a masochist, but it does sound like a lot of fun. Yes, exactly Mango. I too await the day where the Basenji 500 takes place in my home. It should be fun - we have hardwood floors! :D
  • K

    Dog to dog greeting aggression question

    Behavioral Issues
    45 22 Aug 2008, 19:28
    22 Aug 2008, 19:28
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    12 Posts
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    S
    I will take a bit of time, but it does work. Please let us know how it goes.
  • T

    Lenny "likes" other dogs!

    Behavioral Issues
    45 6 Nov 2007, 01:13
    6 Nov 2007, 01:13
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    5 Posts
    2k Views
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    yeah, it really was… especially with all the drama i have going on with my current living situation it is a relief that something is going right. My boyfriend has been having a heck of a time finding a place to rent that will allow my dogs and me to visit on the weekends. So we finally found a place that would allow it, and then we had to visit to make sure the dogs got along. i was so relieved that not only was Lenny polite, he was playing! yay. anyway, i'm moving out of my apt at the end of November... thankfully my company is going to move me again so I don't have to do it myself! Good thing i haven't really unpacked yet!
  • B

    Dog agression?

    Behavioral Issues
    45 1 Aug 2006, 23:39
    1 Aug 2006, 23:39
    0 Votes
    12 Posts
    7k Views
    W
    my dog plop herself down when she sees another dog or person. I believe she does this in play.