Update on Willow

[Patti]

Hi All,

 

Thought I would give an update on our darling Willow.

As far as the Anxiety Wrap goes, I really can’t tell if it is helping at all.

 

Willow has taken 5 weeks to warm up to a couple of people in her training lessons and all who attend with us are being wonderful in helping to help her to overcome her shyness, however her progress is very slow to say the least.

 

We are still unable to walk down the street with her, even a half of block. She freaks out at every sound, person, car, etc. and pulls frantically away.  However at home, with no strangers around she is happy as a lark.

 

We are getting very sad and discouraged as we are prisoners in our home.  We can’t go anywhere, can’t leave her for a long period of time at home, we wouldn’t want to. And can’t take her anywhere where there are people.

 

Willow’s trainer said she may never overcome this fear, that it is just in her nature.  We wanted Willow as a loved companion to travel with on vacations etc. as we would never leave a pet at home or in a kennel. We have always taken our family with us everywhere we went.   

 

This is such a shock to us, never what we expected when we committed to her. Truly feel like crying everyday. 

 

Looking for rays of hope, but fearing none will come.

[Kyoko]

Ever since Charlie was a little puppy, we always stayed in the training school and classes up until most recently. ( I left one trainer and in search of new one.) I think we never "finish" traning our dog, officially or unofficially, and dog and owners are always in progress, I think. Like our own kids, you know? Charlie and I always went woth Thundershirt on, and it is OK. Trainer should know. Also if you felt as may be Willow will be good for someone who also is content just staying home and not much of a traveler, I would not feel guilty, either. One of peer agility person, rehome one of his dog due to a sever separation anxiety. The dog was miserable while he went to work, cried all day even with her doggie sibling, and at dog school, she also cried when she could not see the owner. Vet suggested meds, but he said that she would be happier with stay home family rather than being on meds to stay with him.