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.

[shelly]

Oh Patti!  I feel for you!  Tori too was exactly like you described Willow... she NEVER participated in class and would just lie down and cower away.  BUT at home she did EVERYTHING perfectly.  We too had a hard time walking her.  In class they used to have us walk down the shopping center storefronts... NOPE - She'd just buck and put her paw on the leash and freeze.....she got sick in the car, so we stopped bringing her...then tried again and she wouldn't vomit, but poop - GREAT!  She still has 'issues' when we go in the car and HUGE issues when visitors she doesn't know come (don't know if you saw my post in training group).  Our trainer from Petco said the same thing to us... she may never outgrow it... well my advice to you is to not give up.   I can't help thinking that if I just didn't 'accept' it and worked more at it, we wouldn't have these issues now... REACH out to the training group and to all of the wonderful DK-ers - they offer great ideas and advice.  DO IT NOW.... I do think she can improve.... I DO know how you feel!  Keep trudging!  (PS - the thrunder shirt never really worked for Tori either).  AND... Tori too is wonderful at home with only us - like a totally different dog!

[Patti]

Last night Willow got our of the car for the first time on her own at training class. I cried.  

I have enrolled her in the next training classes, this will be the third for her. And today I meet with the trainer for a private session.

 

Your words of hope help keep us going.  Can you walk down a street now with Tori?

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

Yeah Willow......and mommie too (love the name by the way LOL)

[shelly]

GREAT news!!!!  Well... walking down the street with Tori depends on her.  If there's no big loud vehicles going by.  BUT... there is this one spot where I walk her that she VERY OFTEN will not pass.  I don't know what it is!  She smells something...I even try and trick her and come up from the other side of the treet and when we get to that spot she stops and bucks up on her leash...strange.  But baby steps for this big baby! lol

[Patti]

Hi All,

Willow just got back from her one on one with the trainer and the trainer said she was soooo smart and very well trained, couldn't believe that I was able to accomplish so much with such a "HYPER SENSITIVE" little girl.  I was relieved. Also said if we could get her past her over reactive behavior to every person, sound etc. she would be wonderful.

 

The trainer asked me to get a D.A.P. collar "dog appeasing pheromone", for Willow, have any of you tried this kind of collar before?

 

By the way, THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOU LOVING THOUGHTS! 

 

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

We have a discussion about these different products in this Group.  I can't look for the link right now.. but it is here and there are some who have tried this with success. Some have not. I don't use them because of headaches and chemicals but others have.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Here is the discussion with a lot of information on DAP

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/mentalhealth/forum/topics/pheromo...

 

One more question. Have you talked with your vet about all of this?

[Kyoko]

The dog trainer Leslie McDevitt, author  of " Controll Unleashed!" told me to look into to see if there is a homiopathic vet in my area. They do use lternative manner to supprt dogs with extreme anxiety, she said. Inever tried it yet.... She has a Yahoo Group, also if you e~mail her, she wouldreply you with such knoledge and kindness.... Her philosophy is positive reinforcement and she works very hard for the reactive and super sensitive dogs...... My Charlie is 2, and we are still work in progress.....Hang in there... it will get better....I always thought that this was my luck that I got a very reactive girl....But the way I look at it is that, if she ended up with someone who has less patiene, she could have been rehomed, sheltered or in worst case scenario, euthanazed due to her fear issue. So, God put her with me, I think.

[Patti]

Thank you so much for the info, and the positive thoughts.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Patti, My heart goes out to you. Last Monday, I had to meet our trainer up at Lowes with Vern. I was sick to my stomach from nerves. He is a big scaredy cat and I just did not want to do it. She took control of him and walked right in and he did very well. I know he feeds off my nervous energy and I try and stay positive with him. I have made it a goal to keep going back. Last week, I never would have said that. We read so much that doodles are perfect and many are not. Like humans, some just come with this stuff. It does sound like Willow is making a little progress and that is because of you and your dedication to her. You are also working with a trainer and that is going to help too. I know it is hard when your loved pup does not meet all of your expectations, but hang in there, and keep working with her. I also think you should talk to your vet and see what they recommend. We had an old lab with separation anxiety and I tried a lot of things and eventually tried prescribed medication. It took the edge off and relieved some of her anxiety. If she needed antibiotics, I would not hesitate and I feel the same way about medicines given to help a dog mentally. Good luck!!

 

PS My trainer recommended the book Help for the Shy Dog

PSS Work to find a trusted pet sitter. The only way I survived our old Lab is because I found a sitter willing to pick her up and take her to her house. You need time for yourself too.

[Patti]

Thanks so much, tomorrow we are going to try the D.A.P. collar along with the Anxiety Wrap while we are at training classes.

 

Pray for us.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Sounds like you are doing a great job!!