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This is a place to gain some understanding of dog behavior and to assist people in training their dogs and dealing with common behavior problems, regardless of the method(s) used. This can cover the spectrum from non-aversive to traditional methods of dog training. There are many ways to train a dog. Please avoid aggressive responses, and counter ideas and opinions with which you don't agree with friendly and helpful advice. Please refrain from submitting posts that promote off-topic discussions. Keep in mind that you may be receiving advice from other dog owners and lovers... not professionals. If you have a major problem, always seek the advice of a trainer or behaviorist!
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Jessica CGC
Will work for- food | 
 | | Barked: Fri Jul 3, '09 11:32am PST | |  | |  | | Seriously, I think I found out the cause of Jessie's anxiety problem, but I'd always heard the tell tale sign of separation anxiety was barking, and she doesn't bark. (even though, she's a JRT mix..she CAN and DOES bark really good at times)
Anyway this is so strange though. This started about a week ago. Also about a week ago, I stopped taking Jessie to UPS (for my job) with me because it's too hot for her, I'm outside too much and she can't be inside without me. I'm gone about 4 hours a day only. Before I leave, I walk the dogs for an hour and usually they get some off leash running time in there.
After we get back I get ready to go out, and that's when her change happens. Her tail stays between her legs and she watches me closely.
I leave. My mom is home. She says Jessie sleeps then about 1 hour before I get home, she starts shaking, panting, hiding or trying to crawl in my mom's lap.
When I get home though, she's not any better. She's still acting nervous and either hiding or following me or my mom around whenever we move to another room.
I take her out, she's fine, tail is up and no panting or shaking. Get back home, she'll hide until it gets dark out.
Their agility trainer told me to shove treats in her mouth because we thought she was nervous over flies in the house. But now I think it's over me leaving...but not 100% sure...
What do you guys think and what can I do about this? I have read that desensitization is used to separation anxiety (if this is it) but she doesn't start the shaking/panting until 3 hours after I'm gone.
I'm at a loss what to do now really.
ETA, right before I leave, I sometimes offer the dogs something like a bully stick or horse hoof or whatever those things are. She won't touch it until it's dark out.
I am going to try to work on her mind more, like tomorrow we're going to the street fair so she sees new sights, and I'm going to try to walk them in other different places too. but she's in agility once a week and is learning tricks too and I don't know if I'm just not doing enough for her, or what.Edited by author Fri Jul 3, '09 11:36am PST
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Missy
It's my way or- the highway! |
 | | Barked: Fri Jul 3, '09 12:13pm PST | | | | | | Doesn't sound much like seperation anxiety to me because when you come home she should be as happy as ever. But I'm not an expert so I don't know for sure. My dog acts like that whenever there's a thunderstorm on its way. Don't know what could be causing her to act like this  | | | | |
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Jessica CGC
Will work for- food |
| | Barked: Fri Jul 3, '09 3:44pm PST | | | | | | Thanks guys. She's doing better today, and I was only out for about 1 hour today, and she was able to "calm down" sooner than nightfall.
She is happy when I come to the door, she wags her tail and comes to me, then seconds after I'm in and shut the door she hides/shakes.
Let's see, my schedule is:
wake up 5am and let the dogs in the backyard to potty. Only about 5-10 mins. They come back in and go right back to sleep while I shower and stuff. Sometimes we play ball in the house.
At 8am I take them at the woods trail where they run off leash, or to a high school field that's surrounded by woods where they can run. This used to not be the routine, the woods trail used to be in the afternoon but because it's so hot during the day now I take them out for a long walk in the AM. It starts getting too hot by 10am.
Anyway then by the time we're back home and I have to hose them off (haha) I'm ready to leave the house at 10am.
So I'm back at around 2-2:30pm.
I let the dogs in the yard to potty if my mom didn't.
Then sometimes I ride my bike with them (taking breaks to walk them on leash a little) or sometimes I just walk them to the high school again. Jessie is anxious until we go out, and when we get back she hides again.
Then at around 9pm I walk them to a different school field where they can run off leash. I use the laser pointer sometimes they can chase it.
Then when we get back about after an hour, they play with each other a bit, then they eat and get a stuffed kong, go out in the yard for potty, then just bed.
On wed's they have novice agility class in the early evening.
So...the hours she's shaking/panting/hiding are between about 1pm and 8pm. Except when I don't go out as long.
Sorry these are such long posts, I just don't know what's going on! | | | | |
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Rusty
Just call me- Tigger! |
| | Barked: Fri Jul 3, '09 4:04pm PST | | | | | | Your trainer might be really good at agility, but I would be seriously concerned with any "trainer" who told me to force treats on my dog. If a dog is too nervous to take treats voluntarily, forcing the issue is likely to make it worse, not better.
You mentioned that this happened once you stopped taking her to work with you. What would she do while she was there? Was she sleeping the whole time, or otherwise occupied? That could be contributing to the problem.
Another question - have you had her checked by your vet? It could just be a coincidence that this has happened at this time.
If everything else is okay, you might want to try putting Rescue Remedy in her water. It is a combination of flower essences that works wonders for all sorts of anxiety and trauma conditions. Even if you have other pets, it won't hurt them, but could help her.
Good luck! | | | | |
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Jessica CGC
Will work for- food |
| | Barked: Fri Jul 3, '09 4:13pm PST | | | | | | Thanks Rusty, I have heard of Rescue Remedy before, that's probably what I'm going to end up trying with the calming herbs.
Well my trainer thought that because she had a bad experience with flies and bees, that I had to make her feel like flies around were a good experience, but I don't think this has to do with flies anymore. I agree though she's a new trainer in this area, it's even her first time teaching agility.
Jessie was at the vet last week because she had mayfly/blackfly bites that I thought was lyme disease (thank dog it wasn't!!) The vet listened to her heart and lungs and checked her ears. She's not due for fecal/blood until September. Do you think I should get those checked?
While I worked, hmm. At first she'd be awake and like to follow me around like she was working herself bol. But then she ended up sleeping.
She's learning lots of new tricks...I really don't know what more to give her to do you know? | | | | |
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My Account
You say that she is fine outside?
