Re: A Sad Story.....so Far!!! John, that's excellent news for you, your wife and Shandy. Is the rescue centre close to your home, maybe you could pop in on them? I know they are busy but they should really call you to offer assistance. Keep up the brilliant work. x
Re: A Sad Story.....so Far!!! That is really good to hear I hope this continues Well done to you and your wife x
Re: A Sad Story.....so Far!!! Awww, what a lovely picture of a happy dog rolling around on his back that conjures up!
Re: A Sad Story.....so Far!!! Hi John It's lovely to hear shandy being happy doing what dogs do. ;D I've just caught up and read your post about a muzzle. I've trained my two to wear a muzzle to use at the vets. As they hate strangers trying to touch them you can imagine how difficult it is at the vets. After their last lot of vaccinations I decided to get muzzles just as a precaution. Thy have never bitten or snapped but they get very worked up so I thought better safe than sorry. I spent about a month getting them used to wearing a muzzle. First your supposed to give a tasty treat for the dog looking at the muzzle then sniffing it. My dogs bypassed that and stuffed their noses in. I immediately removed it then tasty treat. I did 2 or 3 of those twice a day for about a week. I put the treat in the end of the muzzle so they put their nose in, got treat, I removed muzzle. I then started leaving the muzzle for a bit longer, building up the time over a week. Then I fastened the muzzle. Unfastening straight away then again building up time over a week. Finally I started walking them around the yard increasing the time. It worked when I had to take Scott to the vet in the consulting room I offered him his muzzle and he put his nose straight in. The vet was rather impressed. If you go for a muzzle make sure it's a basket one. The sleeve ones aren't suitable to be worn for a long time as the dog can't pant. The alternative to a muzzle I would suggest is a head collar. I use a gencon figure of eight head collar and I've also used a gentle leader. My dogs can be very reactive with strangers so I like to have control of their heads. Any head collar with a nose band that tightens and slackens can work a bit like a muzzle. In other words you can keep the dogs mouth shut with it. The gentle leader nose band doesn't alter its fixed at the size you set but fitted properly they can't open their mouths fully and because the lead attaches under the chin you have a lot of control over the dogs mouth. It might give you a bit more confidence having more control of his mouth without the stereotype image a muzzle can give.
Re: A Sad Story.....so Far!!! Thanks to Jen and everybody else for their kind comments and experiences. I will certainly take stock. I spoke to the behavourist from the rescue centre today and explained everything to him and what has happened so far. He has told me the following; My wife and I are to stop feeding him his two meals a day. My wife must also stop calling him to her and giving him a treat. Only if he approaches her uncalled. Instead of the two meals a day, we are to throw him food everytime we walk passed him or come into the area he is lying in. Not to give him any commands for a while. I must start to get him to retrieve a ball on a string. Not to use a muzzle on him yet or take him too close to people. He says Shandy is showing classic symptons of stress and that it is clear he has not in the past been socialised or taken out much. We should do this for about 4 weeks or so and then phone him for an update. He is hoping that everytime we walk into the area Shandy is in, he will at least look up expecting something. It's important we remove anything that can possibly be causing him stress. After 4 weeks we can hopefully move onto the next stage. Any thoughts and comments out there will be appreciated....Many thanks.....John
Re: A Sad Story.....so Far!!! Good news, I got a phone call from a dog behavorist yesterday who states the rescue centre are paying for him to come and visit Shandy and asses him. I spoke to him at length on the phone and have checked his credentials on the internet and I'm excited about it. So, the chap will be at my home on the 9th October and we will take it from there. Bye all...John
Re: A Sad Story.....so Far!!! That's great news and really good the rescue centre are helping you and shandy. ;D I will look forward to reading what the behaviourist suggests. Keep us posted. ;D
Re: A Sad Story.....so Far!!! That's great that you are getting professional help and that you have had some pointers to work with until you get an assessment. Look forward to hearing how you get on
Re: A Sad Story.....so Far!!! I'm so delighted that at last you will receive some professional help in your home. Please keep us posted!
