Dog behavioral problem - can anyone help?

[libramunoz]

Texas, I think that you are going truly overboard in attempting to berate this woman for asking for help for her dog.
I've been around dogs all of my life, I currently have two now, and I have taken the time to train them to a certain degree. Both of my dogs were found in the road and one came to us and one I picked up.
At the time that I got these two nuts, I surly wish that I would have had some advice for someone, especially for my puppy (he's 2 and my oldest is 14).
I say all this to say this point, when you have an older dog, which Hot Damn has, you have to have suggestions to work with the animal. My 14 year old dog can be the meanest bastard when he wants to be. I have pulled him, hit him, and yes, given him a but whipping when he needs to have one, even at 14. Sometimes, yes, discipline is what the animal needs right at that time until you have a chance to get the dog and you in a safe position.
I think Hot Damn seemed to just be asking for suggestions of how to help her older dog, and you just jumped up and down her butt because of some of the suggestions that she was willing to look into. Instead of bereating this woman/man/person, try giving a suggestion first and then if they take it good, if they don't, move on, but bereating the woman isn't going to get your point across.

[FSUZeta]

the dog whisperer comes on the national geographic channel on friday nights, i believe at 8 pm est. if you have cable or direct tv, you most likely can get the channel and it's not going to cost you anything extra, other than you time. i think it would be worth your and your dogs time.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by libramunoz

Texas, I think that you are going truly overboard in attempting to berate this woman for asking for help for her dog.
I've been around dogs all of my life, I currently have two now, and I have taken the time to train them to a certain degree. Both of my dogs were found in the road and one came to us and one I picked up.
At the time that I got these two nuts, I surly wish that I would have had some advice for someone, especially for my puppy (he's 2 and my oldest is 14).
I say all this to say this point, when you have an older dog, which Hot Damn has, you have to have suggestions to work with the animal. My 14 year old dog can be the meanest bastard when he wants to be. I have pulled him, hit him, and yes, given him a but whipping when he needs to have one, even at 14. Sometimes, yes, discipline is what the animal needs right at that time until you have a chance to get the dog and you in a safe position.
I think Hot Damn seemed to just be asking for suggestions of how to help her older dog, and you just jumped up and down her butt because of some of the suggestions that she was willing to look into. Instead of bereating this woman/man/person, try giving a suggestion first and then if they take it good, if they don't, move on, but bereating the woman isn't going to get your point across.

Agreed.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by libramunoz

when you have an older dog, which Hot Damn has, My 14 year old dog can be the meanest bastard when he wants to be.

lol lol lol

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by libramunoz

Texas, I think that you are going truly overboard in attempting to berate this woman for asking for help for her dog.
I've been around dogs all of my life, I currently have two now, and I have taken the time to train them to a certain degree. Both of my dogs were found in the road and one came to us and one I picked up.
At the time that I got these two nuts, I surly wish that I would have had some advice for someone, especially for my puppy (he's 2 and my oldest is 14).
I say all this to say this point, when you have an older dog, which Hot Damn has, you have to have suggestions to work with the animal. My 14 year old dog can be the meanest bastard when he wants to be. I have pulled him, hit him, and yes, given him a but whipping when he needs to have one, even at 14. Sometimes, yes, discipline is what the animal needs right at that time until you have a chance to get the dog and you in a safe position.
I think Hot Damn seemed to just be asking for suggestions of how to help her older dog, and you just jumped up and down her butt because of some of the suggestions that she was willing to look into. Instead of bereating this woman/man/person, try giving a suggestion first and then if they take it good, if they don't, move on, but bereating the woman isn't going to get your point across.

A lot of people here, including myself, have tried to offer her tips and advice, and besides the drugging one, she has shot down every single one.

The bottom line is we are not professionals. The way she describes her dog's problem, it sounds like a pretty serious anxiety issue that could possibly hurt her dog, or another person should someone else be near the dog when it's freaking out.

There have been posts on GC before that go something like "Hello - I have a (---insert some kind of symptoms here---), is this cancer or something serious?" And while we do have amazing RNs and even doctors that frequent these boards, they can't (and probably shouldn't) diagnose a problem over the internet. They almost always tell the posters to get a professional's opinion IRL.

I am a regular volunteer at a local animal shelter and it yes, it does really hurt me that so many times people turn to drugs or surrender their animals because the dogs have issues that they just don't want to deal with. I also see dogs regularly get put down because their anxiety was not properly rehabilitated and it ended up redirecting it's anxiety in a really bad way.

People need to understand that if they are going to own any kind of animal - especially one that was previously abused - it takes a lot of TLC to get the animal out of that mindset. It's also a responsibility and commitment that is over 10+ years long.

[Tippiechick]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

A lot of people here, including myself, have tried to offer her tips and advice, and besides the drugging one, she has shot down every single one.

The bottom line is we are not professionals. The way she describes her dog's problem, it sounds like a pretty serious anxiety issue that could possibly hurt her dog, or another person should someone else be near the dog when it's freaking out.

There have been posts on GC before that go something like "Hello - I have a (---insert some kind of symptoms here---), is this cancer or something serious?" And while we do have amazing RNs and even doctors that frequent these boards, they can't (and probably shouldn't) diagnose a problem over the internet. They almost always tell the posters to get a professional's opinion IRL.

I am a regular volunteer at a local animal shelter and it yes, it does really hurt me that so many times people turn to drugs or surrender their animals because the dogs have issues that they just don't want to deal with. I also see dogs regularly get put down because their anxiety was not properly rehabilitated and it ended up redirecting it's anxiety in a really bad way.

People need to understand that if they are going to own any kind of animal - especially one that was previously abused - it takes a lot of TLC to get the animal out of that mindset. It's also a responsibility and commitment that is over 10+ years long.

And HOW do you know that none of us are professionals in the pet industry? Thanks for the lecture. I'll keep it in mind next time I am helping a client with a behavioral issue. You seem to be such an expert.

[PM_Mama00]

I think if you have to take your dog with you everywhere you go, then perhaps you don't have enough time to spend with your dog and maybe shouldn't have gotten one. You need to spend quality time with them... cuddling, playing, etc. Do you think your pets like just sitting in the car waiting for mommy or daddy to run errands? (the "you" is general, not directed at anyone)

I'm posting this with respect and not to be snooty. If you can make it work then ok, but I just don't see it necessary to cart your dog with you everywhere.

[kstar]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

A lot of people here, including myself, have tried to offer her tips and advice, and besides the drugging one, she has shot down every single one.

The bottom line is we are not professionals. The way she describes her dog's problem, it sounds like a pretty serious anxiety issue that could possibly hurt her dog, or another person should someone else be near the dog when it's freaking out.

There have been posts on GC before that go something like "Hello - I have a (---insert some kind of symptoms here---), is this cancer or something serious?" And while we do have amazing RNs and even doctors that frequent these boards, they can't (and probably shouldn't) diagnose a problem over the internet. They almost always tell the posters to get a professional's opinion IRL.

Some of us ARE animal professionals, I'm a RVT, SthrnZeta is a long time Vet Assistant, cheerfulgreek is in vet school, and I know there are actual veterinarians on this board. No one diagnosed, they just offered options that she could discuss with her veterinarian.

It is obvious that she loves her dog, and wants what is best for it, and as they teach in vet tech school, you have a much more amenable client and patient, if they feel that they are being given options. If she likes the option of Ace or another light sedative, and her veterinarian agrees, then it is the best one for her and her dog. You don't have to agree with it.



BTW, I HATE Cesar Millan with a passion, especially considering most of his methods of "training" are simply oversaturating a dog with its fears until it mentally shuts down, also known as flooding.

[Tippiechick]

Originally Posted by kstar

Some of us ARE animal professionals, I'm a RVT, SthrnZeta is a long time Vet Assistant, cheerfulgreek is in vet school, and I know there are actual veterinarians on this board. No one diagnosed, they just offered options that she could discuss with her veterinarian.

It is obvious that she loves her dog, and wants what is best for it, and as they teach in vet tech school, you have a much more amenable client and patient, if they feel that they are being given options. If she likes the option of Ace or another light sedative, and her veterinarian agrees, then it is the best one for her and her dog. You don't have to agree with it.



BTW, I HATE Cesar Millan with a passion, especially considering most of his methods of "training" are simply oversaturating a dog with its fears until it mentally shuts down, also known as flooding.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! (Can't believe we agree...)

It's about presenting options to owners to help them find what works best for them, their dogs, and their specific neurosis.

She obviously does care about her dog and people are being so fucking self-righteous that it makes me want to puke. I would love to see half as many owners care for their dogs as much as she obviously does.

If she came on here and said her dog was having separation anxiety because it was being left at home alone all day, people would bitch her out for being a horrible owner, too. But, she cares enough to try and work HER LIFE around what might be best for her dog. She drives Marley to the next town every day for Pete's sake!

[epchick]

Originally Posted by kstar

BTW, I HATE Cesar Millan with a passion, especially considering most of his methods of "training" are simply oversaturating a dog with its fears until it mentally shuts down, also known as flooding.

Thank you! Yes, I despise Cesar Milan as well. My lil chihuahua barks a lot and so many people will say "you need to watch 'The Dog Whisperer' so you can learn how to control him." Seriously, watching Cesar Milan bark like a dog, pant, and get on all fours is not going to teach me anything.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by epchick

Thank you! Yes, I despise Cesar Milan as well. My lil chihuahua barks a lot and so many people will say "you need to watch 'The Dog Whisperer' so you can learn how to control him." Seriously, watching Cesar Milan bark like a dog, pant, and get on all fours is not going to teach me anything.

Once again- glad I have a cat.

If I told her to stop meow-ing and got down on all fours and started licking myself, she'd just give me the 'kitty look of death' and walk away.

[icelandelf]

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06

Once again- glad I have a cat.

If I told her to stop meow-ing and got down on all fours and started licking myself, she'd just give me the 'kitty look of death' and walk away.

I love that look. We have two persians and we get that look a lot.

We used to have a persian that loved getting in the car. She absolutely adored it. My husband used to take her on with him to pick up dinner and she used to go nuts at the drive thru window at KFC.

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by texas*princess

If someone is not going to take the time to properly train their dogs, they shouldn't have one.

Owning a dog, regardless of it's past, is taking on responsibility.

The OP has not even tried to "cure" the dog of it's fear. She's only yelled at it and pulled on it's collar.

If someone is not going to be responsible and properly train their dog, they don't need to have one. So many dogs out there misbehave because they have ridiculous amounts of anxiety that can very easily be dealt with if the owners took the time to try to understand where it's coming from and get with someone who can help them. (i.e. a professional)

Giving a dog drugs without even TRYING anything is not helping the animal in any way... and she just shrugs it off "well he's already 10! he'll be dead in a few years so I give up.. I'll just keep yelling at him if his drugs don't work"... riiiiight.

What alternative methods have you used really, besides yelling at him, pulling his collar and asking for professional help on a message board? Just curious.

I get the feeling you just came here looking for someone to justify what you already wanted to do anyway.

Co-sign. And it looks like she might be getting a new one, too:

Originally Posted by HotDamnImAPhiMu

I meant spay, not neuter. This is for a girl puppy.

Wait, you have a dog who you already have to dump off because you work all day, and are considering getting a puppy? do you have any idea how much time and attention a puppy needs?

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by icelandelf

My husband used to take her on with him to pick up dinner and she used to go nuts at the drive thru window at KFC.

HA. I can't PAY my cat to get into the car. We have to go the sedative route (do not flame me) to get her to her vet appointments without her attempting to filet us with her claws (she's still got claws). Her trips to the vet are the most anxiety-inducing events of her kitty life. I feel like the best thing for me to do is give her something that's going to give her a little relief on the way there and back.

Don't get me wrong, cats require love and attention, but I am thankful for the fact that I can leave during the day and be confident that when I come home at night, she will have the situation under control (as long as she doesn't get to the toilet paper). I don't feel like I need to run home during the day to check on her. I think it's really important that the pet you have fits your lifestyle. Cats suit it just fine right now.

[Tippiechick]

Originally Posted by ree-Xi

Co-sign. And it looks like she might be getting a new one, too:

Wait, you have a dog who you already have to dump off because you work all day, and are considering getting a puppy? do you have any idea how much time and attention a puppy needs?

Post deleted because you're determined to be a fucking bitch no matter what is said in this thread...