Serious social anxiety (how to reverse it?)

[Giselle]

As a young pup, Lucky was not socialized in active areas. To make matters worse, we live in the hills where I swear only 5 cars pass our house daily. When we finally began taking him to dog parks and trails, it was too late. He would salivate heavily, breath quicker (to the point of breathlessness/snorting), tuck his tail and get a wild eyed look while wandering aimlessly about. If there are cars, it's even worse. He'll strain at his leash and began backwards sneezing while tugging this way and that.

Despite this, Lucky is very well trained and behaved. He knows many tricks and has long since mastered the basic five with minimal distractions (I work with him in the front yard. Though there are no cars here, there are many dog walkers). We also started him on backyard agility equipment, and he's a natural at the sport. This is why I'm asking for your help. I *really* want to try agility classes with Lucky, but our only obstacle is getting him to at least stay calm in high stress/distraction areas.

Though he LOVES meat, he refuses to eat/drink while in public. Once he hears the cars zooming by or watches the feet of strangers walk around him, he just blanks out and doesn't respond to your voice or your treats. He shivers and tugs at the lead searching for someplace quiet. We still try to "cure" his anxiety by frequently going to the dog park/trails/downtown/visiting people's houses/etc, but it doesn't seem to be improving. I'm stuck in a rut, because I simply can not divert his attention. Can anyone help?

[jesse_3]

What you could do is find a few friends, and have one of them come in, if he doesn't react, the next day, get two people in. You have to wait for Lucky to get used to that number of people before you add another. Eventually, he should get used to people. Introduce everything SLOWLEY though, or you will make it worse...Good luck! I hope that this helps!

Could you post some pics of Lucky? I would LOVE to see him!

Stephanie

[Giselle]

Oh, thanks! :) However, I was kind of asking how I can reverse his anxiety in public. He's alright at home with visitors, but he blanks out and just goes nuts in public. We took him out to visit my relative who lives in a very active neighborhood (lots of cars and people), and he was actually doing better! He didn't whine as much and he drooled a little less, haha.

Sure, I'd love to share pics of him! Here are a few pictures:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/The%20Dogs/IMG_1180.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/The%20Dogs/IMG_1178.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/The%20Dogs/LuckyandGreenie.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/LSophie/The%20Dogs/IMG_1065.jpg

I also have an album on mypetpages: greypeke.mypetpages.net

[Crikit]

What is your reaction when he starts to act like that in public? Do you baby him and comfort him or do you just ignore it?

After dealing with a couple of dogs who freaked out in public and having one now that most likely will have sort of the same problem (that would Beaker, he wasn't properly socialized and as a result he doesn't quite know what to think of some things) I have found that the best thing to do in situations like that is to put it bluntly make the dog deal with it.

If you start acknowledging the dogs behaviour they're more likely to continue to do it while if you ignore it and don't really give them a choice they eventually figure out that if mom is okay with it then I should be fine as well. So far that thinking has been doing wonders for Beaker as a lot of stuff that I think he would totally loose his mind to he's been doing quite well with because I've kept calm and just made him face it.

Just take baby steps, go some place near your house for a few minutes and if Lucky starts to freak ignore it (I know it will be hard to do, truse me I know. I still have a hard time if Winter freaks) but if he kind of settles down a little even if it's for a second or two heap tons of praise and attention on him so he knows that it's not a bad thing. Then keep doing stuff like that until he can handle the situation for longer periods and eventually he might get to a point where he'll take a treat or something along those lines. Just remember to stay calm and don't get stressed by it.

As for the agility if you could find a good place to take classes with a good instructor you might be able to explain your situtation to them and see if it's something that they would be willing to work with in class or perhaps give you some homework to work on, for it. I know the classes that I help at we have all types of dogs with different problems and my friend is always willing to give them advice and stuff to work on at home to help them get over any problems they might be having.

I know that when I started agility Smudge was not really in a postition to always handle the class but we took our time and worked slowly with him and now we're advancing through the levels and have made it into the high stress situtation that is Superdogs.

[Giselle]

I'm okay when Lucky starts to act up. I just let him be a fool and tug on the leash. I usually stand in one position and let him "brave the storms". After he's tugged himself out, I make him sit. Then, I'll pet him. When he's freaking out, I usually shorten the lead so that even if he does tug around and sniff like crazy, he won't wander far off :p That reminds me, do you think eating a mint or chewing gum would help ease his worries? I remember that in the show ring, you're often recommended to eat a few mints before you enter the ring because the dog can sense your tension. I forgot about the Alpha thing...Thanks for reminding me!

See, the problem is we live 2 miles away from any decently busy place. The roads here are quiet like heck. I think a total of five cars pass our house daily. So in order to work on his anxiety, we'd have to drive 5 minutes each way up and down a hill, which, last time, very easily shortened our car's lifespan, LOL. I really want to work on his anxiety everyday, but this neighborhood is freakishly quiet and calm.

Do you think we could start an agility class without at least 80% fixing his anxiety? Because his social anxiety transfers into separation anxiety, his Stays are non-existant. He also doesn't sit and absolutely will not go into a Down position because he often feels threatened by passing feet. But if you've tried agility without totally curing your dog's anxiety, I'd be glad to try it out. We've bought the Cautious Canine in the meantime. Have you read it?

[Crikit]

I've never heard of that book before I might have to look it up at work tomorrow. Or the stuff about the mint, although when I take Winter out to run her on an agility course or if I'm taking Smudge to a situtation that I know will be hard for him to settle down in I give them some Scallcap and Veralian it's a herbal medicine for anxiety, stress, travle sickness and such.

For the agility classes it's probably best to get the trainers opinion because they're all different as to how they approach agility. I know my friend is willing to work with all types of dogs and people while other trainers in the city aren't, and I know that if I were to have gone somewhere else when I first started classes it would have been a different story. But if you can get in to a good class with a positive trainer they should be able to help you somewhat with Lucky.

[jesse_3]

Lucky is SO cute for one thing! Sorry, I haven't been real current on PT...:rolleyes: I think that Crikits ideas are good! I could ask my animal classes teacher if she has any suggestions, if you want. I think she told us (my class) about one of her dogs that behaved in this manner. Let me know if you want me to ask her!! Thanks for sharing the pictures! Is he a shih tzu pekegnese mix?-or a Shih tzu?

[Giselle]

Jesse_3, that'd be fantastic if you could ask your instructor! To be honest, I'm not completely sure what breed Lucky is. He was from a BYB so I just assume he's a purebred Pekingese. Looking at the old black and white pictures, he shows resemblance to the old-style Pekes.

[jesse_3]

I will ask my teacher if she has any suggestions! I will report them tomorrow!! Lol, sorry about the breed, I wasnt' paying much attention to his breed, I was REALLY tired that night....He is really cute though!

[jesse_3]

I am SO sorry that it took me this long to reply, but my computer broke down! I did ask my teacher about suggestions, and she said that you have to introduce the dog to the different situations very slowly! First you have get him used to the scent of cars, and have one drive by slowly, etc. With the people, take him in small crowds and work your way up...She also said that every dog is different, so, it might not work for yours and she wishes you the best of luck!
I'm really sorry!