Hello all - I'm a new user here. I'm loving this board - people seem to treat differing opinions really respectfully, which is wonderful - and challenging to find online!
Here's our story: My husband and I have two dogs. We adopted Max from Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago almost three years ago. He's a seven year old, brindle, Yorkie/Poodle mix. He was raised in a family with two kids, then left at the shelter when he was about 4 1/2 because the family couldn't put in the time with him anymore - their loss, our HUGE gain. We love our boy - he was even the ringbearer at our wedding!
When we first got Max, he was great with people, but terrified of other dogs. He apparently hadn't spent any time with other dogs at all and didn't know how to handle it. So, whenever he saw another dog he'd shake violently and sit down behind us and hide.
Another problem was his MASSIVE separation anxiety. When we leave the house we'd give him the bedroom for his den (and never leave more than four-five hours at a time) and he's bark his head off and scratch the door like crazy. We'd put him in a crate, which made it even worse, but we kind of had no choice since he'd destroy the doors trying to get out.
The third problem we had with him was his excessive barking - he barks at everything!
Well, we brought him to this place for training and socialization - and it worked like a charm. He became less timid, started playing with other dogs, etc. He's still timid, but it's way better. He still had sep. anxiety, but we were able to stop crating him and gave him the run of the bedroom when we left the house, or else we'd daycare him. He never stopped the excessive barking no matter what kind of corrections we used.
Then, this year, we noticed that he was really depressed and that the only time he'd perk up was either a - after a day at doggie daycare (where we take him when we're both working) or b - after a day playing with our friends' two Jack Russell terriers.
Last month we brought Max to an adoption fair run by Rover Rescue and he picked out a playmate - Petey, a 2 1/2 year old, black, Poodle/Bedlington Terrier mix. Great dog and the two get along great.
The problem is this: these two timid dogs have become a real pack - they have overcome all shyness and insecurity and now bark excessively all the time. Additionally, walking them has become a nightmare. Without warning, if someone (and it doesn't happen with everyone so we dont' know what's triggering it) walks down the street, they will bark, growl, tug and lunge at the person. We're horrified and concerned because we have to apologize to everyone we see. Because they're so cute most people forgive it and laugh, but to us it's not funny, it's an increasingly scary behavior.
They also still bark like crazy when we're home.
We're trying the sonic collars - the ones that make an annoying noise when the dogs bark, which seems to be helping a little. We're also trying halti collars for the walks - the ones that don't let the dogs pull on you - the dogs hate it, but we're trying.
Does anyone have any recommendations on this? Any past experiences others have had, etc. are GREATLY appreciated!!
Reply With Quote
- I guess I also need advice on how to post a picture! LOL...
Again, welcome to Pet Talk. You'll love it here!
Bookmarks