Do I need to find a new kennels?

[GalaxyInMyPants]

Our dog has been to this kennels a couple of times before. For a weekend and recently for a week.

He's back there now for four nights. Last time they said he was ok but a bit subdued. Which didnt suprise me as he's quite nervous around people he doesn't know.

When we dropped him off on Monday we went into the reception area and he seemed ok. Then when the lady came from behind the desk we noticed there was poo on the floor. He'd pooed himself. Which he never does inside.

I'm worried he was really scared. The lady then took his lead and walked him to the kennels but she was really having to pull him along as he didnt want to go.

I know that no dog is going to be happy in kennels. I don't think he's been mistreated at all so not really sure what to do. I daren't do home boarding for him because he does bite sometimes. And he doesn't get on with other dogs.

[Fav]

Could you find someone he's familiar with to house sit?

[GalaxyInMyPants]

Noone I know will have him.

Dh is actually at home but I can't leave him with dh as the dog hates dh.

My neighbour comes round and let's the dog out for me if I have to work a bit longer than usual sometimes. But she puts her wellie boots on and can't get him out in the garden. He skulks about under the table growling.


We are under a good behaviourist but nothing seems to be working. Hs better than when we got him but he's been at a plateau for a good eight months.

[SpicyBear]

Is it unavoidable that he is kennelled? I would be extremely reluctant to kennel a dog with such severe fear/anxiety issues as he will probably take quite some time to recover from the stress. That will impact on his ability to respond to the behavioural work you are doing

[LEMmingaround]

What spicy said. Any good done by working with the behaviourist will be undone.

[Floralnomad]

I'd leave him at home with DH if there is a next time , he might get to like him if he's dependent on him for walks and dinner - and it's better than being scared .

[GalaxyInMyPants]

Well he won't be needing to be kennelled again until next summer. I guess we can see how he is nearer the time.

I feel bad now, didnt realise how much he must have hated it last time.

My last dog didnt love kennels, but she never pooed herself on arrival!

[SpicyBear]

I really hope this doesn't come across as very harsh, but are you sure you are seeing the best behaviourist for him? Just that I would expect them to have warned you about kennelling and advised you to have put a stop to the neighbour coming in when it stresses him out so much. You cannot do successful behaviour mod with a dog that is so stressed and over threshold. Also, have you been talked through the range of signals he will have to tell you he is uncomfortable? Hiding under tables, growling and pooing himself are at quite the severe end of the spectrum yet you don't seem confident to identify stress signals. That isn't a criticism at all. Just wanting you both to get the help you need.

[GalaxyInMyPants]

Behaviourist is meant to be one of the best in the country. Must admit I haven't been overly impressed with some of the advice.

They said that when the dog growls at dh, dh has to back out the room. I asked what dh should do when the dog follows him out the room growling and snarling. They said the dog won't do that.....well he does.

Sometimes I think its our fault we're still at this stage as we don't follow the advice all the time. If we did dh would never have been in our kitchen in the last year. Its not practical for him to not be able to go in the kitchen in his own home.

[SpicyBear]

The thing is the advice needs to be tailored to your situation, taking into account your living arrangements etc. So for example creating a safe space for him away from areas that your DH obviously needs to go in.

You could go back and explain the issues - they should be able to work with you to revise the program.