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MINIMU - can I please ask for your advice again? :)

6 replies

MotherJack · 09/05/2011 17:53

I'm posting on behalf of a fellow person who has adopted rescue dogs. She seems to have a problem with the pup (I think she must be 14-18 months by now).

Just before she went away to see family abroad, their house got broken into by a crack addict saying he was hiding from people whilst they were all sat there, - the door was broken and there was a lot of loud noise, banging/crashing. The bloke only ran away when they phoned the police and the whole incident lasted around 5 minutes. The dogs were beside themselves, particularly the pup, who is still taking it very hard.

The post below is one on her return from her visit with family abroad. The pup (M) and B have been in the home, looked after by her DP all the time she has been away.

I'm Baaaack ! ! And was greeted extremely enthusiatically by M and B and then M promptly ignored me ! and has been doing it on and off ever since ! Think she is a little put out that I left her ! She has definately grown - but sideways, filling out and her head is bigger. She is still very jumpy with regards to noises outside (due to the door being bashed in prior to me leaving) We are carrying on as usual and dont make a fuss but am wondering if there is anything else we could be doing ? She is quite skittish now and barks at the drop of a pin outside the front door, DP says its been going on since i left so its been nearly a month since the incident happened - any ideas on what we can do to make her feel safer in her house ? Or just leave it and hope she will eventually settle down ?

I'd very much appreciate any advice you could give me to pass on to her. It's not going away!

Thank you Smile

OP posts:
missjulie · 09/05/2011 23:06

MJ, sent you a PM

minimu1 · 10/05/2011 13:55

I hope MJ pm helped. I think they are doing exactly the right thing carrying on as normal and ignoring any reaction. I think she will settle down - I expect a lot of it has been her owners reaction to the event (how horrific by the way).

Back to my old favourite but clicker training is great to boost confidence so as much training as the puppy can get at the moment also tends to keep her busy and thinking of training and not worrying about other things - worth a try

MotherJack · 10/05/2011 15:05

Thank you both! (I will get back to you shortly MJ.) Whilst I "have" you is there any further advice you can give as they are now having issues with "B"?

Again, I'll cut and paste her message:

"About 2 months ago he was very scared by crop bangers on a walk but subsequently they have stopped after complaints to the council but since then he has been a bit jumpy if a loud noise occurs. Then as you know we had the incident with the guy breaking down our door...

Since then on walks during random periods but on most walks Bumble goes into what we call a "decline" - ears back, tail between legs and head down, sometimes its worse than others and sometimes he pulls himself out of it - generally we don't re-assure him as we don't want to him to think its okay etc..

Today however after 5 minutes of walking he bolted back to the car, there were no bangs - that I heard anyway - and nothing unusual about the walk. I went back to get him and then tried on another route but again he started trying to go back to the car so I put him on the lead and he just ended up by chocking himself on the collar as he was pulling so badly. I let him into the car and left him there and stood in front of the car throwing the Frisbee for M so he could see me.... I went back a few times and invited him out but he would not even look at me, just sat there shivering....

I just don't know what to do as I have never had this type of issue with a dog before and as my dad said staffies are very sensitive little dogs and can be slightly mental....

do you have any advice on what I can do to reassure him but not make him think this type of behaviour is alright ??"

Both of her dogs seem to exhibiting fearful behaviour, but in different situations!! Would really appreciate further advice I can pass on to her. Thank you Smile

OP posts:
minimu1 · 10/05/2011 16:08

Desensitise. Can you get a recording of a bang and play it very quietly while the dog is either being feed or played with. If she reacts turn it down a bit - do not react in anyway at all no praise, no comforting.

Gradually turn the sound up until she is happy with the sound, then move onto real sounds as opposed to recordings. If you can find another crop banger even better - stay a long way away from it but so it can be heard and play play and play. Gradually over a period of days move closer.

Desensitisation really does work but you have to go slowly and make sure the reward is really high quality

MotherJack · 10/05/2011 16:39

Thank you Minimu - you're a gem Smile

OP posts:
minimu1 · 10/05/2011 16:50

no problem Blush

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