First of all, I’m working with a trainer and behaviourist and vet, so I’m taking a variety of professional advice but I also want to hear some real world experiences.
We adopted DDog eighteen months ago when she was about 5. She’s a golden cocker, former puppy farm breeder. She has a wonderful kind nature but was evidently never socialised and seems to have been beaten as she is terrified of raised hands and sudden movements even after a year and a half.
She is much better than she was and loves walks and affection but she’s still very anxious on a daily basis. Any commotion in the house upsets her for days and she will wee on her bed, the carpets and furniture until she’s feeling secure again.
She absolutely cannot tolerate travelling in the car and is sick within half a mile, so we are very limited on where we can take her. We have taken her out on longer journeys once or twice to National Trust houses and she loves it when she gets there but finds the travelling very traumatic so we don’t do it at the moment.
She has a number of beds and safe spaces around the house. Her favourite is her crate which has a blanket over it but allows her to look out over the garden through the French doors and back into the kitchen, so she feels hidden but still in touch with what’s happening in her territory.
Photo tax coming.