HELP - Sudden panic attacks

[donal_sharkey]

Hi All,

I am hoping you could offer some advice or help as to what is wrong with Alfie. He is 18 months old Yorkie.

He is normally a confident dog, loves to sniff other dogs bums, chase them round, chase balls etc... (all the things dogs like to do). However last Thursday morning when i took him to the park (usual park) he was playing just fine and we to sniff a bull dogs butt, he just freaked out and ran straight out of the park. Tail between his legs and ears back, really scared! He would not listen, stop or come back. Luckily he waited by the car for me to come.

Friday he done the same thing, saturday the same. But on Sunday he ran out into very busy road and i had to run out after him so the 2 of us nearly got hit by a car. Each day i was nervous to take him off the lead but did as i thought he needs to learn.

But no i am terrified to take him off as he may just run away. he can be his normal happy self one second and the next he freaks out and runs. So he cannot be trusted.

The only trigger as such i can see is the noise from a group of kids, he isn't scared of kids just the noise, i think.

So i dont know what to do, how to treat his as i might make worse etc..

Any advice would be brilliant.

[Nancy1999]

My advice would be to never have him off his leash, he has proven to you that he can't be trusted. You are very lucky, but I wouldn't push my luck if I were you.

[yorkietalkjilly]

Keep your dog leashed to avoid his running and getting into real trouble when out in the public. I would keep desensitizing him to things in very frequent, very, very short episodes and then remove him from the sound/noise/area he fears immediately after that short exposure so that he understands even though the experience is fearful at first, it is over very quickly & he didn't get hurt. Use high-value treats(boiled chicken, turkey hot dogs - something a dog really loves and not just kibble or beef jerky or other dry treats but something juicy - when he's undergoing the episode in the park to keep his nose and food instincts as much to the forefront of his current reality as possible and the noises kind of back in his brain. Stay very positive and upbeat yourself throughout the training. Once you've left the area and he's walking along calmly, praise him genuinely.

Just keep going back to the park with him on lead and with the lovely treats to get his brain on the food when a sound happens and then quietly and matter of factly leave.

The important thing above all - you must remain very matter of fact & very, very calm through these sessions where the scary noises are. Don't pity or feel anxious about taking to him to the park - it's just the source of a fear for him but can't injure him & over time and many positive experiences, he can overcome the bad episodes with new ones tied to a high-value enticing food distraction and over time will get used to the odd sounds that happen when out and about, connecting them to good experiences. But take a deep breath and relax yourself from head to toe before you go into the park and purpose in your mind to stay relaxed even if he panics again. Each session should lesson his fear response with that good food, a calm mommie and lots of repetition to show him that noise really isn't bad.

Once he's not afraid of the noises, you can slowly reintroduce him to smelling other dog's bottoms but keep him leashed and at first, allow a sniff or two and then walk away before he associates it with the earlier panic response from the smelling and the kids noises at the same time. After you are a bit away from the dog, reward him with a nice treat and keep walking. Once he's walking calmly and you are well away from the other dog and he's not panicked, genuinely praise him. Just repeat all that for a few weeks and then slowly allow more sniffs of each dog. This over time should help him to replace the old scary times with new, good ones that don't last long. With a fearful dog, I would keep all of these episodes very short for a long, long time so he learns that nothing there where he was scared will last for too long.

[gracielove]

I agree with above comments. Never let your dog out in public uncontrolled. I don't know what is bothering him but he is not in a safe area if he can run off like that.
It can take years of training to get a dog to come on command despite distracting circumstances. It sounds like yours has a way to go.

[Yorkiemom1]

Originally Posted by Nancy1999

My advice would be to never have him off his leash, he has proven to you that he can't be trusted. You are very lucky, but I wouldn't push my luck if I were you.

PLEASE!!! Do not take him off his leash again....this is a heartbreak just waiting to happen.............

[SWHouston]

Besides your own piece of mind, having him leashed, there may be some legal issues to consider.

Many places require a Dog to be on a Leash full time, you need to verify that.
When he's off the Leash, YOU are responsible for his actions, regardless of where he is, and liable if he injures anyone, and that can include someone swerving a Vehicle to miss him, and having an accident.
However, when he IS on a leash, you are usually protected by the "common sense" application of the Law, in that you were attempting to control him in an acceptable manner, and the person/other animal came into that restricted area. This applies if he's injured as well.

Leashing is just a good idea in any case.

[chachi]

There is no way you should have him off leash

[lynzy420]

As the others have stated, it is never a good idea to have your dog off a leash, sorry I just don't believe it is safe...dog park or not. There are too many things that can go wrong, IMHO, these dogs are little.

I wonder has ANYTHING ELSE CHANGED? Eating, drinking, sleeping etc iis normal? No vomiting, diahrrhea etc?

I would be concerned if anything else has changed and would get him to the vet for a good check up. Sudden strange behaviors can indicate other more serious problems, not to be an alarmist but neurological disorder comes to mind etc.,

If this is the only time his behavior has become odd I would get him in to a doggie daycare a.s.a.p. for a couple days a week until he overcomes this new fear...perhaps a round of dog training at PetSmart as a diversion could also help change this. I personally, would not take him back there until your sure hes over his fear, I certainly wouldn't like anyone forcing ME to go on a rollercoaster over and over because I am afraid of theM...kwim?

[LILBIT1]

A leashed pet is a HAPPY, SAFE, ALIVE pet. Please keep them leashed.

[CouversMom]

I agree with the others. It is never safe to have them off leash unless they are in a fenced area... I wouldn't push your luck!

[Harrysmum]

Originally Posted by donal_sharkey

Hi All,

I am hoping you could offer some advice or help as to what is wrong with Alfie. He is 18 months old Yorkie.

He is normally a confident dog, loves to sniff other dogs bums, chase them round, chase balls etc... (all the things dogs like to do). However last Thursday morning when i took him to the park (usual park) he was playing just fine and we to sniff a bull dogs butt, he just freaked out and ran straight out of the park. Tail between his legs and ears back, really scared! He would not listen, stop or come back. Luckily he waited by the car for me to come.

Friday he done the same thing, saturday the same. But on Sunday he ran out into very busy road and i had to run out after him so the 2 of us nearly got hit by a car. Each day i was nervous to take him off the lead but did as i thought he needs to learn.

But no i am terrified to take him off as he may just run away. he can be his normal happy self one second and the next he freaks out and runs. So he cannot be trusted.

The only trigger as such i can see is the noise from a group of kids, he isn't scared of kids just the noise, i think.

So i dont know what to do, how to treat his as i might make worse etc..

Any advice would be brilliant.

Sounds like the Bulldog's butt was the problem.....

In all honesty - you should NOT be letting your Littlie off the lead in this circumstance....I KNOW Brighton and how busy it is....please don't risk your lives - nothing is worth that....

I know others sometimes disagree - but have you thought of buying a Flexi lead? Harry's re-call is brilliant, but there are certain places I take him where I wouldn't be without one.

If you do decide to get one, please get the 'all tape' one, not the cord, as they tend to snap. We can get the soft-grip, long-line ones....your little one won't even realise he's on the lead.... Please don't risk it any more! Sally + Harry x