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Originally Posted by Carmeow  I should have added that she is fine outside, its only inside she ever acts like this. I think it is because she doesnt know where the noises are coming from. If I pull the blinds up, for example, she can see them out the window from her perch on the arm of the chair. I try to keep them open most of the day but it does become a privacy issue.
Jeanie, you always give the most thoughtful and thorough training advice, thank you so much and you as well, Dawn. I'm going to try to work her through this. She's just so silly, getting worked up like this. I wish I could talk to her and reassure her. The crate thing is something I thought about, but wasn't sure if it'd help or hurt. I did consider switching them from potty pads to going outside but I don't know if the poor things could even potty in peace without being rushed by a huge crowd of kids screaming at them. Man, summer break will suck...all the kids will be out of school. We will have to get out of the house even more. |
You two can do it if you work with her now before she gets any worse. Build up her confidence in small ways and train, train, train for 3 - 5 minutes no less than x2 daily and more often when you can and you will see a huge response. Enrich her life in every way you can with puzzles and games you play with her and keep her exercising and on the go, too busy to worry a lot for the next month. You might try a Thundershirt as that helped Tibbe when he was untreated for his MVD and he had panic attacks.
I'd try confining her to her crate and you might even cover 3 sides of it with a blanket so she feels more cosseted by the little "den" but she likely won't need that if you rehab her from her fear over the next months.
I'd also probably get blood work, fecal, Ua and a vet exam just to be sure nothing internal is going on with her and making her fearful. Tibbe was panicky the whole time he was beginning to be symptomatic from his MVD at about age 3 and I didn't realize what was causing it again as he'd conquered his old fears once before. Now that he's been diagnosed and is on his treatment diet, no more panic except occasionally a loud or odd noise will make him a bit anxious but not panicked or shaking, running in fear from the room or to me. Sometimes we just think we know what is causing a dog's panic so a vet check might very well be in order, just to be certain it's not related to her health.