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05-21-2008, 06:52 PM | #1 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Saskatchewan
Posts: 3,154
| :( Frustration I started Layla in puppy classes even though she is over 2 years old, because her only problem is that she is terrified of other dogs. I don't know why, because I tried to socialize her at lot when she was a baby, she played with my parents' dog and my grandma's dog and my friends' dogs. Then last year I started taking her to the dog park and she would get so scared she wouldn't move. I kept on it and took her every week but she was still terrified. So when I contacted this place about classes, they told me she would probably benefit from the puppy classes. When we first got there, she sniffed at the other dogs, but as soon as they tried playing with her, she ran. She hid under the table for almost 20 minutes while all the other puppies were socializing and playing. We had to call them and give them treats when they came. She came the first time, but spit the treat out and wasn't interested for the rest of the class. She wouldn't come anymore when I called. I took her outside to pee and she just went and laid down against the fence. Then we brought the dogs in on leashes and were doing sit, down, and stay, which I thought would be a good change because she has known those commands since she was a baby. I said "sit" and she wouldn't even look at me. She would stand there, or she would sniff the ground, but she would NOT sit. She refused. I felt so helpless. All the other little puppies were sitting and laying down on command, the owners were walking away and they'd just stay there. Layla just sniffed the floor and wouldn't even listen to my voice. I was honestly so frustrated I felt like crying. I don't know what to do. I've tried so hard but it seems hopeless! Now that we're home again she will do anything I ask her to. Why is she so determined to ignore me whenever she wants???
__________________ Lindsey and Layla, Lucy, and Kash |
Welcome Guest! | |
05-22-2008, 07:31 AM | #2 |
Donating YT Addict | hmmm..I would maybe see if you can get your money back and ask your trainer if she knows of a small dog class or maybe a class that has fewer dogs in it. It sounds like she is overwhelmed by the class. Don't feel to badly though. My baby isn't to scared he is the opposite. He is Mr. Social with no attention span. He knows how to sit at home and at class this week we had to get them to sit for 1 minute. All the other dogs sat and he just stood there and looked at me. Finally right as the minute was up he sat. The we moved onto the down. He had no idea what I was asking. All the dogs got it and he still didn't. The trainer has us keep trying while they moved onto the down to stand command. We still didn't get it. Finally she thought of a new technique that worked. Sometime these small ones need special patience and particular techniques that all trainers aren't familiar with. Ask around or call your trainer and see if they have some other techniques you can try. I hope this helps!
__________________ Member of the Little Gentleman's Club |
05-22-2008, 07:39 AM | #3 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Saskatchewan
Posts: 3,154
| I think the class size is already pretty small... they are seperated during socialization and play time because the place is pretty huge. There's a large gate that seperates the big-breed puppies from the small puppies, and in the small side there are only 4 other dogs. They were all having a great time together except Layla. I find the same thing happens when we have a doggy day at work... there could be just one other dog here, half the size of Layla, and she cowers from it. Is the only way to fix this to keep putting her in these situations? I feel like I should take her out more and not baby her when there are other dogs around. At the dog park, if another dog comes towards her she'll jump at me to be picked up. I guess that probably doesn't help. I feel that she'd be more well-rounded and happy if she knew how to play with other dogs. I will talk to the trainer about it next week. She told me it would be really good for her to be around all these other puppies who are more social, and maybe she'll come out of her shell.
__________________ Lindsey and Layla, Lucy, and Kash |
05-22-2008, 07:42 AM | #4 |
YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: scotland
Posts: 2,224
| Don't get disheartend, I think that she is just overwhelmed by so many at the one time. Is there any dogs she does get on with. I have the same problem with Lottie but although she is terrfied she will bark and even try to nip the other dogs....we have been to a behaviourist who says try and distract her. well that did not work ,we took her to classes and she created blue murder barking at everyone. She would eventually calm down and could do all the commands , just as long as none of the others came near!! We are trying clicker training and treating her for even the smallest amount of time she is calm and hoping this works. We have gotten her used to a few small dogs who she now quite enjoys meeting so we hope to improve on this.Like you we socialised her from day one , but she had a bad experience with a dog trying to pick her up.. Maybe if you could speak to the trainer and try to introduce one small dog to her or if they have a rebilation class where the have a non reactive dog that is very calm with other dogs that might help as there may be tto much going on the the trainning class for her. i.e the commands to be done and the meeting and greeting of other dogs. You could try ClickerSolutions Home for ideas. Good luck.
__________________ From Julie Alfie & Lottie |
05-22-2008, 07:53 AM | #5 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Saskatchewan
Posts: 3,154
| Thanks! I have also been using a clicker. I was worried about starting clicker training at her age because I taught her just with voice commands when she was little, but she caught on quick to what the clicker means. She does get along with my parents' dog. They will run around together for a little while, and eventually they are okay just sharing the yard together. They are comfortable being together I guess. I think my mom is too overprotective of her when I go home though, because as soon as Sage (miniature american eskimo) starts chasing her, she yells at him to stop because she thinks Layla is going to get hurt, but really they're just being dogs! And I guess that's teaching her too that it's not okay to play like that with other dogs. I'm taking her home this weekend and I'll try to get as much play time with them together as possible. I think I should also bring a better treat to the next class. She has allergies so I have to be careful of what I give her. I have been giving her carrots at home (which she LOVES) but she spit one out in class and then didn't want anymore. Maybe I'll try little bits of cheese. Any other suggestions?
__________________ Lindsey and Layla, Lucy, and Kash |
05-22-2008, 08:02 AM | #6 |
YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: scotland
Posts: 2,224
| We use little mini hotdogs cut into tiny pieces or little treats called coachies which are small loveheart shaped treats, they work well. Some people use chicken or there is even a special liver treat that you make your self that is supposed to be iresistable to dogs. She maybe picking up anxiety from your mum if she shouts at the other dog when they are playing. The clicker webstie is good for soluotions to different problems as well.
__________________ From Julie Alfie & Lottie |
05-22-2008, 08:04 AM | #7 |
YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: scotland
Posts: 2,224
| Lottie is also 2 & 1/2 so i feel for you as I know what we have been through trying to get her to relax with other dogs and not get to wound up about it our selfs.
__________________ From Julie Alfie & Lottie |
05-22-2008, 08:11 AM | #8 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Saskatchewan
Posts: 3,154
| Layla has never had hotdogs so I think it might be something she'd be interested in enough to maybe take her attention off the other dogs! Unfortunately, I can't stand them and nobody in my house eats them! I do have sausages made from deer meat, but I wonder if anything from processing that might upset her tummy... I have a feeling she is allergic to chicken, because the store was out of her regular fish-based food so I got her the chicken kind instead and she has been chewing her paws like crazy. I could also try some cut-up fruit! She goes crazy for apples, but if she's used to them I don't know if she'd be interested in that environment.
__________________ Lindsey and Layla, Lucy, and Kash |
05-22-2008, 08:23 AM | #9 |
YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: scotland
Posts: 2,224
| Iam vegetarian but I give lottie the little hotdogs for dogs and she loves them, the liver treats are supposedly irresistable but have not had the courage to try making them yet , think I will need to get my mum to make these. At least if you made them yourself you would know what is in them. I think in such a sittuation as class you need a real high value treat as they usually ignore the run of the mill stuff when the are stressed.Try putting liver treat recipe in the search box and it may come up if not I can get you a copy of it if you want to try it.
__________________ From Julie Alfie & Lottie |
05-22-2008, 08:28 AM | #10 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Saskatchewan
Posts: 3,154
| Thanks! I just found a bunch of recipes! I may have to try making some of these this weekend!
__________________ Lindsey and Layla, Lucy, and Kash |
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