I really, really feel for you :(

Harry's NOT IN THE LEAST treat orientated, which makes life trickier!

I know this sounds a bit crazy - but does she have a favourite toy in the whole world? The only way I can EVER get Harry's attention away from what he's doing, is to take (in his case) his Kong Air Squeaker ball, and make it squeak at the appropriate time.

When he was little, I carried it everywhere....might something like that help? I'm so sorry you're going through all this, I don't know how to help...Sally + Harry x

Thank you for your reply. Ginger does love squeaky toys. I could take one of those along and see if that gets her attention. Thanks for the idea. I'm willing to try anything at this point. I appreciate the support. :)

Jaeger isn't nervous like Ginger-he does get separation anxiety and was anxious in the care for a long time. He now has a car seat, which, when he gets used to it, will help him a lot, I think.

I do have a comment on "how do i get her into that calm state." This isn't a quick fix, but it worked for us-whenever Jaeger was on the bed with us, reacting appropriately by sitting relaxed (not alert and watchful) or laying content, I would tell him to settle. Then, because he was already settled when I gave the command, i'd tell tell enthusiastically "good boy! good settle" and give him a treat.

I can now use this command in the house when he is excited and he will calm down-we are still working on it working outside of the house.

I could try that! Another great idea. Thanks Ancora Imparo! Ginger is well behaved at home, so I could easily start with this. She always sits with me on the sofa. I will try this tonight to get her settle.

I wish I were there. It is so hard to try to give advice about behavior when, I can not see what the dogs body is doing or see mounting tension, licking lips etc. I can only guess what triggered the hyper/panic/over stimulated behavior.
1. Car rides may be easier if you put her in a crate. Cover the crate. To train her to this. Put her in the crate with a nice bully stick or Kong filled with treats, cover the crate. Wait a few minuets then pick up the crate and walk around the house. If she reacts ignore her and calmly walk back to the starting point and put the crate down. Wait a few minuets and uncover the crate and casually open the door. Don't play into her over reaction of greeting, dancing and noise making. Ignore that, like nothing unusual happened. Do the house walk abouts for a week, gradually take her outside around the yard, into the car slam doors and just set there. Start the car. Next day start car, and go for a short ride, bring her back in the house to the starting place before you uncover. The goal is to desensitize her to going places. Hyper-reactive Yorkies seem to feel calmer and safer in a crate. If they are crate trained as puppies to think of their crate, as a safe little den this works quite quickly.
2. Take a trip to the Vet and just sit in the waiting room for 10 minuets, then go back home return to the starting point and uncover and open the door. If you tell people what you are doing they will gladly help.
3.Eventually the idea is to be able to take her to a friends, the Vets etc. on a leash. after about a month of covered crate travel, try uncovering the crate so she can see where you are. If she over reacts by panting , screaming etc. cover her up.
4. If you can work up to the point of her staying calm in an uncovered crate, you are ready to put a leash on her harness and leave the crate door open. If she comes out on her own and is calm, just hold the leash lightly and let her move around on her own. If she gets over excited put her back in the crate and cover.
5. This lesson take patience, practice. I hope it helps you. We have used this with good sucess with panic stricken and over reactive rescues.

The crate! That is amazing advice Teresa!!!! I just started another thread on this and you were recommended! I'm thrilled you replied. Thank you so much! :D:D

Back to the crate - GREAT IDEA! I wondered why she didn't act like this last time I took her to the vet but she was sick so I had her in her crate on her last visit! She loves her crate! She sleeps in a soft sided crate every night so it's nothing new to her. She was crate trained as a puppy. I am absolutely going to try that with her. What I do know is that she will WHINE - she's terrible about that. I can shush her but she is likely to whine again. I try to ignore her but then she escalates. Any advice on the whine?

Two suggestions: 1. try giving her her favorite toy, or chew thing in the crate.
2. Use the same cue word for her to be quiet every time. We like Enough as a cue word. Because when she is Quiet You can praise with Good Quiet. You can cover the crate if that helps.

I will absolutely try a chew toy. Maybe I will stuff her kong to keep her busy.

Thanks again for all of your wonderful advice!!! :thumbs up I have hope that she can be re-programmed and I'm excited about it.

I'll be back with updates and I'm sure more questions as we progress! :)