greytluck
Grey Addicted
Hobbes- Always loved, never forgotten.
Posts: 2,335
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Post by greytluck on Sept 10, 2007 14:07:27 GMT -5
When I first brought Hobbes home, he was a very shy and sensitive man. Everyday I would see improvement. My sister joked one day and said "wow he is a dog". That was until Thursday night, when I unknowingly brought him into the middle of a street fight. By the time I realized the situation it was to late. Hobbes bolted, I could barely hold on. It took me about ten minutes just to get him back home. This incident occurred literally at the only exit from my building. (there is one more but there a steep concrete stairs and he wont go near) Now he has completely reverted to the way he was when I first got him. He is scared of everything, people, dogs, cars, etc. He panics, starts to bolt in every direction to the point I think he may slip his collar. I try to ignore him but its hard to ignore an almost 80lbs dog jumping around. He ran in to me so hard yesterday I almost fell over. He hasn't shown an improvement the last couple days, I think he may be getting worse. Its effecting everything, he wont go to the bathroom unless there is absolutely no one around, he wont greet us at the door anymore, and he runs in fear from the leash. He has rubbed his neck raw from bolting as well. Does anyone no anything that might help, I've tried giving him a treat when he looks relaxed but he wont take them. Has anyone experienced something like this? I can't stand seeing him so scared, I need some advice.
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Post by P&G_mom&dad on Sept 10, 2007 14:52:26 GMT -5
A couple of suggestions, others, more experienced, I am sure will be able to help more.
Get a harness, so he can't slip his collar and he won't choke when you have to restrain him
It is probably going to take a lot of patience to make him feel secure again. Introduce him slowly to all the things that he was OK with and is now scared off. You simply need to build up his confidence again.
Make sure that you, through your body language, don't show any fear. He will easily "read" your emotions.
Small steps! It's going to take time! Have patience and praise him for everything that he does better!
Good luck
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Post by jiffer on Sept 10, 2007 15:44:44 GMT -5
Poor baby! You have to work with him to regain confidence. Little by little.. happy voices, lots of treats, lots of praise. Treat him like you did when he first came home. Each baby step he takes, give him some yummy treats and a heap of praise. He'll relearn that everything is safe. Whatever you do, don't baby him when he's afraid, that will only reinforce his fears. Pashas_mom&dad have a greyt suggestion about using a harness. But what I would suggest you do is have two leashes.. one attached to the harness and the other to his collar (double the protection if he tries to bolt; even harnesses are escapable). Good Luck! He did it once before, he will certainly do it again!
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greytluck
Grey Addicted
Hobbes- Always loved, never forgotten.
Posts: 2,335
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Post by greytluck on Sept 10, 2007 17:45:49 GMT -5
Where do I get a good fitting harness? I bought on at petsmart but it just not built for a greyhound.
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nimbyearl
Hound Nut
BUY CANADIAN!
Posts: 1,344
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Post by nimbyearl on Sept 10, 2007 18:34:40 GMT -5
I have the Wiggles, Wags & Whiskers Harnesses. I can include one with your coats. PM me please. They are a greyhound owners favorite and were made to fit a grey.
Liz
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Post by samrob on Sept 10, 2007 19:00:36 GMT -5
Are there any greys in your area that can visit so that you can try the "buddy system" every once in a while? It may help him to see a friend in the "scary place". You have done so well with him, I am sure you will get him back to where he was.
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Post by jiffer on Sept 11, 2007 8:21:03 GMT -5
The harness Liz is referring to is designed for the sighthound body. They are perfect especially if he gets spooked (it has a martingale on the back of it so if he tries to get out of it, it will tighten and hold him). I own three of them and couldn't be happier. I, too, tried the PetsMart varieties but nothing was up to par.
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Post by GreyPoopon on Sept 11, 2007 15:28:57 GMT -5
Poor Hobbes.
I don't have any more specific advice to add to what Jiffer and others have said, but I do want to encourage you to keep doing what you did when you first brought him home. He will regain his confidence, and it will probably happen faster this time. He's suffering because he's had his newfound confidence undermined, but once he realizes he's not going to end up in the middle of a fight every time, he'll start to relax.
I haven't had a dog as frightened as Hobbes, but Perry was a very spooky puppy (not afraid of people and dogs, just things and situations), and both Betsy and Edie lost their confidence on the stairs after a bad experience. Almost without exception, rebuilding confidence has been easier than building it in the first instance.
Time, patience, repetition of what you did the first time, and a good harness so you're less worried should do the trick.
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greytluck
Grey Addicted
Hobbes- Always loved, never forgotten.
Posts: 2,335
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Post by greytluck on Sept 11, 2007 17:52:43 GMT -5
Thanks for all the advice, you guys are the best.
Last night I took him for his usual hour long walk. I definetly saw an improvement once we were well away from our building. He seemed much more relaxed. Our pee breaks are still a challenge, he gets himself so worked up just to get out that he wont go. Should I drive to some other places to walk? Maybe he would enjoy walking again, in a different environment. Will this just avoid the problem? Hobbes is just the most sensitive soul I've ever had, so I worry about him.
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erinder
Grey Lover
Collarbones - for you guessed it, collars! (formerly Fussy Pup)
Posts: 421
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Post by erinder on Sept 11, 2007 19:33:37 GMT -5
Hey there, We too have a very sensitive boy who feared most everything for the first couple months we had him. Luckily he made steady progress, and doesn't normally revert back now, unless ofcourse he is faced with the scariest of all things imaginable: the toddler.
I do have one suggestion for you, based on what we experienced with Digby. As much as you might want to coddle him when your boy gets spooked, don't do it! For digby, every car, every person, and every leaf blowing across the sidewalk made him jump at first. he gradually started to get better from exposure to things for the first few days.. until i started coddling and cooing over him when he got frightened (ie; stopping and petting him to soothe him while a car went by). this was the worst thing i could have done and definitely took us a couple steps back in progress. i think i was indulging his fears and making him anticipate the scary things even more. so i changed what i was doing, and tried as much as possible to ignore the things that scared him and pretend like nothing was happening. Even when he got startled, i would just keep on walking and pulling him along. when i acted like everything was normal and safe (as if a sewer grate that makes a noise when you step on it isn;t??), he started changing his behaviour and learning to ignore things too.
i don't know your dog and i don't know if he would react the same way, but this worked for us. ofcourse nothing has been able to break him of his fear of toddlers. he runs from them like the plague!
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greytluck
Grey Addicted
Hobbes- Always loved, never forgotten.
Posts: 2,335
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Post by greytluck on Oct 11, 2007 17:17:54 GMT -5
I need some more advice. I'm still having a hard time with walks with Hobbes. For the most part he is actually ok once we get outside, he hasn't bolted or freaked out for quite some time. But getting him out has become the problem. As soon as he realizes I'm getting ready to go out he hides in the corner of the room and shakes. I try not to make a big show of it or anything but he is pretty perceptive. No amount of coaxing will make him move. Sweet talking and petting makes the shaking worse. I have been picking him up lately and carrying him to the hall. This isn't good for either of us but I don't know what else to do. On a side note in the mornings he is eager to go out, I take him at 4:30 as I start work very early. No one is out then and the streets are quiet. Also if he knows were going for a car ride he is willing to go. (I don't know how he does it but he seems to know)
Short of moving I'm at a loss as to what to do.
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Post by jiffer on Oct 12, 2007 9:00:48 GMT -5
How about some yummy treats? Have you tried offering him some tuna or sardines... some stinky irresistible treat that he only gets when he's good and goes outside with you? Bribery is one of the best ways to help them overcome their fears... "if you come out the door (lead/collar on), then you get this yummy bite.. if you walk down the hall.. you get some yummies too..."
Sweet talking and petting.. or any form of coddling usually will reinforce his fears. It's hard for us to not do that... I know, I'm guilty of it almost every time Uber gets spooked by something.
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Post by kpparker on Oct 12, 2007 9:54:25 GMT -5
Hmm.. that is tough and Hobbes is a big boy so I can imagine it's not easy trying to get him out. I guess I would try what jiffer suggested with really yummy treats... or another option is maybe enlisting a little bit of help from Hillary and Sonesta. Maybe you could figure out a way to time your walks with hers, and ask her to swing by your place on her way out and maybe the presence of Sonesta would encourage Hobbes to get outside.
If you left your front door open and walked a little bit down the hall would Hobbes come out? I'd also try that.. and then when he comes out on his own give hims lots of praise and treats.. maybe walk him in the hall a bit and then go back inside.. do that a few times so he realizes going in the hall isnt scary... then take him downstairs.. maybe don't walk - just look out the window if there's somewhere you can... make it fun (treats, happy voice, etc)... so basically just build him up slowly to going out.. its going to be tough and a lot of work but it'll be worth it when he's jumping at the door to go out.. so keep trying... short of that you could drive to Norwood everyday! lol..
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greytluck
Grey Addicted
Hobbes- Always loved, never forgotten.
Posts: 2,335
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Post by greytluck on Oct 12, 2007 11:29:02 GMT -5
short of that you could drive to Norwood everyday! lol.. Believe me I have actually considered this as an option. He loves car rides and going to new places, so I try to take him with me whenever possible. This isn't possible ever time he has to go out to pee though. I love him so much it just pains me to see him so scared of something he has to do 4 or more times day.
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Post by kpparker on Oct 12, 2007 11:57:28 GMT -5
I know what you mean - I hate when Bia gets scared (luckily its not very often but sometimes she still does but she never shakes - just tries to run away from whatever it is thats bothering her).
Keep us updated on how he's doing.... maybe try posting on Greytalk if you havent already to see if there's someone on there who has had to deal with a similar problem
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