cannibalgoldfish

Thank you! help that hasn't thrown me to the wolves! Ok, I know people here have dogs welfare at the first and formost but sometimes I read some replies and I do cringe. Noone wants to be seen as a bad pet owner and until recently things were fine here. Now, Madwoofer. Loki has no bad sad background. I have had him as as little weird pup and beyond. He has always had "issues" but none of that I blame on his previos owner. He was car sick and scared of travel when I got him but that wasn't his fault (tis a long way to Tasmania) He was always the "odd " child in the litter. . I did go with what his breeder said about him and she did pick him out just for me as a first time shiba owner. Basically when she looked over the litter he was the little mummies boy who sat on her foot and complained that everyone else was having too much fun. I love my little nut job, and he may have not been bursting with massive shiba attributes but he was seeping love and Lokiness from every pore. "- excessive coat loss - apathy while out walking. He gets excited at the prospect, but once out & in the park he'll just lie down in one spot - dull & ratty looking coat - sleeping more than usual" That is pretty much Loik. He used to love his walks :p Possumcorner.., I wish it was self rewarding. But I dont think it is. He really doesnt have any plan after he gets out. The vet said it was normal for these things to appear at this stage of his life. She mentioned it being because he is now "old" Am I totally in denial? I thought 8 was middle age for a shiba? I was talked out of the blood tests. Yes, I know thats bad but I kind of agreed a bit with her reasoning and that helped. I dont think he has all the major thyroid symptoms. But these vets did say anything I dont agree with they are happy to take it further. He is still playing with my mind... Up until now he hated being trapped inside. Tonight he has crashed on my favorite pajamas (there has to be a link right?) and wont budge.

Dont let it go now! You may have achieved that mystery breakthrough about how animals are important too! Anything free you can chuck their way will help. I mean advise, company or whatnot. (free is not just financial in this case, sometimes it is education. I have noticed the biggest step (possibly mental) is money. Then time. They have seen what a bit of attention has done, heres hoping they keep it up, or even better, go even further!

Please ignore the million spelling problems. I am tired. But have let Loki in tonight under supervision. This may help? He seems a lot calmer? House training tips may help...?

As the title said, I need help, advice, an exorcist?? ;) This has been something I have been trying to fix for a while now but I have reached that point where I feel totally helpless. One of my dogs has something wrong/is not happy and I am getting to the point where I feel like hating him ;) Strong words yes, but I cant take much more of this. I wont don my flame suit because I am desperate and if I hear something I dont agree with I am happy to discuss it. If anyone needs more info please ask. I will probably say far more than is relevant but who knows what will help? The problem is Loki. He is an 8 (or will be in a few months) year old desexed Shiba inu. Loki lives with another shiba named Wylie who is 6, and not fixed. Despite Loki being a very laid back submissive shiba he is possibly still the dominant dog over Wylie. Loki has always been "different" His nature is very quiet and casual for a shiba. He has always been underweight. When he blows coat he loses condition as well and ends up very skinny. He also ends up shedding a great deal when he does and every moult he ends up with hair loss under his belly, armpits and the backs of his legs. This naked skin turns a dark purple/black colour but is not thickened or inflamed at all and grows back with the next coat. He has always had a greasy coat and his skin sometimes feels oily. \ I have lived with his weird shedding and weight issues since I got him. I did voice concern about how thin he got one year and the vet did put him on steriods but they really didn't help. Diet, both dogs get dry food and raw meat/bones/ sometimes offal. They get a lot of lamb offcuts so I can try and get weight on Loki. None of this back ground may help at all but I'm just trying to give a whole background. The problem is Loki has been "off" It started last year. He had no enthusiasm for walks and would just drag his heels and lag behind. At home he started spending all his time sleeping during the day. His coat looked dull and he just looked ratty? Then he started to ignore me. He has always been very responsive (ish) for a shiba. He would ignore me just a little bit less than most. 6 months ago he escaped from my yard. He has lived here for about 6 years and the yard was shiba proof... Or so I thought. It happened once, I fixed the fence. Again, I fixed the fence. It was happening every few weeks or so. Then it became a full time obsession. He started to test everything I could do. If he couldnt go under, he would break through. THen he started jumping 6 foot fences :D It has become a problem every night. During the day he just lies about but come night fall... he goes into escape overdrive. This is whether i am home or not. He gets really anxious and frantic. He whines and tries repeatedly to get out of the yard but as soon as he does he just comes to the front door and waits for me to let him in. There is nothing out there or any changes at all in his circumstances. It is like he has a mission to get out and if he cant it upsets him. I have watched him try to dig through concrete and bite a tin fence all in the effort to try and escape. He is very distressed and whimpering. He has also decided after nearly 8 years that thunderstorms are terrifying and he throws himself up against the fence in an attempt to escape He is not an indoor dog. He used to be as a younger dog but my house I live in now has a no pets inside thing in the lease. Loki normally does not like being inside. When I did bring him in he would fret and then let himself out again. Now, he seems a bit more calm if I bring him in. Sorry this is so long. I'm trying to cover everything.... I mentioned this when it started to the vet. He said it could be either a thyroid problem or contact allergies. I got the feeling he was going on the seasonal hair loss which is normal for Loki at that time? He said to wait and see and bring him back for a blood test if things dont improve. Today was his blood test. I saw a different vet who said straight up that it was an anxiety disorder. She said she had a dog with the same problem(she was a breeder apparently) She basically told me there was nothing I can do, and Loki would only get worse. She did mention several drugs clo-something or other and vallium but said both may not work and there was no point drugging a dog if you can help it. The basic result was, "your dog has developed an anxiety disorder, too bad. learn to manage it" Naturally my sleep starved brain rebels. I canot take anymore nights waking up with one dog barking because the other has escaped...... again. I cant take it any more!!! I cant! I am ashamed to say it but I have reached the point where I feel if he gets out one more time, stuff him. I hate feeling like this ;) I need help here. Obviously the first step is to escape proof the yard. I am still working on that. Everytime I think I have, he fools me. I need advice here. Is he too old to be crate trained? (If I need to bring him inside to deal with his issues.) If I have to crate him over night, do I have to do the other dog as well who will resist it with all his freedom loving might? Will rescue remedy work? Any hints or help welcome. Please ask questions if you can? I have left out heaps of stuff because this is getting to be a loooong post. Oh, One other thing. Around the time Loki started showing strange signs in his behaviour, Wylie suddenly developed a strange obsession with licking Lokis inner ears and er, boy bits. Probably not related but strange anyway... Loki has no sign of an ear infection and all seems fine, except for having no hair inside his ears now.... :p Vet said this was normal and meand Wylie likes him. But ios it a coincidence it started about the same time? Sorry for the long post. I am at my wits end. I dont know what to do to heklp him. He is obviosly upset, and I feel very helpless.

Sucker .... mwa ha ha!!!!!!

Akita................ They just look.... Imposing!

I will swap you a mad neurotic basketcase totally normal loving shiba.

Dont tempt me Shaar... I have a strange fascination with cresties....

I can only comment on my side of the coin, as a puppy buyer contacting a breeder. I know what breed I wanted and spent a couple of years on and off researching it. I did a lot of my research from the internet. It was the easiest place to find the information. I wanted to know if my chosen breed really would fit into my lifestyle? When eventually the timing was right I emailed a few breeders. It was years ago but I probably asked them how much as well. I basically said how I had looked into the breed and was interested, were they planning any litters sometime that year... ect. I got a few replies and went with the ones that suited me. Some didn't have any litters planned, others just felt "better" if that made any sense? Some times I read these threads and think "wow, I cant believe anyone even replied" But luckily two did and now my home in infested with two of the little buggers

Right now? Like a complete and utter failure

What does it mean when a dog that previously couldn't care less about storms has now suddenly become terrified of them and goes into a mad panic? :rolleyes:

I really have nothing to say that others have already said so much better than me already. :rolleyes:

Yes, some dogs can be dog aggressive no matter what the upbringing is like. But a responsible owner would be aware of this and take steps to ensure it is never a problem....

REPORT IT!!!!!! Might get some manners into her.

Er... I see quite a few people on this site inquiring about certain breeds and saying upfront that they are just researching for their next. Or people asking about getting a dog and stating openly that it will be in the next few months/year.There also seems to be quite a lot of people suggestion that new owners research their breeds more and contact a few breeders and establish a relationship with them long before they get a pup.... (especially with breeds with a waiting list) Im not trying to make an argument at all, just point out that sometimes people do ask a lot of questions of a breeder and sometimes they dont buy...

Awww Whippets, your cat looks like my old Ichabod! He used to spend 90% of his time upside down as well. What breed is yours? Icky was a long haired burmilla.

Awww. She is so cute NicGSDlover! I am lucky. I only have one screamer. The other is a pretty fine yodeller..... ;)

Ah yes, but the books do mention that teeny little fact ;) This thread is turning into another upside down dogs thread

I know this Wazzat!(but only because you mentioned it once before )

Despite what the books say, Shibas DO bark! Sometimes a great deal....

Yes, and it nearly broke me.

Up and running? Penny hasn't stopped. Actually she is showing signs of slowing down now. She lets me sleep more.

Sigh.... Still waiting for that day to come.

Thanks for the replys. I am not even going to pretend I understood most of the technical talk .

One cat here. She is inside and thinks the dogs are interesting. If they are in she follows them and pokes them to see what they feel like. Sadly for her they are terrified of her :D . They grew up with a dog hating cat who used to smack them as puppies so to the dogs, cats inside are to be feared. They slink past and try not to make eye contact. Which can be hard when the cat is following them about to she what they are up to. Cats out side on the foot path however are fun and need to be chased. This is Penny. She's a lady.... snort.