cannibalgoldfish

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.

Is it just a blood test? Nothing drastic? Vet said one of my dogs has either seasonal contact allergies or a possible thyroid problem. This is a new vet since the old one kept saying my dog was fine. Well, he isn't. Before I changed vets I had a suspicion about it being a thyroid problem so I would like to get him checked. But what is involved? Yes, I will be getting it done anyway but I would like to know for budget reasons what expenses I would be looking at?

Ah! But here is a mystery for you all. I dont drive and catch a taxi when I do my grocery shopping. When the taxi pulls up outside my house my two start their welcome home scream. This is before I have gotten out of the car or even spoken (so they dont hear me) But, should a car pull up that I'm not in they dont care and make no noise at all. They know my friends cars so can tell the difference between them (and often greet them too) but a taxi is an unfamiliar car to them so how do they know? It isn't that they know I'm already home because sometimes I have managed to return without them knowing....

No They are on my list of things to buy when I win tatts though. Does that help? I looooove them!