Rescue Papillon

[Rubens Mum]

Hi,

I've just joined this forum. I've read lots of the threads on separation anxiety in general as well as the Papillon threads but haven't really found a way to solve some of my problems.

I bought a 6 year old Papillon in February from the RSPCA. He had been surrendered to them in December along with 12 others from the same household. The dogs were used for breeding and apart from a couple of the owners favourites none of them received much attention. I was told at the time that the main problem was neglect of the dogs.

I also have a cross breed dog. I had previously had a chihuahua that my crossbreed had grown up with but I had to put her down a year previously. He internalises his stress and about 6 months after losing the chi he started having major skin problems. Beef allergy was part of the problem but changing his diet to exclude beef didn't solve all of the problem. However, I noticed that when I took him away at Christmas and we were with other dogs he would settle right down and his skin started clearing up properly. On coming home, though, he started scratching and biting at himself again. I felt ready to have another one by this time, had decided that ideally I'd like a Papillon but wanted a rescue dog as well because with Fletch being nearly 10 I didn't want a puppy for him.

So on checking out the RSPCA site I found my Papillon. As soon as he and Fletch met they got on like a house on fire and he took to me straight away as well like he'd always known both of us. His name was Luke at the time but I quickly changed it to Ruben.

The things that have surprised me with him are that never having one on one time with people, is that he bonded to me so quickly. I expected it with Fletch but not with me. He also bonded to me very strongly. From the afternoon he arrived he has followed me absolutely everywhere. For the first few days especially I had him on and off leash quite a bit to assert my alpha role with him and to see how well he knew basics such as come etc. What he didn't know he learnt extremely quickly, especially considering his age and his previous situation.

Some stuff I don't know how he's picked up because they're things I haven't consciously taught him, such as when I'm in bed and I say "night night Ruben" he goes and lies down and goes to sleep lol. He also learnt what "go to bed" meant within a few days as well.

My problem with him is that when I go out he barks and cries, especially when he hears me coming back. I know he doesnt' do it after I'm gone because he's quiet until he hears my voice while I'm getting out of a taxi or being dropped off or if I'm not in a car he starts when he hears me get my keys out of my bag. Generally I feed them when I'm leaving so they don't see me go to work which solves most of my leaving problem.

I've tried waiting to come in till he stops barking. He then stopped barking till I got mostly in the door and then starts barking. If I have to put him in the bedroom, it's the same thing. While ever I'm away from the bedroom door he'll cry and bark and scratch, but if he can sense me near it he's quiet knowing that when he's quiet I'll open the door. When there are other people here he's 10 times worse if he's locked up.

The other issue I have with him is that he was hardly ever physically handled before he came to live with me and he has a real fear of being picked up. When I first got him he would yelp if it even looked like you were going to lift him. I'm at the point now where I can do very small lifts with him, say from the lounge to my lap or the bed to my lap but he still has a real problem with being lifted from the floor. I've worked slowly with him to build his confidence and trust but also because there are 6 years worth of whatever happened to him to work through. When I'm on the floor or on the bed with him he loves to curl up with me and climb on me and he's even learning to play with me now, but he still has issues with being picked up off the ground

The suggestions that I've been given all involve food. However, I'm not keen on bribing my dogs with food to do what I want them to do. I'm probably being a wuss but I hate the sound of a dog yelping and that's what Ruben does when he's frightened and that then freaks me out because yelping normally means pain. I've had him totally checked over by the vet and they can't find anything wrong with him. All of my other dogs bar one I've had from puppies and they've all been fully and properly handled when they were young so they've never had any fear or hesitation with this. This is a new problem for me and I'm not sure where to go next.

He's also frightened of feet which is an issue I have problems getting him over because I move around on wheels all the time. Also it seems as though he has like ESP for aggression in people. Even if they haven't shown any and are just standing quietly, Ruben runs behind me and whimpers. He's done this with a couple of people who I know have tempers but were not doing anything remotely aggressive at the time and they were people he was meeting for the first time. The RSPCA said that he hadn't been abused but I don't believe that from what I've seen with him.

Sorry this is all a bit jumbled but its' a hard problem to explain. In general he's alot more confident than he was when I got him and he seems to be totally happy and he is the kind of dog that needs to please. He's happy, he's always busy when he's not sleeping and him and Fletch get on fantastically well. He is extremely smart and apart from his fear issues he's just about perfect.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions you can give me.

Bron

Edited August 1, 2007 by Rubens Mum

[wylie]

Hi Rubens Mum

Welcome to the world of the super intelligent Papillon.

The Papillon and Phalene people have there own thread so make sure you post a pic of Ruben in there for us all to see.

I own a Papillon and many of the things you have talked about she does and i have had her since she was 8 weeks old. She has never been abused in any manner but she knows when to push buttone.

Dream will squeak if you pick her up, i ensure that she is picked up with 2 hands, one under her chest and the other under her back legs. She will still squeak occassionally but its more on the whole cos she doesnt want to be picked up.

Dream will bark and whinge and carry on when i leave and when I return. She does not like being left alone. Most Papillons are quite mouthy on the whole. It is hard to get it out of them. Dream does know quiet but she forgets herself sometimes and also likes to have the last word.

Socialization is always a huge part of owning a papillon and sounds like your little man has missed out on a bit.

I see no problems with using food as a way to get compliance. You could also use a clicker with treats which is a similar way of training.

There are lots of good sites on clicker training on the web or you could do a search on DOL as well.

Enjoy your little man they are an extremely intelligent social little things who love there people so much and would do anything for a cuddle and a little attention...oops make that a lot of attention.

[skip]

Hi Rubens Mum,

I have 2 rescue chi x dogs, one with seperation anxiety. I've had them a few years now though.

I don't feel experienced enough to really give advice but so far you haven't had much answer to your post. If it is any help one of my dogs had similar behaviour but over time they gradually improve so much.

Lucky you that he stops barking when you leave. My first rescue dog was given to me on the condition that I would have 2 dogs. The first morning I went to work he didn't just bark, he made a noise like someone was killing him. All the neighbours turned up to see what was happening! I borrowed the dog next door until I got another friend for him. I'm sure you have read more common advice such as leaving for small ammounts of time etc. to get dog used to it. And when you leave and return that you don't fuss over dog. Such as when you get home do not acknowledge dog until the dog is calm. I must admit I must remind myself to not say hello when I get home until dogs have relaxed.

One dog also was scared of men, belts coming off, brooms , papers and any raised voice. But they get more confident over time. I do use food for treats but it works for me. The dog is not really food mad but it must reassure him. I introduced him to male friends who gave him treats so much so that he loves a local guy in the local dog park as much as me! I used to treat or praise when he allows me to rub a belt on him. Also if a newspaper touches him.

And he was scared of being picked up also. If I do pick him up I do so slowly and allow him to get ready before I take his weight. So I hold him first and then when he curls up I lift. If he struggles I'd let him go , then try again. So the lift is done in stages.

I know you said you don't want food but I was happy to. I went to obedience and with treats taught my dogs to really focus on me. So if they are always watching I could use this in other places where I wanted to get their attention on me and off a fear. So if your dog will heel and knows what it means then maybe you could use this to get him near feet. But with such little dogs I'd be watching those huge feet too!

And if they are wary of some one, like you say they may have a reason that makes sense to them. But I made sure my dogs were well socialised and they meet lots of dog friendly people. I got my friends to reward them too. Now my dogs will go to greet humans and dogs they know at the park. Such a change.

Hope you get some more advice but sounds like you are giving him a great life! Good on you! And maybe one of my dogs will always be a little timid in some instances ( like the vets ). Considering that when I first got him he once bit me as I looked him too closely in the eye, they improve out of sight!