emmaz Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Hi there. I have a beautiful 15 month old British Bulldog. She is simply a wonderful dog most of the time but both My Husband and I are at the end of our tether when it comes to this issue. Our dog is afraid of so much. She just isnt normal! Buckets, Plastic bags, Soda bottles, Loud noises, Wheelie Bins, Prams...you name it....she is terrified of it... I need advice. We have tried everything. From ignoring, to carrying on as though normal....I'm so very desperate and frustrated with her. As far as I'm aware there is no reason for this irrational fear, no incidents in her past....BUT I am concious of the fact that we got her at five months (against my better judgement) and thus missed out on that important puppy period. From the minute she got off the plane she has demonstrated these fears. I truly believe the issues come from her first few months, where she was on a large property with her breeders and family but I just dont think she was exposed to enough. But the problem is we've had her nearly a year now and nothings gotten better....We are TTC currently and I am so worried about our ability to function as a family with this. I know she is afraid of prams, therefore walking her with pram is out of the question....let alone any other type of baby apparatus... More important than all of this is my fear for her safety. When she gets afraid of something...NOTHING will snap her out of it...and I mean nothing. She is so focussed on her fear that she is oblivious to her surroundings. She has fled on to the road before after getting a fright....run into windows and all sorts...she is so obssessed with getting away from whatever it is that she just doesnt understand she is endangering herself and others. We have tried everything to get her used to things but nothing works.... I just dont know what to do. She has me stumped... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 I think you need qualified professional help with this. Where are you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmaz Posted February 15, 2010 Author Share Posted February 15, 2010 I think you need qualified professional help with this.Where are you? Tasmania....I have thought the same recently. I might talk to the people at Dog Obedience and see if they can recommend anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirst_goldens Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 (edited) Erny might be good person to talk to about this Erny is in VIC but might be able to give u some exercises to try?? Edited February 15, 2010 by kirst_goldens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 (edited) I'd go for a full medical check up first, including thyroid testing (but through Jean Dodds USA - don't waste money with our Aussie testing), ears and eyes. Then I'd suggest you consult with a behaviourist/trainer. He/she really needs to see this dog, given how acute the dog's fears are. In the absence of a medical basis for the fears, sounds like a lot of desensitisation is required. Leadership (yours to the dog) also needs to be assured and if it is not as 'in place' as it might be, then adjustments designed to improve this. ETA: KG - thanks for the recognition, but honestly, advising over the internet for behaviours as extreme as what's being described isn't necessarily going to result in smiles all round. I have no 'feel' for this dog because I haven't met him. I want to be able to advise on a desensitisation program, but where would I begin when I don't know the dog and whether my first suggestion should actually be "step 10" down the list. If I moved to far too fast, I chance making things worse. Isn't Aidan in Tassie? Yoo hoo ..... Aidan !!!! Edited February 15, 2010 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 That's the Veterinary Behaviourist listed for your State. Dr Katrina Ward - Tasmania BVSc, MACVSc (Veterinary Behaviour), CMAVA 170 Channel Highway KINGSTON TAS 7050 Mobile: 0439 963 300 Email: [email protected] Otherwise Dr Kersti Seksel is listed as registered in Tasmania, it's possible she does regular visits to a clinic there www.sabs.com.au. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmaz Posted February 15, 2010 Author Share Posted February 15, 2010 I'd go for a full medical check up first, including thyroid testing (but through Jean Dodds USA - don't waste money with our Aussie testing), ears and eyes.Then I'd suggest you consult with a behaviourist/trainer. He/she really needs to see this dog, given how acute the dog's fears are. In the absence of a medical basis for the fears, sounds like a lot of desensitisation is required. Leadership (yours to the dog) also needs to be assured and if it is not as 'in place' as it might be, then adjustments designed to improve this. Thanks Erny, I will look into all that. I had kind of ruled out anything medical/physical as it is such a wide range of things that she is afraid of and yet there are things that you would think she would also be afraid of but she is not, she is very definite in what scares her but also just as definite in what doesnt.....but I guess It still could be...as for the desensitising, This is what I have always thought it was but I have tried so many different ways with no success...I think you have all confirmed what i was already thinking about needing to seek help for her...I had just hoped for an easier fix lol Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 What Erny said. I would also contact the breeder - if they are reputable - for help. Being fearful is not a typical bulldog trait, as far as I know, and although it might depend on her early life with the breeder it does sound like much more than lack of socialisation to me. A dog with typical bulldog temp, even if it didn't get much socialisation as a pup should be better than that. If she was only in the kennels, and away from all activities, other dogs, etc. there could be some fearfullness - but I wouldn't think to that extent. Apart from medical issues, total lack of stimulation (which is quite hard to achieve) and a temperament fault are the things which occur to me. And that's why it is important to know if the breeder is reputable, experienced in the breed, and likely to do the best they can for the dog. I bought a cav pup - I think he was 6 or 7 months, from a very good kennel. He'd been running with his brother, and had been handled, but never been off the property, except for vacs. He could see the family though, and was handled, brushed etc. He wasn't lead trained or anything. He came home to me, and settled right in. I took him to visit a friend on a property a few days after I bought him - he interacted really well with the other dogs, sat under the table at lunch, was interested in everything but not frightened. He still wasn't lead trained. He's 7 now, been all sorts of places, frightened of nothing, a real gentleman, dad of lots of outgoing nice pups. Cavs are like bulldogs, they should not be fearful. So, I'd maybe talk to the breeder if you think they are going to be helpful and co-operative. Unfortunately, there are breeders and Breeders. Let us know how you get on? Very frustrating problem. I hope there is a resolution. And please do the vet checks - I bought a boxer years ago, and she was extremely fearful. We found out later that she had been seriously ill all her life, which had caused the fearfulness. Once she was cured, she improved. We thougtht it was that she had been in the kennel, but it wasn't. I've had a few dogs from kennels at +3 months, never had a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Seeking professional help IS the easy fix! trying different things and maybe compounding a problem is, IMO, doing things the hard way . Best of luck with the professional you choose- hope your girl gains her confidence! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmaz Posted February 15, 2010 Author Share Posted February 15, 2010 Seeking professional help IS the easy fix!trying different things and maybe compounding a problem is, IMO, doing things the hard way . Best of luck with the professional you choose- hope your girl gains her confidence! Thanks persephone, Hadnt thought of it like that. Jed - Lets just say we are no longer in contact with the breeder. I wont go into it but although I have no doubts that they are good breeders, we had a few issues and I guess we really just dont see eye to eye. And I'm really positive that if I did contact them all I would get are reasons as to why its not their fault...(which of course is not what I would be implying but you know....lol) I dont think they did anything to her or anything like that, I just think perhaps she was a bit isolated from the real world as such. I have been struggling with wanting to believe this was the reason yet also not convinced that it could be...Can those first few months really be so important that they make the rest of the dogs life so hard? I just dont know. All I know is that its no good for both of us as I find myself getting so frustrated and sometimes angry with her lack of 'dogness'!!! And I know she senses it from me and she would honestly do anything to please us if she could... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staff'n'Toller Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 (edited) The critical socialisation period is very important but there's a very good possibility that you can get some great results with the right professional, with methods to suit your girl. Please try not to feel frustrated with her, she can't help what she views as scary. Try not to dwell too much on what she missed out on and think about the dog you have now and how you can help her. Edited February 15, 2010 by Staff'n'Toller Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 (edited) ... I find myself getting so frustrated and sometimes angry with her lack of 'dogness'!!! And I know she senses it from me and she would honestly do anything to please us if she could... I know you don't feel this way on purpose, but this won't be helping her. A behaviourist/trainer helps not only the dog, but the owner as well. I often find that people's perspectives change once they've had things explained as to how the dog views the world and your actions. With that change in perspective often comes a natural increase in tolerance and a reduction in tension. Dog picks up on that and combined with WHAT the owner is now doing (strategy wise) and the fact that the owner can apply strategies with more confidence (dog senses that too), things become easier and have the increased potential for improvement. You might be surprised at how much your body language, although demonstrated with the right intent at heart, can actually be sending the opposite message to your dog. A behaviourist/trainer would help you with that too. Edited February 15, 2010 by Erny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Can those first few months really be so important that they make the rest of the dogs life so hard? I tend to think so.... although, with awareness and experienced handling , dogs can be helped along at a later stage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmaz Posted February 15, 2010 Author Share Posted February 15, 2010 ... I find myself getting so frustrated and sometimes angry with her lack of 'dogness'!!! And I know she senses it from me and she would honestly do anything to please us if she could... I know you don't feel this way on purpose, but this won't be helping her. A behaviourist/trainer helps not only the dog, but the owner as well. I often find that people's perspectives change once they've had things explained as to how the dog views the world and your actions. With that change in perspective often comes a natural increase in tolerance and a reduction in tension. Dog picks up on that and combined with WHAT the owner is now doing (strategy wise) and the fact that the owner can apply strategies with more confidence (dog senses that too), things become easier and have the increased potential for improvement. Yeah I know. I try really hard. Its just such a terrible situation to be in. I want her to enjoy being a dog and I want her to find things exciting not terrifying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Yeah I know. I try really hard. Its just such a terrible situation to be in. I want her to enjoy being a dog and I want her to find things exciting not terrifying. More to it than this, but I find it helpful to take on the "you're a silly billy" attitude with dogs that have these behaviour issues. Sometimes WE want things for our dogs SO much that it actually makes things worse. Relax. What is, is. I'm not saying don't try to seek help from a trainer/behaviourist, but I'm saying stop stressing so intensely for how much YOU want for her. Once you've seen a good trainer/behaviourist, you'll be able to adopt the attitude of "oh well, I KNOW I'm doing the best I can ..... the rest is up to you, dog". This will help you begin to relax about how much you WANT for your dog, and just concentrate on showing her another way . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmaz Posted February 15, 2010 Author Share Posted February 15, 2010 Yeah I know. I try really hard. Its just such a terrible situation to be in. I want her to enjoy being a dog and I want her to find things exciting not terrifying. More to it than this, but I find it helpful to take on the "you're a silly billy" attitude with dogs that have these behaviour issues. Sometimes WE want things for our dogs SO much that it actually makes things worse. Relax. What is, is. I'm not saying don't try to seek help from a trainer/behaviourist, but I'm saying stop stressing so intensely for how much YOU want for her. Once you've seen a good trainer/behaviourist, you'll be able to adopt the attitude of "oh well, I KNOW I'm doing the best I can ..... the rest is up to you, dog". This will help you begin to relax about how much you WANT for your dog, and just concentrate on showing her another way . Thanks Erny, what you're saying makes sense :-) I'm taking that on board! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aidan Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Sending PM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erny Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 Thanks Aidan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Anne~ Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 (edited) I'd love to see regualr updates if you feel inclined emmaz and Aidan (or whoever you choose to help you). I am really interested in what becomes of her with her irrational fears. Edited February 15, 2010 by ~Anne~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poodlefan Posted February 15, 2010 Share Posted February 15, 2010 (edited) Emmaz: I want her to enjoy being a dog and I want her to find things exciting not terrifying. Sometimes what people expect a dog to enjoy is not "normal" for dogs and definitely not for an individual. Take dog parks for example. Some folk expect all dogs to enjoy meeting new dogs and playing with them. In my experience many dogs don't and some owners wonder what's wrong with them. Add the uncontrolled behaviour of many dogs and park users attitudes of "let the dogs sort it out" and you can create some really serious behavioural issues from park use. Fear aggression is one. My guess is that a professional will weed out any health related causes and work on a program of slow confidence building. I've had a fearful dog who would bolt if frightened. Confidence building and maturity have helped her but she is who she is and my responsiblity as an owner is to keep her safe. Now that she trust me, she comes to me when frightened, rather than running away as she did when I first got her. Good luck. Fearful dogs can be very frustrating but helping them build confidence is one of the most rewarding things you'll ever do with a dog. Edited February 15, 2010 by poodlefan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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