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Post by SassyandZeusMom on Sept 6, 2006 20:13:18 GMT -5
Just a bit of background. Sunday night Sassy was bitten by some unseen thing in the yard. And she had an alergic reaction. Her muzzle was swollen, and she was chewing her feet up. She had to have been itching horriably, to do that. Well now I can not get her to go out into the yard. She will stop about a foot from the porch and pull backwards back into the house. No ammount of coaxing can get her to move. She hasn't had a bowel movement in 3 days. And she barely pee's enough to feel empty. What can I do? I hate to have her get sick cause she's seriously freaked out.. And she won't even set foot in the backyard. She's never shown any fear reactions like this before
I can't even get her off the porch to go on a walk. It's that bad. I let her potty in the unfenced area on leash, cause off leash she tend to play around, instead of doing her thing. We do have snakes, Garter snakes, copper heads, Cotton mouths. But I didn't see anything. So I dunno. She has been bitten by things before & not had the same reaction. So this is worriesome.
She just got off antibiotics for a skin problem. She's eating regularly, drinking normally. She went in the house for the first time since she was a puppy. I just really don't know why she's behaving like this. And I tired to get her into the backyard with the leash & she stoped at the gate, and started pulling backwards away. She then turns tail & runs for the porch It's much worse at night.. I'm stumped. I don't feel like dragging her out into the yard & forceing the issue.
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Post by willow on Sept 7, 2006 9:48:02 GMT -5
I am sorry to hear what happened to Sassy, but you surely don't want her to continue to potty in the house.
And while this isn't the same reason, my BC is afraid of thunder, so if it even looks like it is going to rain, he does not want to go outside.
I put a leash on him and take him out and walk him around and around the yard telling him, "go potty, go potty", until he finally settles down enough to "go". I don't bring him in until he goes.
If you act hesitant, it will make it all the harder to get her over this, so just matter of factly put the leash on her and walk confidently out with her. Do not stop walking or try to console her in anyway by saying, "It's o.k." etc. when she balks, just say, "come on", keep walking, and make her come with you, and don't take her back in until she goes.
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Post by SassyandZeusMom on Sept 7, 2006 20:58:55 GMT -5
I try the confident walk out with her. She throws it into reverse and fights the leash. She's has showen fear before, but this is a serious issue. She came so far, and now it's being dashed.
She's also refuseing to crate up at night. Never had that problem before this. So it's going to be a long battle to get her normal again.
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Post by kaos on Sept 7, 2006 21:18:45 GMT -5
I would say if the fear is too severe for the 'act confident and carry on walking' routine, you could try a bit of classical conditioning. How about breaking down her daily feeds into several small portions. Feed her the first portion in her usual bowl a foot from the porch at the very edge of her comfort zone. If she copes with this, the next feed could be placed very slightly nearer the porch etc etc until you gradually progress out into the yard. Not a quick solution unfortunately as will probably take several days at least, but could help to combat her negative associations with going out to the yard.
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Post by SassyandZeusMom on Sept 13, 2006 13:01:09 GMT -5
Still dealing with this issue. She's still fearfull of going out, and yesterday she bolted pulling the leash from my hand. She took off like a shot, running. 3hrs later we find her in yard down the highway from us. How she managed to cross a busy 2 lane Highway is beyond me. But she was totally worn out, and I thanked the people of the house for keeping her safe.. Seems like she's totally ignoreing the prong collar correction, and just fighting me. She pulls backwards against the prong, bucks up on her hind legs, puts her foot on the leash, and growls & caries on till I get completely frustrated, and a tad mad at her. It's getting to a point where it's really hard to deal with. My grandma is house bound, so she can't take her out. My Grandpa is partialy deaf so he can't take her out. So the total responsiablity, and care comes from me of everyone in the house, dogs & family. And it's wearing me out..
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Post by Nicole on Sept 13, 2006 16:19:32 GMT -5
I am so sorry about your situation. Have you taken her to the vet since the bite. Maybe she has some venom in her that is causing additional stress or effecting her somehow. Is she afraid to go out anywhere or just in the yard. If is is only the yard, then obviously I would take her out elsewhere but if it is outside period then yes, this is a big problem. I really can't blame her actually. Some scary thing caused her great pain outside and she doesn't want to go near it. Is it possible that there are still snakes or critters in the yard or outside around your house that she can smell. I personally wouldn't want to go out in the yard or let my dog out until I was sure that whatever did this was gone. I don't know if this is possible. I know that isn't much help but is there a way you can inspect or assure that she won't be hurt again if she goes in the yard or that whatever did this isn't still prowling out there for her to smell. Can you have someone come to inspect the yard to make sure it is clear. There aren't alot of choices. She is obviously afraid and I would not use a prong to correct fear. I wouldn't correct fear period. You either flood (take her right out confidently) or condition very slowly as has been recommended. Can you drive her somewhere and see if she has a fear elsewhere or if this is just outside of your house? .
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Post by SassyandZeusMom on Sept 13, 2006 19:12:07 GMT -5
Yea she went to the vet. Nothing wrong with her. I searched the yard the day after it happened didn't see anything unusal. I've tried to take her on a walk, and she just panics. Tail down, ears back trying to go back home. Before this she loved going for walks. I'm going to keep trying to calm her down. And see if we can overcome this..
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