Doggie people...HELP! About This Page:

[graygables]

Our 4 yo Jindo needs some help (OK, *I* do, but that's another matter entirely! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]) She's always been a tad needy, underfoot, etc. Recently, she has gotten VERY bad about storms, freaking out, forcing herself behind feet, whining, barking etc. While I was gone, DH (who has no patience for anything or anyone), locked her in his bathroom (she cried and barked when he'd put her in her crate). She climbed in the bathtub and refused to come out for several hours.

Since then, if she's left alone at all, she barks. If she's out of someone's vision, she barks. This morning, 7yo had a nightmare and came to bed w/ me (dog sleeps in her room) and DH let the dog out before leaving for work. 630, I start hearing little rumbles, whimpers, then full blown yips. Having had 2 hours sleep, I can't handle this. I let her out one more time and went back to bed. She sat outside my bedroom door, rumbling, yipping, etc. I told her to be quiet several times and finally had to put her in DH's bathroom to get her to shut up so I could get some sleep. DH will NOT allow her in our bedroom (she sheds like mad and my allergist doesn't want her in with me either).

Any ideas? I'm thinking of adding some Rescue Remedy to her water every day to try to calm her nerves. Puppy Prozac??? She is the weirdest dog I've ever known. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

BTW, the barking is making my ILs mad at us, too, since they live right next door and have their windows open all spring/summer.

[Teresa]

I can't help you, but I feel your pain. The only suggestion I would have would have is not an easy one to make, or to hear. They make "shock collars" for dogs that only give them a small "zap" when they bark. I know it sounds awful, but I have friends who have used them with some success.
I also have an electric fence around my our yard, and both of our dogs wear the shock collars that are triggered when they get too close to the perimeter. They are given an audible warning, then if they ignore it, a short shock.

Other than that - I don't know.

[RobinKay6573]

Dogs can go on anxiety pills but I am not sure that is the problem. Is the anxiety a new behavior? It might be the family environment that is making Jindo anxious. I know you guys have been remodeling, you moved out for a bit and you have been having some financial woes. Like children the dog can be affected by this.

My advice is to be PATIENT with her. Don't yell at her for barking. I think I mentioned the "Look" technique before to you (or was that someone else?)

You dog needs to respect you. Carry treats around with you and every once and a while say "Look" when the dog looks up right away say, "Good Look." and give the dog a treat. If she doesn't look up right away but does eventually look up just say "Good Look" and just give a tactile reward (ear scratch). Keep doing this intermittently for a couple of weeks.

After "Look" is mastered it is time to work on "Quiet". When the dog starts barking say "quiet" if the dog stops barking right away say, "good quiet" and give a treat. If the dog doesn't stop right away but does stop barking within the count of 3 (count to yourself) say "good quiet" and give a tactile reward.

You also need to remember the breed you have are guard dogs and are bred to bark as an alert. It is VERY hard to retrain this ingrained behavior.

I hope I helped alittle. Good luck…and [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/fairy2.gif[/img] for Jindo!

[Eeyore Tattoo]

NO SHOCK COLLARS! They are for only very experienced people and will not work in this instance...
You can try a plug in DAP, I used this with Haley after her bout with SA after we moved into this apartment.
http://www.kvvet.com/KVVet/productr.asp?...A2F94EF8E3AD855
You can also find them on ebay.
Positive reinforcement is the best way to retrain, Locking a dog in the bathroom will just scare her more.
When a storm is comming try playing music to mask the sounds of the storm. there are also "storm" cd's to condition dogs to the sound to get them use to it.
Good luck, and keep your cool when training, That is 1/2 the battle [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/luck.gif[/img]
Deb

[Teresa]

Great idea, Deb. I would have never thought of conditioning the dog to the sound of storms.

[disneyfan2183]

My dog HATES storms. As soon as she hears thunder she freaks out. Luckily she just jumps on us and hides, but doesn't bark. I would NOT use shock collars, but other than that I don't have much advice

[graygables]

Thanks, everyone. I think a lot of the problem is there is no correction to the barking when we're out, so telling her to be quiet when we're here only helps a little. For some strange reason, she has taken to DH's bathroom like her "den" or something. [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/ukid.gif[/img] She used to love her crate, now she hates it, but the bathroom, she'll just go in and lie on the rug, even during the day. I've taken to opening the blind so she has a warm spot o' sunshine on the floor, even. She gets antsy without hearing the storm, I think she is very sensitive to things like barometric pressure. I'm definitely going to try the thing Deb suggested (wonder if they make them for people, too??? [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]) and start adding the Rescue Remedy to her daily water. No harm and if it helps, then it's all good!

Thanks again for the tips and hints!