Hi, sorry to hear your dog is not feeling good. I dont know what happened (sorry, Im new here) but I did have a comment about the change in hair color, its not 'that' uncommon if theres been trauma to an area and some hair was lost, even with bad abrasions, the hair can grow back different.

Hope he's feeling better soon. (I used to have a little Cocker Spaniel mix called Ziggy)

Thanks guys - you're all really nice

We just got back and it was a bit of a mixed walk - he nearly died when he saw an electric wheelchair sitting outside the door just down the road when he's never bothered about it before, so we just stood for a bit and worked our way closer step my step until he gave it a little sniff. Then we carried on to the field and had a game with the ball, set off (from th other side of the field) towards the shops and a car beeped it's horn he nearly died - I swear if he could have climbed under my skin he would have done he pee'd all over the pavement and was shaking like hell. I tried to reassure him without mollycoddling him (firm but fair kind of thing) and we carried on. Got to the shops and sat on the wall outside waiting to meet mum (or "nan" as I was chattering on to him ) a nice elderly gentleman gave him a gravy bone and a fuss and he had his sausage roll (which went down well), I think being around the shops has boostd his confidence as he had quite a few fusses' from people he knows. The reaction to the horn concerns me as it's a stimuli I can't control so we'll leave it a little while and then start working on that (probably at the park with me and him just about out of site while my mum beeps randomly getting funny looks while we work closer over however long it takes for him to be happy with it). He's absolutely bushed now, it must be from the extra stress as that distance walk and play wouldn't normally have an effect at all.

Thanks guys - I really needed to blow off some steam this morning, it's just so frustrating to not be able to make it all better.

H xx

Hiya,
A couple of weeks ago we were at an indoor flyball tournament and some idiot let off a claxon horn which scared the tish out of him, he's such a fast dog he didn't have time to stop and smashed into one of the jumps and the box head on. Thanks for letting me know about the fur, I thought that was right but wasn't entirely sure.
H xx

That's excellent news H. It'll just take time I guess and you're certainly the right man for the job to get him back on form. Hope he enjoyed is sausage roll and gravy bone xx

I don't think they touched the sides minks - he's giving my lunch the eyes now - reckon I should give 'im a bit?
H xx

yeah, the wee man needs all the support (emotional and edible) he can get

yep well, how could I resist the eyes? *half the sandwhich promptly disappears down the ziggie neck* oh pants, how come if I shouted the others they'd take their time - ziggie swallows and their here in seconds?????

I cant imagine why anyone would deliberately make any kind of noise like that while theyre at any kind of dog show or any animal show. Unbelievable !!

The only thing I could add has already been brought up, a chiropractor or ortho specialist maybe to do a completel 'range of motion' exam to make sure everything has healed up well, and then the desensitization which youve already mentioned.

If its any consolation I have total empathy with you, the dog I have now used to cower, tremble and try to bolt whenever she heard any human voice, even talking softly. Its taken months but she's okay with my voice now and if were out in public she can walk past people talking amongst themselves reasonably calm but if anyone comes into my house and they speak, shes gone. I dont think there is any quick or easy fix once theyve been traumatized, just takes time and patience.

Good luck and I hope Ziggy can get back into it soon. Ive never done flyball but it looks like a lot of fun for the dogs....(as long as there are no idiots around )

Thanks flipper, i'm going to tak him to the chiropracter when they next come to our surgery (about two weeks i think) just to check. I know exactly what you mean with the voices, my older bitch is like that we did a lot of confidence building with her and also with ziggie when he was a bit younger. Putting the time in isnt a problem I just feel really sorry for him. We'll see how things go in the next couple of weeks, hopefully he'll manage to chill out a little bit.
Cheers
H xx

Really sorry to hear of your problems, I hope he starts to feel much better soon and gains his confidence, and that he continues if you feel that is right for him