Hi!

I was prescribed meds from my vet originally but they caused problems with her medical issues as she struggles with tablets. We also tried herbal type remedies (calmex and adaptil) but neither made any real difference.

She really isn't interested in toys at all.

I did get a behaviour modification programme from my behaviouralist however I found the whole thing confusing and unrealistic. I want to do everything to make her life better but struggled with some of the things in the plan. I also found my behaviourist was more concerned with he gentics behind her problems than actually fixing them.

She is muzzle trained and also wears a headcollar when walking at all times.

I already walk her away from others most of the time although I do occasionally take her on paths etc which I maybe will avoid for the time being!

One thing I'm confused with is this. If I am training her to take a treat and she is calm that's great but what is she is barking/whining etc when people are around. Do I only treat her when she's calm or can I treat her when she's barking as long as she is sat still?

will I ever get to the point where people can touch her and if so how would I introduce touch? Or should I just avoid this alltogether?

Did you discuss your concerns regarding the training programme you was written out with the behaviourist? Perhaps they was offering more management tips than actual solutions which may well be the case with your girl.

In regards to anti anxiety meds or anything it may well be worth discussing this with your vet again. There are quite a few out there to try and perhaps one could be found that does agree with your girl and doesn't interfere with her other meds/health. Just a suggestion.

In regards to treating, yes, you only reward during calm behaviour. If she has gone over threshold and is reacting your only goal is to get out of the situation as quickly & safely as possible.

For the mean time I'd avoid anyone touching her unless she's comfortable with them already. Your girl is only young so there is every hope she can eventually learn to be comfortable around people but unfortunately these things take time and lots of patience and commitment.

I did discuss the problems with the behaviouralist but she was very all or nothing with them. One of the most difficult problems is that she can not have treats really for medical reasons. She can have the odd tiny tiny bit but if i was to treat her constantly it would cause major problems. I managed to find something she could have safely-ish but I can't really give it in the quantities required I don't think. The only suggestions the behaviouralist had involved treating pretty much constantly which wouldn't work for her...I have to limit it to when it would be most effective or cause her to become ill.

She also only wanted me to walk her alone. I don't mind this but I have another dog and it would be unfair to him to leave him in the house all the time as dog 1 who is a rescue with his own issues has seperation anxiety, so when I leave the house to walk her I would have him howling and crying the whole time. I have been leaving him but I feel awful about It!
I work 50 hours a week and am struggling with pregnancy related illness so just don't physically have the time to always do two walks. I am trying my best to do this as much as possible but sometimes I just don't get the time to go twice. I felt she didn't think I was committed by sometimes taking two dogs at once. She also wanted me to not take her to work as people could be at risk which I agree with her about, but it's a catch 22 situation as if I leave her without dog1 who comes to work daily she gets upset and it makes her medical conditions worse and it means she would get hardly any socialisation as she would be at home from 8am until 8pm on her own (and I would not trust a dog walker around her alone!)


Thank you to all of you- im certainly not criticising the behaviouralist methods or what works but I don't think they can neccessarily be tailored to my dog 100% thats all.

I think it might well be possible to make your own treats, tailored to her health condition. When I needed grain and additive free treats for my boy, I got some really good suggestions and recipes from subscribers to this forum.

If the methods cannot be taylored to your dog, then maybe you haven't got the right behaviourist?

PS Also your dog is in her adolescent stage, and we know how we felt in ours, don't we?

Does your dog play at all? If so, have you ever trained her to carry a toy? If so, does she still react when carrying said toy?

What does your dog like to do? Does he like to play? If so, substitute a quick game for the food reward. Does your dog like fuss? That can be substituted for food too.

If what you say is true and you explained to the behaviourist the problems food treats would give your dog, they have done a pretty poor job of tailoring the training to your needs

Hi everyone. Sorry for late reply.

It's not what she eats, it's how she eats. She must be vertical for 30mins after feeding so obviously treats are difficult as she is not vertical hence risky.

She loves toys and will carry them but drops them if someone scary is approaching her. She likes fuss from myself and I do praise her in this way when she is well behaved. She also likes to play but gets very overexcited and a little out of control when ive tried using this as a reward. She won't fetch but likes to play tug of war etc. She will catch toys but won't bring them back! It also causes fights between the two if I play with one dog and not the other.

She has been a little better this week so fingers crossed I am on the right track!!