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Post by suziriot on Jul 3, 2012 22:03:01 GMT -5
I am SO proud of my girl. As most of you know, Dharma has some anxiety issues that stem from her former life in the dog fighting yard. She has come so far the past few years, but as Dave often says of his work with Sedona... sometimes it's two steps forward and 10 steps back. It can get really frustrating. Something we've worked really hard on is her severe reactivity to thunder, fireworks, or anything that sounds like gun shots. We've done positive conditioning and used the Thundershirt. This has worked pretty well with thunderstorms, but fireworks have been really challenging. The past couple years we have had to give her Xanax around July 4th because she flips out so hard that she hurts herself. She runs into walls and flails around, will redirect onto another dog, and bangs her head against the side of her crate if she's in it. Nightmare. I'm not usually a fan of medicating dogs for behavior issues, but she was a danger to herself and others. So this year we've had a lot of opportunities to do more positive conditioning because people have been lighting off fireworks randomly for the past few weeks. She's done pretty well with it, so we decided to not give her the Xanax. Tonight was the true test. Fireworks have been going nonstop for the past 2 hours, VERY loudly, some on the street right in front of our house. We put the other dogs in the other rooms and have let her hang out on the couch. Not only is she not freaking out, she is completely relaxed. She's only barked a few times, but she is even SLEEPING through some of the loudest bangs! I'm giving her tons of treats and praise, but trying to play it cool and act normal. I can't overstate how HUGE this is for her. I am SO PROUD of my Dharma girl!!!!!     |
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Post by loverocksalot on Jul 3, 2012 23:10:10 GMT -5
I knew she had it in her. I really believe in the rewarding when the scary noise comes. Has worked for Rocky. He is ok with fireworks now too. The only noise that still bothers him is the sound of our pipes hammering especially when the underground sprinkler system comes on. But he is much better than he once was about it. At least he does not tremble anymore he just goes to his safe spot behind the coffee table where he can see out but feels safe. YAY dharma it feels so good to overcome some anxiety and say common scary noise bring it on Im over it.
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Post by emilys on Jul 4, 2012 1:16:52 GMT -5
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Post by Dave on Jul 4, 2012 5:17:48 GMT -5
That's great suzi!!! I know exactly how good you feel!
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Post by catstina on Jul 4, 2012 9:19:13 GMT -5
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Post by michele5611 on Jul 4, 2012 9:19:21 GMT -5
Way to go Dharma girl and kudos to you Suzi!!!!
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Post by melonie on Jul 4, 2012 9:50:52 GMT -5
major Yummy treats and belly scratches are what she deserves! congrats Suzi!
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Post by johnr on Jul 4, 2012 11:10:12 GMT -5
Cool!
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susan
I Love RPBF!
my little angel halo
Posts: 370
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Post by susan on Jul 4, 2012 20:04:01 GMT -5
great job
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Post by maryellen on Jul 4, 2012 20:36:42 GMT -5
awesome for Dharma!!!!
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Post by suziriot on Jul 6, 2012 9:10:59 GMT -5
Thanks everyone! She's done really well all week. Our 80lb APBT/DDB mix Lebowski, however, has decided that he is never going outside after dark again. Even if we drag him out, he refuses to potty and runs back to the door.  |
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Post by sugar on Jul 6, 2012 10:00:46 GMT -5
Yay Miss Diva D!!
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Post by Dave on Jul 6, 2012 10:28:38 GMT -5
Thanks everyone! She's done really well all week. Our 80lb APBT/DDB mix Lebowski, however, has decided that he is never going outside after dark again. Even if we drag him out, he refuses to potty and runs back to the door. Oh, boy. Sedona had a tough day the 4th. She finally came out of her crate at 9:30 pm to go potty, as soon as she chose her spot she heard voices next door and firecrackers in the distance and she stopped. She held it from 8:30 in the am til after midnight when she finally felt comfortable. Our poor dogs.  |
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Post by suziriot on Jul 6, 2012 10:58:40 GMT -5
Oh, boy. Sedona had a tough day the 4th. She finally came out of her crate at 9:30 pm to go potty, as soon as she chose her spot she heard voices next door and firecrackers in the distance and she stopped. She held it from 8:30 in the am til after midnight when she finally felt comfortable. Our poor dogs. Poor Sedona. Exactly the kind of thing that can set a fearful dog back. |
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Post by Dave on Jul 6, 2012 11:44:04 GMT -5
Poor Sedona. Exactly the kind of thing that can set a fearful dog back. Oh, she gets regular setbacks. She sometimes goes days without willingly coming out of her crate. We keep trudging along. |
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Post by maryellen on Jul 6, 2012 17:13:13 GMT -5
dave have you tried liquid melatonin for her?
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Post by melonie on Jul 6, 2012 18:09:58 GMT -5
My co-worker was just telling me that he used melatonin for his dog in the past during the 4th of july.
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Post by maryellen on Jul 6, 2012 18:12:08 GMT -5
for some dogs it works really good, i have used it on mine and myself lol...
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Post by RealPitBull on Jul 9, 2012 12:27:25 GMT -5
Suzi, that is HUGE!!! Great work!
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Post by bubsy on Jul 9, 2012 22:54:16 GMT -5
Yay, Dharma!!
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