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Post by AmyJo27 on Apr 7, 2008 20:16:05 GMT -5
I rescued a Border Collie Mix from a local shelter about 2 years ago. We named him Buddy and had him for almost a year, he was a very hyper dog with severe seperation anxiety. When he would be left alone for a short time he would go NUTS! We would crate him and when we would come back, his mouth and feet would be bleeding! He got so bad that he broke through 4 crates and kennels, when he would get free he would distroy(matress, shoes, EVERYTHING) So I began looking for a home for him, any way... We gave him to a couple that was warned of his behavior, about a month later they called and said they cant keep him, because we had so much troble finding him a home we told them we could'nt take him back. He has gone from home to home and is now at a local shelter. His name is now changed to Radley, I know its him though because of his cross on his chest and his collar! ( www.petfinder.com/petnote/displaypet.cgi?petid=10537660 ) I feel sick to my stomach seeing his face on the internet, it also says he had been there for about a month. Well the problem is it says he got adopted and I just have a gut feeling he will be returned to the shelter because of his seperation anxiety! If he is returned Im afraid I will go adopt him and go through all the troble again!!! I know this is rediculous but it is eating me up! I dont know if I made the right choice, or if I made a big mistake! Buddy NEEDS to have a lot of room to run and some one that is home a lot more than I am! But it kills me to see that he cant find a good home! He is a great dog, VERY smart! Any advice would be GREAT!!! ??? We gave him chew toys, calming shampoo, put hot sause on the walls of the crate, ect. This breaks my heart, I really do love this dog! If any one has tips on how to handle a dog like this would be appreciated too! Thanks again! |
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Post by valliesong on Apr 7, 2008 20:19:26 GMT -5
Has anyone tried medication with him, either herbal or prescribed by a vet?
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Post by AmyJo27 on Apr 7, 2008 20:29:53 GMT -5
Yes we even had injections for calming them!
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Post by AmyJo27 on Apr 7, 2008 20:47:26 GMT -5
Do you guys think it would be bad to call or email the shelter telling them Im his former owner,and to contact me if he gets returned!
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Post by valliesong on Apr 7, 2008 22:25:53 GMT -5
It wouldn't hurt. You could also give them all the background info you have, including what medications were tried.
I've heard of a lot of border collies with behavioral problems, including separation anxiety. I think it comes from their strong working instincts, high energy, and high intelligence. Like pit bulls, they aren't a good dog for a first time owner. In fact, a lot of them are like dogs on crack, and I would never consider adopting anything but a geriatric one.
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Post by RealPitBull on Apr 8, 2008 7:11:30 GMT -5
Personally, if I found out a dog I once owned and then rehomed was in a shelter or in danger of going to a shelter, I would take responsibility for the dog and bring it back to my home. I would rather a dog be humanely euthanized with all other options exhausted then wind up bounced from home to home, scared and confused, ultimately to be destroyed by a stranger. And very often this is what happens with dogs with severe seperation anxiety (SA). It is not something many people can deal with.
SA will most likely require long-term medication (what kind of shots were you giving him???) and behavior modification with the help of a professional.
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Post by AmyJo27 on Apr 8, 2008 19:44:44 GMT -5
The vet gave him a medicine that would calm him (I dont know exactly what it was called) We tried a oral medication (the shot lasted for 3 months, the oral med. lasted 2 weeks!), and a herbal calming shampoo, we put my other dog in a kennel near him to see if that would help and it didnt make a difference! I called the shelter today and they said he has been very depressed, he has been there for over a month!!! He had been adopted but the family that took him quickly found out about his Seperation Anxiety and plans on returning him so as soon as they return him I plan on adopting him! And like you said: Even if I cant train him, at least I can spend some time with him and if I have to euthinize him at least I would be able to be at peace!
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Post by AmyJo27 on Apr 8, 2008 19:48:57 GMT -5
Its hard for me to not blame myself for all the trouble this dog
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Post by valliesong on Apr 8, 2008 23:52:05 GMT -5
Sometimes these difficult decisions must be made with dogs that have behavioral problems. I am currently trying medication and training with my pit bull/shar pei mix, but if his human aggression continues, we will have to have him euthanized as well.
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Post by RealPitBull on Apr 9, 2008 7:12:07 GMT -5
The vet gave him a medicine that would calm him (I dont know exactly what it was called) We tried a oral medication (the shot lasted for 3 months, the oral med. lasted 2 weeks!), and a herbal calming shampoo, we put my other dog in a kennel near him to see if that would help and it didnt make a difference! I called the shelter today and they said he has been very depressed, he has been there for over a month!!! He had been adopted but the family that took him quickly found out about his Seperation Anxiety and plans on returning him so as soon as they return him I plan on adopting him! And like you said: Even if I cant train him, at least I can spend some time with him and if I have to euthinize him at least I would be able to be at peace! BIG BIG BIG kudos to you for taking responsibility for this dog. PLEASE keep us posted on how it goes. If you want, contact me via private message once you bring him home and I'll provide you with some info on meds that may help as well as behavior mod. In the worst case scenario and you do need to have him euthanized, you will be able to rest eas knowing you did the right thing and all you could. |
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Post by AmyJo27 on Apr 9, 2008 19:53:37 GMT -5
Thank you SO much!!! I emailed the shelter and kind of had the run around! They were saying he was going to be neutered in a couple of week, but that didnt make since because I already neutered him when I owned him! But we got it all straightened out! Right now it actually sounds good, he is living with some one that is self employed and is home often! So maybe Buddy is in his forever home! If not I will go adopt him! Thanks SO much for the help!
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Post by AmyJo27 on Apr 21, 2008 10:33:11 GMT -5
The shelter emailed me today to tell me that they went to do the last home check Saturday and every thing is going GREAT!!! Buddy is happy and he is rarely alone! Im so happy for him! I think he has found his permanet home!
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Post by RealPitBull on Apr 21, 2008 12:16:50 GMT -5
The shelter emailed me today to tell me that they went to do the last home check Saturday and every thing is going GREAT!!! Buddy is happy and he is rarely alone! Im so happy for him! I think he has found his permanet home! Awesome! Thanks for the update!  |
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Post by windowdog on Apr 21, 2008 13:11:22 GMT -5
Maybe I'm over simplifying here. But I had a dog with SA, and we were able to pretty much "cure" it by constantly leaving and coming home 2 minutes later. We did that for what seemed like weeks, several times a day every day.
I don't know if we helped the dog get over the fear or if it just got so confused that it couldn't keep straight when we were home and when we were away. But either way it seemed to fix the problem.
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I look forward to learning much here