Abby's behavior - opinions please

A

Abby's Dad

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So Abby is now 9 months. She loves to be in the house. When we go out to do business she runs back in when she is finished. I have been forced to leash her to stop her from running/jumping due to her injury:no: even for potty walks. When it is time to go either for a ride or walk she refuses to come to me and runs the other direction and hides like a cat. We go to the park everyday for a walk so all her rides are pleasant and positive ones. She has a large crate in the back seat with 4" of cushy foam so even when we run errands she is very comfy. I'm not a speeder and drive cautiously. She just does not want to go. So I am debating whether to leave her home in her crate while I go out or continue to hunt her down and carry her from the house to the truck which is getting quite old. She sees me putting on my shoes and jacket and that's when she runs and hides. To me it is clear she does not want to leave the house. Now I know she is just 9 months and will grow out of this but here is my question....what should I do right now??? force her to come with me or leave her home in her crate. Yesterday she played that game and I just lost it and put her in her crate and left. My wife said she cried and cried the whole 2 hours I was gone. Then when I got home I let her out of her crate and went outside without her and did somethings that needed to be done and she cried and creid. Then in the afternoon when it was time for our walk she ran in the opposite direction again...:eek2: So please give me your opinions, thanks
 
Think about it in her terms. Before she was able to run and jump and play whenever you took her someplace, lots of fun. Now, even though its for her own good, she doesnt, it feels like a punishment to her. She needs what little exercise she can get till her injury is all healed so take her with you. Find some other way to show her your love, like lots of cuddling and a 'sheltie hour' where for a whole hour you pay attention to nothing but her, no TV, no phone, no people, no other dogs, just her.
 
Is this new behavior?
Was there a triggering event?

Victoria Stillwell dealt with a dog that have travel anxiety, was afraid of the car..

Does Abby like treats? I'd start by teaching her the 'focus/touch' command. Get a huge bag of very tiny treats. Sit down on the floor and hold out your hand right in front of her. When she touches your hand, give her a treat. Do this over and over until she connects your hand out as being a good thing. Pair it withe the 'focus' command word, some people like using 'touch' as the command word... Repeat this for about 10 min. Do this excersize for a couple days until you can use your command word and she moves towards your hand to touch it.

(I use teh command word 'focus' because it seems more natural when Deja is across the room and I want her attention on me, I tell her ;Deja, focus on me not the squarrel..hehe)

Start scooting back farther and farther each day, when she is coming and touching every time at 2 feet, move to 5 feet.. etc.. In a couple weeks she will be coming from anywhere in the room. Once she reponds from where ever you want her, start ratchetting back the treats and doing more praise as reward.. Eventually yolu can drop the treats all together. This whole excersize could take a month or more but be patient and consistant. Until she is 100% responding, keep the rewards high!

Once you have the focus down 100% you should no longer have to chase her to get her to you. The next thing to do is to reintroduce the car to her. Walk her to the car and watch her. Watch for her to pull away or react badly. That's your tolerance threshold for her. Get out the trusty treats, leave her in her comfort area adn you move closer to the car. Start using the focus command again. Repeat as necessary until she walks with you out to the car and hops in :)

Make the vehicle a place where good things happen and she will love going for rides with you again!
 
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Oh god please don't go by TV personalities, while I do prefer Victoria over Cesear Milan you really should just go to a local trainer, It could be something you just aren't seeing, Pro Dog trainers and behaviorist can generally read a dog better than those who aren't.
 
This is not new behavior, I also worked with the clicker and treats and that got her to the door but as soon as I stopped treats she stopped coming to the door. I started treats again and got her outside...but she goes to the backyard instead of the front.

Herd4fun - Abby has had an injury since she was 16 weeks - so she has never had the run/jump/play with others. So I am not taking something away from her. In fact she has never really had fun or knows what fun is.

Strider - Like I said above I got her to come to the door and go outside....but thats the end of that. All that worked with the clicker. All other commands worked with the clicker even now after I stopped the clicker. I have to beg her to go to the car:eek2: In the last 3 months ALL trips have been positive/pleasurable. She loves the park when we get there. She loves going to the pet store. She loves going to see my mother in law.

I know these dogs are wicked smart....and I feel if I have to beg her or bribe her to go places she likes ....then she does not want to go. All other commands/tricks she does happy. Its hard to see a dog trainer now because we are going to physical therapy once a week and have rented a laser therapy device and both of those are $450 a month.
 
ouch, thats quite a price tag. How are your results? Have you tried Nina Oottson toys to help with her puzzle solving abilities?
 
Results are not what I was hoping. This could take up to a year with her still growing and being a puppy. Its not a fun price to pay for not seeing any immediate results. As her iliopsoas is improving she is putting more strain on her shoulders and back and can not figure out why. Her back and neck are very warm to the touch and in the evening she gets very panty from the inflammation. I keep telling her its growing pains as we all have some pains now and then. All in all its just not much fun.
 
have you tried acupuncture yet? It takes a several visits a week to start but after a couple months you can cut back to maybe 2 visits a month
 
Aww poor baby!! and ouch on the cost of that laser thing..wow!!

If I'm understanding what you are saying...I'd say keep taking her for rides and outings..keeping her home and not getting out and getting used to different enviroments..isn't gonna make it easier. The more exposure she can get now, they more relaxed she will eventually become..Now..the important thing is to make these outings as positive as possible. Try to figure out a fun thing you can do with her on your errands..mine figured out going thru the bank drive thru and fast food places..gets them a goody sometimes..now even if we are just going thru a toll booth the get all happy ..LOL
So when its time to go in the car..just calmly get her..no coaxing, no baby talk reasurring her..just matter of factly get her.
I would give her a treat or toy in her crate in the car..she will start to look forward to that!!
On the not wanting to be outside...not sure what thats about..but my Clancy is a big woosie and doesn't stay outside any longer then he needs to either....if we are out in the yard with him he is ok..but he hangs out by the door hopeing it will open and let him in...He isn't worried or scared to be out..he just prefers to be in the house...
I now puppies go thru fear periods..I don't remember at about what ages those are...maybe someone knows? Could be partly that...
Hope your girl heals up and is up to par soon!!

Julie
Clancy & Abby
 
As I am reading your post, I was thinking about my two. Lucky and Lil' Lady who is the "DIVA" and has a mind of her own at times, hate a leash connected to their collar.

They walk right with us and feel comfortable prancing along with a harness on their body, instead of a leash connected to the collar.

You didn't mention what you were using, but its just a thought through my own experience.
 
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