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Looking for ideas from other AI owners. Since the night we got our pup last fall she has had a few fears.

Here are a couple of the:

 

--She hates the dark to the point of not liking to go out at night for potty breaks, even if we go out too we can hardly get her off our leg to go. Sending our other dog out along helps. If it is dark and rainy then there is no chance she will go out with or with out us short of us picking her up to carry her out.

--Storms--while common for dogs to be fearful of them I am curious if others have this issue with their AI. When in combination with the dark it creates an impossibility and if at night it is VERY restless because she wants to potty but is too afraid to go out.

 

I know they are raised outside as pups so the outside factor has me perplexed. It started THE NIGHT we got her. We attribute it to the noisy flight and meeting new people in the dark. However by now she has had ample opportunity to learn her surroundings and what is familiar.

 

Also, she does a good job of going potty outside as long as we remember to let her out (admittedly we are human with 2 small kids and time does get away from us occasionally). However, there are times that despite her being let out regularly she will ask to come back in and then a few minutes later the entire house smells like her #2. We have a portion of the house that is under construction but the vinyl flooring is new in my new master bath. With out fail, every time she chooses to go, this is where she does it, on my new floor.


As an example: Yesterday I let her out on her chain while I went to the garden for a little while. She asked to go back in by waiting by the door and dancing around (she used to paw at the door but we had to shorten the chain b/c she kept scratching and tearing up the door seal). When I told her "no" she wandered around the yard for a minute then decided to have her BM. Had I let her back in I have no doubt that she would have gone to "her spot" for her #2 as opposed to going outside like she should.

 

Please note: There are always those that will be opposed to her being on a chain. It is for her safety when we can not pay 100% attention to her. We plan to install a fence but we have other issues that need dealt with on the construction of our house before we can put a fence in. If we did so now we would only have to tear out a portion of it soon to accomplish what is needed. Until that time she goes out on her chain as needed and she gets plenty of off the chain play time daily when we can devote our attention fully. Living in town we have to be cautious of strays, other dogs and their owners, small kids playing, vehicles and the leash law as well as rabbits, squirrels, and cats. We all do the best we can.

 

Thank you,

Crystal

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Ah the fear of the dark for potty purposes. When we moved Nort in our first winter, Tara queen GSD and black terror was afraid to potty in the dark. My husband said "let there be light" and poop lights spontaneously appeared. Tara saw the light and it was good and there was voiding. Then at night we rested. http://www.potterybarn.com/products/cafe-string-lights

 

The posse. Waki is way braver and will go on floating pontoons if his passe is with him OR if other dogs are already on the pontoon.

 

The sound of music rule - all rules are suspended during thunderstorms. Mostly he's fine but sometimes for whatever reason a storm will bother him. Waki can sleep on my head if it makes him feel better.

 

Mark your new territory. If you go to a hotel or have a renovation you need to stink up the place with your scent. Put some dirty laundry down or spritz your perfume. Add a baby gate if possible. We have one I can step over but it keeps the dogs out of the wet plaster.

 

Praise like a lunatic for potty outside. Set a timer every day and make it a ritual. Bring the kids. Teach them a potty song. Be her potty posse. Put on your poop lights (wasn't that a Niel Diamond song?) and have a potty (Boston pronunciation)!

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dcunger,

 

Our 3 yr old Chhaya has a few fears.....storms are one.....prior to storms coming I take her out to potty......and if I watch the weather and know there are storms comining overnite I take her out as late as I can. She trembles and paces.....I have tried everything.....what seems to work the best is opening up the basement door and letting her go down there by herself and ignoring her.....sounds terrible but she is less stressed that way.

 

Gunshots.....we live in the country and have people around us that target shoot.....all year round....this fear she developed after she was about a year old...I would just call her to me and she circles me.....as long as she has the freemdom to "pace" she is ok....sometimes now she will play frisbee....she is definitely better.

 

Big Trucks!!! The backup beeping is a sure freak out!!! This I do think came from the plane ride....this one I'm still working with. This morning we had a "training session". The garbage truck on the rode a half mile from our house was backing up with the beep beep beep. She looked at me and freaked!!! I was able to call her to me, made her sit and gave her the command "relax"......I just continue to work with her all the time....I try to get her to get her mind off of her fears by getting her to do the things she likes....play frisbee or ball....keep working with it.....it will work eventually!!!

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--She hates the dark to the point of not liking to go out at night for potty breaks, even if we go out too....

 

Sometimes during training, we have to go back to square one and start over. May I suggest that you go outside with her EVERY time, night or day, rain or shine, like she is a mere 8 weeks old again. You will know when her confidence is back up. This is a good time of year to do this as the weather is more inviting, even to us humans. It sounds like an event happened that frightened her. Sometimes, what we think of as the smallest event can somehow be a HUGE deal to them. She needs to get her confidence back and know that she is safe.

 

I know they are raised outside as pups so the outside factor has me perplexed. It started THE NIGHT we got her. We attribute it to the noisy flight and meeting new people in the dark. However by now she has had ample opportunity to learn her surroundings and what is familiar.

 

 

Just because they are born outside does not mean that they understand everything that IS or HAPPENS outside. Remember, when they leave Kim's, they are only 8 weeks old. If the pup was to stay at Kim's, the mom dog would still be teaching, and teaching more. We know as mothers, that side of motherhood never ends.......They are not old enough to have much understanding other than they are leaving the safety of their mom and their litter mates. What happens next is your responsibility to make the pup feel safe on THEIR terms and timing, NOT yours. Don't try to second guess them. They are honest creatures and will let YOU know. Observe her like she is your birth child.

 

....she does a good job of going potty outside as long as we remember to let her out (admittedly we are human with 2 small kids and time does get away from us occasionally). However, there are times that despite her being let out regularly she will ask to come back in and then a few minutes later the entire house smells like her #2.

 

Generally we find that it is us humans that are at fault. We are the ones not listening or not paying attention. Consistency is the key whether fur kids or human kids...as a mom I am sure you know that already. But with canines we see the results of our mistakes a lot faster. (1 human year are 6 canine years).

 

I don't mean to sound harsh, just firm. This is all correctable if you are willing to put in the time to undo what has been done.

I see at this time others are responding as well. I hope they have more advise for you. It's all ment to be friendly. :-)

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My AID Danza is a 'fraidy dog, too, and it started the day we brought her home. She staked out a spot on the corner of the carpet right by my spot on the couch and wouldn't leave it voluntarily for days. She was even fine with peeing on it and still staying there. She very slowly expanded her no-fear zone as the weeks went by. She'd be fine playing and training and eating anywhere I was, but as soon as the fun stopped she was back in her spot. It should have been her crate - I'd do it differently if I could.

 

I can't really deal with all of her fears - I've desensitized her to some of her most intrusive fears, but new ones pop up out of the blue and it's a losing game. I don't give up, but I'm realistic. What I try to do is deal with the state of fear, mostly by providing as immediate and enticing a distraction as I can. I'm grateful that redirection works, I'm grateful that she is so crazy about playing. It makes things easier.

 

We have some of the same situations as you - gunshots and fireworks can happen at any time, so you can't prepare for them. And I totally understand the basement. The sounds are muffled, you can't hear the rain on the roof. I'll often go downstairs when it starts to rain, and I'll work down there while Danza escapes the noise with me. We also got a Thundershirt, and I agree with most of the Amazon reviewers when they say it is mostly but not totally effective. She loves the shirt, even wags her scared tail when I get it out, and it helps take the edge off. She doesn't shake as hard. She'll lie down instead of constantly pacing/gluing herself to my knee.

thundershir.jpg

 

The most difficult thing to deal with is what can happen when she is home alone. If something is sudden and frightening enough, she'll just start peeing, and not a little fear dribble. She has also totally freaked out about things that will always be a mystery to us, and she once destroyed a heavy door in her panic to escape. If I don't crate her when I leave, I'm rolling the dice (and we can't afford another new door). So I stuff Kongs to keep her busy when she's crated and hope nothing happens to make her alone, crated and terrified. It's never more than a few hours.

 

She is, overall, a very happy dog who lives for fun, and she seems to have developed some coping mechanisms of her own. So we both do the best we can.

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You think your the only one who's dog freaks out over what we think are "no big deals". This is why this forum is so great. It lets us vent, get great advise and just plain be amused.

 

Anyway, Hawk has always been afraid of the vaccum. It's not like I have ever chased him with it. But I can be outside mowing the lawn and he walks next to me. I think the mower is louder than my vaccum. Of course, the thunder, fireworks and loud unexpected bangs. He has never had a problem with the darkness. In fact in the winter when he does his last pee for the night he may spend 10 plus min. messing around before coming in. He likes to check out any critters that may have aluded his watch.

 

Don't get to discouraged, things always get better.

 

Good luck to all of you because the fire works will be here before you know it. Hey, I even don't like the sounds of it as well.

 

Lisa

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Hey Lisa, speaking of chasing, Waki learned to fear nail clippers from our older dogs. He hasn't had a bad experience but the older dogs have had a quick cut a time or two and so they hate the clippers. They also hover about Waki and make sympathy sounds when he gets his nails clipped. So he developed a fear. About a month ago I was going after his nails and he picked up a toy and played clown to try to get me to not clip his nails. I played along, exaggerating my movements and making monster sounds. He'd zoomie around and let me touch his body with the clippers before zooming off again (with a toy). So for the next 2 weeks in the evening he got play with clippers monster and I would always clip one and just one nail. Now he's very reasonable and I think we will be playing this game regularly. I am also thinking about how to make a curtain monster since he is afraid of the bedroom curtains opening and closing. He's gotten better with treats and cuddling. He use to run to the far end of the house and wedge into a small space but now he just leaves the room and hovers outside. That fear happened because he saw the curtains attack me (they jumped the rail and fell).

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Good advice, everyone (Hello Lisa!!!!). I would just add that these dogs ARE quirky. Working through these things binds them so closely to you, that you'll be glad you put out the effort. Every crisis is an opportunity with these guys.

 

Soon it will be light, way into the evening hours. Maybe just a season of that will suffice, but the effort of putting out a few lights, your dog seeing you try to help...that will be invaluable. Maybe even a big flashlight? And I really like what Ms. M., said, imagine your dog is 8 weeks old, again. Go outside with her. That will really build her confidence. I have had to start a square one, many times. It is the last thing I think of, but it has never failed.

 

Sometimes if a dog is on a chain, it does not want to poop in it's area, but would prefer to go outside the reach of the chain. You may have to go out and walk her around to help her find a place, away from where she reaches on the chain. Again, it requires you, and your attention, as though she were a pup. Square one.

 

My older dog is starting to lose his night vision. Once I realized that, and started to help by adding extra light, he was so very grateful, and all the imagined "problems" passed.

 

Not quite the same as your situation, but you may find some parallels.

 

And yes, the 4th of July, the night of big noise is coming!

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  • 2 weeks later...

I'm a newbie, and just started a new topic on firework fears and puppies right before I found this one. We get our puppy just before July 4th, and don't want to start out terriifying the little gal or guy. Cesar Millan would advise taking time to incrementally introduce the dog to darkness and reward a "calm, submissive state of mind" with a high value treat. Try taking her out at early twilight and reward her with a piece of chicken, cheese, or turkey dog when she is calm. I like Allison's suggestion to go out with her. If she sees you remaining calm and happy, hopefully she will catch on that she has nothing to fear. Baby steps.

 

It sounds like you have your hands full. We just finished a 7 months construction project, and I don't know that I could have stayed calm during that mess and revolving door of noise generating strangers with a new puppy. Hang in there!

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  • 4 weeks later...

Last summer when Waki was a baby (Born Dec 7 2011) he went on exactly one ride in our bike dog pod thing. He cried, howled, made such noise that we got dirty looks from everyone we passed. This year, thanks to Miss Tara being much less mobile he has decided the carrier is the greatest thing. We wheel her around using it set up as a stroller and he wants in. Last night we took him around for a long trip away from our property and he was great. Since our Tandem bike died we haven't hooked him to the bike yet but I think we are in for a break through.

 

We also used his Pulka harness for the first time this week. He naturally knew what to do and pulled the stroller with 60 lb (she's lost some weight) Tara like a pro. Note that on a flat a dog can pull 2X their weight. She sang to him and he showed off for her. All I had to do was keep the carrier level! It was flying. He even lifted his tail like a proper sled dog.

 

I can only conclude that sometimes a pup with what may seem like an impossible fear can outgrow it or; with the right contextual support, the fear can become a non-issue. I might add that neither Shiva nor Tara liked the carrier last year (but they didn't fear it) so they weren't helpful role models. Now Tara likes it as a way to get around her "territory" when her elbows are particularly bad. She is stubborn about not wanting it if she feels well. This has enabled Waki - who is competitive with her, and she with him - to see it as a good thing, too. The other day she delighted in running beside the carrier and poking the cloth walls with her snout to show "the baby" she was strong.

 

It's interesting the dynamic between the two of them. She aggravated her arthritic elbows by chasing some deer through the woods and down to the lower pasture. It was probably her last major charge. He responded by playing more gently with her. Giving up the tug and letting her win. He no longer fears her taking his treats (too slow) and things and this evening he offered his head to her mouth. She started off standing and when she needed to lay down he lowered his head (buttox still in air) to continue offering himself to her. It's like he's honoring her now that he knows she is not equal, she is weakened. He could take advantage but he does the opposite. What a funny pair they are! Past life karma anyone?

Edited by Sherab
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The changing dynamic when one dog really starts aging is very touching. Mammals, including people, want to play so much that they will make elaborate accommodations in order to keep the game going. So, the younger dog adapts their play so they older dog will still want to play along. It's very cooperative.

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I think it is in their instinct....Both Tolinka and Two Step changed their play to accommodate Boogee, my boarder Collie as she got in her last year. When she couldn't see where the ball went, one or the other would retrieve it for her, saunter over and drop it at her feet....game back on, everyone had their ball. It is remarkable how gentle and understanding these dogs are with the elders. I see Tolinka and Two Step being very sensitive with humans as well.

 

Great story Sherab.....

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  • 3 weeks later...

Fortunately for me, Willow never had these problems. We live in the south and our storms are angry with us, always, so I assumed the thunder would terrify her as it often shakes the house. But we were sure to let her now everything was fine, but not baby her about it. If she did get frightened, we would tell her it was okay, and to go lay down on her bed. She's also really good with fireworks/other loud noises. Although if she even hears a horse be it in real life or on the tv, she starts growling and gets really upset.

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  • 3 weeks later...

I would also like to mention, that puppies' eyesight is still expanding. So it helps to realize that they may not SEE. If you are WITH them, a few steps in front, they will be more brave.

 

I always have loved watching the dogs, eyesight grow. That first time that they follow a bird in flight? Magical.

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  • 2 weeks later...

I am just now introducing Chaska to the finished basement. He wants absolutely nothing to do with the stairs going down there even though he does the stairs on our back porch. I had to pick him up the other day and take him downstairs so he could see what it was. He pretty much army crawled everywhere he went. I kept a close eye on him just in case he decided to pee. We stayed down for about fifteen minutes and then had to carry him back upstairs.

 

Today, I tried to go down with him and he wouldn't go. Even on a leash. So I picked him up and put him on the middle landing of the stairs and talked to him for a few and then walked down about four stairs and stopped. He finally army crawled down the stairs and went carefully exploring like he was on his tip toes. After awhile of watching him I tried the go upstairs thing again. No good. I walked up the stairs to the middle landing and called him. He kept going right by the stairs from one room to another. After seeing he wasn't going to commit then I went to pick him up to take him upstairs. About the time I went to pick him up he decided to pee in one of the girls rooms. He has not had an accident in the house for a very long time and I chalk this up to possible anxiety.

 

He always wants to go down with the girls when they go but stops short and barks at them cause he wants to play to. It is something new to him and we will have to work with him on it. I am kind of suprised by the stairs though. The ones outside he runs up and down if not jumping over them to get up on the back porch.

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Are these "see through" stairs? Those are a lot more scary. Maybe you can close the backs if so? I think dogs see a lot more "possibilities" in open stairs than we do. Shiva was a step diver. I didn't like that because he always seemed to dive from higher than I thought was good for his joints.

 

Give him time. If you can safely cary him then he may decide he doesn't want to be "babied" after a few trips. Waki was afraid of wooden bridges, stairs and docks his first year. Now he's much more shore footed and confident. He just dove off a dock after a duck like no big deal. It could be that Chaska needs to grow into his body more. If the steps are closed backed you could try a treat per step but I'd only do that with closed back stairs. If he knocks a treat off an open back step he might go after it.

 

Some times there's just not enough bravery. Waki barked at the table cloth like it was a monster, one day out of the blue. It was flaping in the wind and he was over-tired. No problem sleeping under it 15 minutes later.

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Sherab, the basement stairs are closed stairs. He has no issues with the open stairs on the back porch. He runs up and down them with no problems. I think he is just a little leary as he had never been in the basement or on those stairs before. He did the same thing when we introduced him to our bedroom and bathroom after only being allowed in the other rooms of the house. I am sure it will just take some time of working with him and letting him know it is okay. I will have to try the treat idea and see how that goes.

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Hey Roy,

Have you tried to get on YOUR hands and knees and crawled up the stairs beside him...one bitty step at a time, real slowly? "Two Step" didn't like the slick floors at the hardware store, and I have found that if I walk really slow right beside him, he gains his confidence back, and then there is no problem. I have a feeling that when Chaska barks at the stairs, he is telling your daughters to be weary...he sees danger! That's a good thing as he is trying to protect and warn them. Let him study the stairs a bit as you climb together. It's those little baby steps again. :rolleyes:

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Our older female, Shadow, was deathly afraid of stairs. She would no go up open back stairs, nothing persuaded her. We thought part of it was they were uncarpeted. She would go up stairs at night walking only on the carpeted runner. Things are all so new to your pup. It's going to take time, work and most of all PATIENCE! Just don't force him. He'll go when he's ready, believe me. Molly is absolutely right, because he is afraid he's afraid for the kids downstairs. He's warning them. It will come ... like all good things!

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I have an older dog that has cataracts in both eyes (stage 3 in one, stage 4 in the other). She can make out general shapes/forms, but can't see much detail. She goes up the stairs (hardwood, not carpeted), but has slipped once or twice trying to make it down on her own. She would stay at the top and bark incessantly. Not wanting to leave her feeling completely helpless, we opted to carry her halfway down. Then we stood behind her and encouraged her to make it the rest of the way down, which she eventually did. One day I noticed how hard it was to tell where one step ended and the other began...and I don't have cataracts. Solution? We taped light-colored masking tape on the front edge of each of the dark steps. She figured out quickly that she could make it down by herself, although very carefully until about halfway down. Try that. Maybe Chaska's developing vision is making the steps difficult to differentiate. It's just a hypothesis, but tape is cheap! Good luck & let us know how he does.

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My thoughts are the barking is more that he wants to be down in the midst of things with them. He can hear them playing but can not see them.He stood at the window tonight looking at the girls playing outside and started to bark the same way. He does the same thing when I or the girls are outside and he is inside. He will bark wanting to be out with us. He does the same thing if he is on the back porch and we are inside. Not saying he isn't trying to comunicate something but for me it is just wanting to be down with them. I am going to work with him on the stairs. They are a bit slick being they are hardwood stairs and I am sure that can be a challenge for them when they first come across it. Before he got introduced to our bedroom on the main floor he would stand at the doorway and bark. Now he flies in and out as he wants.

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  • 3 years later...

Any help with getting over fear of bridges?? Open stairs too ? I thought this pup was fearless but we tried to cross this bridge on Friday and he stopped dead would not budge ,today we went past it again and he stopped 30 feet before we even got near it ( good memory) we tried watching dad, other dogs and little kids cross and treats but it was a complete no go.... He's not a scaredy cat either usually brave....any tips would be appreciated.... should i wait to try again or try daily??

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The only advice I can give is time. Time seems to heal all wounds with respect to their fears. Both Lili & Kona are nervous around plastic bags (go figure) but in recent months it's been a little less so. Still afraid, especially if you accidentally drop one and it takes flight in an unpredictable manner.

 

Lili used to be afraid of everything...almost. She was never afraid of varmints. A white hot murderous rage overtakes her when she sees a member of the rodentia class. She'd probably even lose her fear of plastic bags if there was one in a bag nearby.

 

What works the best, in all cases, is patience. Keep testing the waters where the fear level is moderate & there's interest. Don't force anything obviously but also observe closely without putting too much emphasis on the object of fear. If your energy level changes when approaching the object you can bet that the dog will pick up on this too...it's amazing how perceptive these dogs are.

 

Went out to Utah a couple of years ago & Liliko'i walked right up to the edge of a several hundred foot drop, peered over the edge, glanced at me, walked over to the water bowl & sat down. Luckily that's not a natural environment for the species Plasticus Bagicus.

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Agee. Patience and don't force it as much as practical. However if you happen to need to cross same, and you can manage it, I've had good luck just picking up the little beetle bug. How you approach it definitely will impact them. Bridges and steps move, sound different. Move different when other things are crossing at the same time. Have air currents. It can take a while for them to get comfortable with it.

Edited by Sherab
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open stairs, are there any buildings with open stairs you can walk around, not having to attempt up them, to practice with? getting him used to being around them first without being on them - hopefully other people will walk up and down at times.

 

It takes time and repetition to desensitize.

 

With the bridge, are there other ones Zuni goes over and just not this one? take a look at the surroundings - is there something around or before this bridge different that Zuni doesn't like?

 

I echo Sherab in that the dogs can feel any apprehension you may have even subconsciously since the first balk by Zuni. If needed, carrying works, especially if the pup is comfortable in your arms.

 

Good luck!

 

 

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