Extreme Pacing

E

estrauss

Forums Novice
Hello!

I am a relatively new sheltie owner and have a unique problem with my sheltie rescue that I would like some help with. I just found your Forum and am really looking forward to your input. :)

Our local Animal Control picked up Pippa (I named her) at the end of November. She weighed 8 pounds and was filthy and matted (she weighs 12 pounds now). The kept her for a week and no one claimed her, and then asked a local rescue to take her for a complete medical workup due to her emaciated condition. The local rescue had her for a couple days and posted her picture on Facebook and I saw her. I took her to foster her and ended up keeping her. Her age was estimated to be about 6 months old.

I've had her since early December and she is now healthy and I recently got her spayed. She was almost feral when I brought her home; scared of everything, but she is doing really well now. I took her to puppy kindergarten and Puppy 1 and 2 classes, and I've started her on agility foundation work.

Here is her problem: when I let her outside she puts her nose to the ground and as fast as she can trot -- she paces back and forth. I don't have a yard, just a deck and a potty area. I can't leave her on the deck or she will pace until she drops. I take her to friend's backyards and she will pace and run back and forth, ignoring the other dogs. She works herself up into a frenzy.

She gets lots of exercise; an hour or two hour walk every day, classes, etc. When I first got her, after she had acclimated to me and my house, I tried to take her to a new place/new experience every day, and that has helped a lot. She really is a sweet and lovely little girl, but the pacing drives me nuts.

Should I just let her do it? My inclination is to stop her and not let her "disappear" into that behavior. If I tie her to something (with 8 or 10 feet of rope) she stands there and just looks around, which I think is better for her; she is at least looking and hearing instead of reacting. She is VERY sound sensitive and I think it is this that sets her off.

Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I've only had her for barely 7 months....I'm hoping she'll grow out of it, but it seems to be getting worse.

Thank you again,

Elise
 
Re: Pacing

Hello, I also got Sheldon from a shelter. He is a 2yr old Sheltie and was found with his dead owner no food or water for days. I have had him 1 month today . He also was afraid of everything and is coming out if it more every day . I too have the pacing to a frenzy. The pacing is starting to subside, after a dog friend who is very knowledgeable on dog behavior told me to stop introducing him to new things every day. Apparently on a shelter rescue, this is Stimuli overload !! I then started using the same walk trek for a week at a time and did not introduce him to something new for one week. We formed a week habit one at a time and the pacing is starting to subside. If she is pacing on your inclosed deck only it may represent a memory of being Pinned in. My Sheltie has an issue and is terrified of all cars and parked vehicles. The other thing I did was slowly give him the run of the home; one room only for a week and when he stops the pacing then he gets more room. This is working well and he now has 3/4 run of the house. I have a crate that I leave open to use and go to at this discretion which now he uses less......At first he needed that "safe" place to go . Hope some of this helps........Good luck
 
Nancy....I have had Shelties for 20 years + but have not had one that paced. I found your post regarding pacing very interesting. It sounds like the process is working for you and Sheldon...that's great. Though Sheldon came to you after a terrible experience it sounds like he is becoming a member of your family quickly. You are to be congratulated for adopting Sheldon into a loving home.
 
Thanks for adopting Pippa and giving her a loving home !! If there is no pacing inside then probably anxious about the patio and being loose/ alone outside. Maybe sit with her on the patio and keep her leashed rewarding her with treats when she settles or seems relaxed. Keep the sessions very brief then increase length of time and go slow about this. Eventually remove the leash and ask her to sit/stay by your side and reward when relaxed. if she is pacing at your friends' houses and there are other dogs maybe she is just overwhelmed with it all. You've only had her for a very short time and she is at the spooky age. Tinsel's' journey is an excellent thread about rescue conditioning.
 
Thank you Nancy, and Melinda, for your input! :)

The funny thing about Pippa's pacing is that she isn't nervous or upset when she does it; just the opposite -- she is having the time of her life. Tail is in the air, she is happy, stops occasionally to bark, and is having a ball. I know that it's sounds that set her off, but it's not upsetting her -- she's just goes berserk. But in a good way.

I do like your idea of treating for calmness, Melinda. I think I'll give that a try...

Thank you again; Pippa and I really appreciate it!

Elise
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top