Remy Holiday Update

[Bill Porter]

Howdy Folks,

It's been a while since I've (had to) posted in here and just wanted to give a brief update. Remy will be 4 years old in March 2024 and we've loved that crazy boy ever since we got him - despite himself. If you recall, Remy is just wired differently than other dogs and he is completely uncontrollable when he's in "game mode." We've been dealing with his inability to go out the front door either for rides or walks, so we bought a course for the back yard and he does great with it. Squirrels, possums, raccoons, & cats get his game mode going - but he started barking when people sneezed, coughed, and even went up the stairs. Rather than calm down over time, he was getting worse.

Now, he's been wearing a shock collar for years but we only ever used it for sound & vibration. A few weeks ago I "tried" the shock part and he didn't react. Took me a while to realize one of the prongs was broken. So I ordered a different kind of shock collar - an automatic one. I have it on the mildest setting but it goes through beeps, vibration then shock. No one in the family was happy I strapped that on to him but something had to be done about his craziness. Let me just say that in 3 days, Remy was a whole different dog.

It's been a few weeks now and we've removed the shock component so it just goes from beep to vibrate and Remy is (1) quieter, (2) more affectionate, (3) calmer at all times, (4) acts like a normal dog when people come home rather than run around the entire 1st floor barking his head off and then going to our back window as if a ghost was coming through it, and (5) is getting more treats and loving than ever before.

He's a beautiful dog and we've loved him beyond a pet because that's how are family is, and even though my kids cried when I put the new collar on him, they're all so happy he's become the dog he is today. Hopefully, in the Spring, he'll be ready to learn how to go on walks with the family. If we can get that accomplished, it'll be a perfect relationship.

In the meantime, he's got a lot of brand new toys, a new/longer dog tunnel on the way, a big brand new treat container with some fresh Fromm treats, new Fromm Gold food - I like giving him Ancient Grains, and a couple packages of "bully like" sticks that are softer than bullys but they fit in that blue bullystick holder you guys turned me onto years ago. Should be a good holiday season!

Hope all is well with y'all.

Happy Holidays

Bill Porter

 

[Bill Porter]

Also, Remy would often defecate and/or throw up on himself if we had him groomed at a place or even in a truck right outside the front door. So I found a young girl who comes to the house AFTER either my wife or I have bathed him. One of us would have to stay with him in our bathroom while she went to work, but he's gotten used to her now so we only stay at the beginning. That's been a huge improvement as well since the collar.

 

[woof]

Good for you and your patience, poor dog doesn't do these things because it wants to. We had a very nervous little girl once-- nothing like Remy but she was painfully shy and worried/nervous. We did not have to deal with what you are dealing with tho-- our first sheltie was a barker out of the barkers handbook- everything, phone, cars, thunderstorms etc still he was a lovable dog. When our current crew gets to barking too much I use an ultrasonic blaster that I touch a button and they stop. I am not sure it would work long term and used consistently but sometimes when they get fired up outside because of something and won't calm down I hit the button and that settles things. Good luck....Remy is a lucky pup.

 

[Piper's mom]

Glad to hear you found a way to a more relaxed Remy! All these things are tools and when used correctly can help bring some peace to the dog. I know most people hear shock collar and they react (myself included) but sometimes you have to try something different as much as it pains you.