Toby, the Reactive Rescue

Not Seeing Any More Improvement

While the Thundershirt and rescue remedy usually take the edge off, I've seen no other improvement in Toby. Last week was particularly bad, with me home sick and him barking at every little noise. All I can figure is that it had to do with the change in routine and him not getting enough exercise.

I'm beginning to consider medicating him, if he continues to be so anxious. Perhaps medicating him for a few months or only when his anxiety is bad and continuing his training will help him to become more confident and relaxed. Then I can slowly wean him off of everything.

I hate seeing him in a panic all the time, he's such a sweet guy and its not a nice way to live. :cry:
 
Toby was a bad boy today!

Always a work in progress!

This morning I was running late for work and trying to let Ginny out one more time. When I opened the back door just big enough for Ginny to squeeze through, Toby barreled his way through and out the door too. I've been trying to discourage it but he gets so excited some times when going out back. Thankfully he doesn't try this out the front door.

I put down the carrots I give them in their crate, on the table so that I could go and get Toby. Mean while, he's barking his head off and freaking out over the garbage truck outside (which was why I was only trying to put Ginny out).

I finally get him inside and get Ginny to pee outside and when I finally got everyone's paws wiped, all 4 carrots are gone and Toby coincidentally has the burps. :rolleyes2:

Bad Boy Toby!
 
Yeah, I had some deja vu moments today too. Che is not particularly happy about being in his crate, we missed that part of education early on and now are having issues. Well, this morning Mr Che decided he is not going into crate no matter what... here am I late for work and monkey is just throwing a tantrum... :no:
 
OntarioSheltie said:
Always a work in progress!

This morning I was running late for work and trying to let Ginny out one more time. When I opened the back door just big enough for Ginny to squeeze through, Toby barreled his way through and out the door too. I've been trying to discourage it but he gets so excited some times when going out back. Thankfully he doesn't try this out the front door.

I put down the carrots I give them in their crate, on the table so that I could go and get Toby. Mean while, he's barking his head off and freaking out over the garbage truck outside (which was why I was only trying to put Ginny out).

I finally get him inside and get Ginny to pee outside and when I finally got everyone's paws wiped, all 4 carrots are gone and Toby coincidentally has the burps. :rolleyes2:

Bad Boy Toby!
Click to expand...

yeah- the pups about break the door down when I let them out sometimes. I've been trying to work on having them sit first before the door gets opened. still a work in progress :wink2:
 
Toby's anxiety has been much better since I finally shook the bad cold that kept me home from work and the xmas holidays are over. I'm not positive, but the change is schedule seems to be what made him so bad. I haven't had to give him rescue remedy or put the Thundershirt on him in over a week. The fire alarm even went off a couple of times and the world didn't end. :winkgrin:

I've made a vet appointment for him to see if my vet can prescribe something for him, should his anxiety reach that state again. An entire week of severe, non-stop anxiety is too much, he shouldn't have to suffer that way.

We seem to have made a break through at training too. He hasn't been anxious at the last two classes and yesterday's class he didn't even wear his Thundershirt. He was relaxed and happy to be there and worked wonderfully for me. He had a great time doing recalls and actually started getting excited. What a far cry from how he was before, a bundle of nerves constantly looking around for something scary to get him.

Next week is our last class, its too bad it took 6 of the 8 classes for him to become comfortable with training. Although he does very well I also think there's lots of room for improvement so I'm taking the basic class with him over again. A friend of mine and her dog will be in the class with me so I'm looking forward to it even more than usual. :smile2:
 
Maybe when you were there so much he felt he needed to herd you non stop rather than being able to relax some. Now that you are gone some he has some downtime (by his thinking). A busy Sheltie is good but when he are between falling over and fun seeking Sca becomes a big circle and pacer :rolleyes2:
 
I'm happy to hear that Toby is doing better at home and in class. I have a friend who medicates her Boykin Spaniel occasionally when his stress levels get too high. I'm not sure what she uses, but it really does work well. It doesn't change his personality at all, just helps him realize that nothing is out there to get him.
 
Glad to hear that Toby seems to be headed in the right direction at the moment. I'm sure the change in schedule/xmas holidays played a part in his anxiety. Less exercise, people home at times that they're not usually home... and now, this is a shot in the dark, but.... earlier in this thread I believe we discussed how sensitive he is to your state of mind, emotions, etc. Maybe you being ill (BAD cold) was making him anxious. There's no doubt about it that your scent changed, your demeanour would've changed... he knew you weren't yourself. That may have made him nervous. You got better... he got better.

So the moral of this story is.... you're not allowed to get sick!! :wink2:
 
Mikos_Mom said:
Less exercise, people home at times that they're not usually home... and now, this is a shot in the dark, but.... earlier in this thread I believe we discussed how sensitive he is to your state of mind, emotions, etc. Maybe you being ill (BAD cold) was making him anxious. There's no doubt about it that your scent changed, your demeanour would've changed... he knew you weren't yourself. That may have made him nervous. You got better... he got better.

So the moral of this story is.... you're not allowed to get sick!! :wink2:
Click to expand...

Its definitely possible. I've had a miserable fall/winter in terms of my health.
 
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