Simba's Anxiety problems

[Liz]

My mind is ready to throw in the towel, but my heart tells me that Abby and I are family.. and will work this through. My money is on you and Simba.

Alice

The easy thing for me to do would be to take Simba back, but I suspect that's just what happened to him last time. Passing him and his problems off on another will only make the problem worse for him, and I would feel like I could never adopt another dog. Simba has other qualities that would make him a great travel and hiking companion, so I am going to give him my best efforts, and keep my commitment to him. If I succeed, it'll be good for me too, and will have been worth the effort.

[mitch5252]

..

Liz, sounds like you're already making progress!
He'll be your perfect little pet in no time flat.

..

[Brewsterivy]

Liz, I am sorry to hear about the issues with Simba. I have not had a separation issue with my three dogs but other anxiety problems that I have helped a little. My vet did not want to give me meds for Sadie who is terrified of wind, thunder and fireworks. Nor did she for Georgia who is terrified of the car and gets terribly sick. She recommended the calming pills sold over the counter in all pet stores. I find they work great and take about 10 minutes to take effect. Also, the swaddler is great. For the carsickness, I use dramamine. One thing a friend of mine did with her crated dogs was to put a sheet over the crate so the dog could not see her. It seemed to work and she stopped barking.

Hopefully, Simba will outgrow this but it will take time and patience. She is a beautiful dog and loves you so much!

Carol Brewsterivy

[BirdbyBird]

Remi here......just want you to know that it does take time. The GHL and Herschel have been working with me for over four years now but as you already noted we rescue/traumatized puppers "have qualities" and skills that make it all worth while. Thank you for being so patient and understanding that all we want to do is figure out the rules and be safe..... And I can't wait until you see the "light bulb" go off in Simba mind....and he understands and trusts you. And when he does give you that trust and devotion it will mean that much... more if that is possible.

Remington....rescued puppymill pup extraordinaire.....

[Bethers]

Peaches here. Simba, you are so lucky to have found your forever Mom. It took my mom a long, long time working with me, and let me tell you I sure wish I had realized earlier that things were so good I couldn't have asked for better. You trust your Mom and be so grateful that she's going to give you the time you need and find help. I still have issues, and my Mom loves me anyway. How lucky could I be? You are a handsome and good dog, too, if you could just let your fears go - a tad at a time would work! Mom says she wants to talk now.

Liz, I've heard only good things on the Thundershirt - will be interested to see how that goes.

So glad Simba made it through the night in the crate. And if the worst thing is having to put the crate near you at night - bet you could do that Hopefully, with time, he'll let you keep it up front, though.

[Readytogo]

I too will be watching this with interest. Evweyone knows Pepper! You all may not believe this but he is a much calmer dog at home, I think he just doesnt want to miss anything going on. May try the thundershirt or the calming pills, saw a calming collar in PETSMART but not the shirt. I had also decided alreay yo try the scent collar for barking, a shock collar would be a last resort.

[bertnspike]

Alice, isn't it funny how they change? ACD Rescue told us Solo was playful and quiet and would make a good flyball or agility dog. HA!!! Solo doesn't know how to play, is a CHAMPION alarm system, and tries to herd (and nip) balls and any one or thing chasing them. Foster Care and Forever Homes are VERY different! Sometimes she thinks I'm falling down on my job as pack leader and she starts to bully the other dogs. I have to snap at her a few times and order everybody around for a little while and she straightens right out. She's a funny old girl, but so am I.

[bertnspike]

I bought Solo a backpack so she could be my pocketbook on long walks. She likes it and it makes her feel like she has an important job. It also seems to serve the same purpose of the Thundershirt, which is insulating her from overstimulation. She's just more relaxed with either one on.

[Colliemom]

It's hard to say what exactly Simba went through before you got him. It may be that he needs to be near you and if you are keeping his cage next to your bed, that is some comfort to him. I had a collie pup that we kept down in our utility room cause she wasn't housebroken enough to let in the rest of the house yet. Course you know how puppies cry the first few days when they are away from their mother and litter mates. This one was one lonesome dog. Course with my hearing aids off at night, I didn't hear her, but my mother would go down and try to calm her down so she would sleep. Finally after about three days of that, I suggested that I put her bed in my room next to my bed and lay some newspapers on the floor. First night, she zonked out like a log and slept all night. She just needed to be near somebody and that may be Simba's case. Why not just keep him in his cage by your bed at night till he gets used to the fact that you aren't going to abandon him. I too think that his environment is also part of the problem. He knows you, Bandit and the Trek, but his outside environment changes as you move, so he can''t extablish his "territory" per say. Not like a dog who is living in the same home. Gets used to house, your daily routine and his yard. I've noticed that when I adopt my dogs from the show breeders, that they tend to go through a "puppy stage". The want to check out anything and everything, sometimes chew on things, just act like little puppies for awhile and then later on they settle down into a routine. Maybe Simba wasn't allowed to be "puppy" before you got him. So it may be that he is feeling anxious cause he is still getting to know you, his "domicile" has wheels and keeps moving so he's not sure what's up. Give it time Liz, just keep working with him, taking him for walks, let him get used to the cage and the Roadtrek. Hopefully he will come around. And if not, then perhaps he's not the dog for what you want and you may unfortunately have to find him a permanent home. Just my two cents.

[JoanE]

Lavender is supposed to be calming too. Maybe try some essential oil on his bed when you crate him.

[Liz]

Alrighty then. I came home yesterday $300 poorer....how did that happen? I am armed with Thundershirt, Clicker for clicker-training, Pheromone diffuser (supposed to put out stress reducing odors to comfort and reassure anxious dogs), a grocery cart full of treats, toys, chewies etc.

Today is day 3 on tranquilizer. I know it's supposed to take a few weeks to take effect.

Yesterday and today we did a couple practice rounds with wearing the Thundershirt. Plugged in the Pheromone diffuser and had us all relaxed. Took out my going to the shower stuff and then sat back down, so that didn't trigger anxiety. Took Simba for another walk. Sat back down. Turned on the TV low with music playing. Got out a new chew bone and stuffed his Kong with yummy peanut butter...tossed them in his crate. Put the Thundershirt on Simba. Encouraged him to go in the crate and find the goodies. Sat back down until Simba was happily chewing. Picked up my shower stuff and went out the door....

Bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, bark, for 20 minutes I was taking a shower.

Came back and tried to wait for a 10-sec pause in the barking to open the door. Didn't happen, so had to settle for a 3-sec. pause. Ignored Simba until he was quiet and stopped pawing the crate door. Opened the door and let him out. Picked up the chewie & Kong that he now wanted.

Maybe next time I'll take the tranquilizer and wear the Thundershirt.

Later I did one short clicker lesson which went well, but wasn't out of sight yet.

[dayspring39]

You are very brave and patient Liz... I have no advice as when I got Shadow he was afraid to let me out of his sight but he did not bark incessantly like Simba... when he does come around he will be your friend for life...
Kathleen

[sharon]

I, for one, want to see a picture of you in the Thundershirt! Sorry, I know this is serious stuff and you're working your bum off to train Simba. Takes time but there's no doubt in my mind that you will prevail! He'll get the message.

[JoanE]

Laughed out loud at Liz in Thundershirt and tranquilized!
Maybe you need an assistant to stay with Simba and use the Clicker while you leave the camper. Just for training, not forever.

[AliceM]

I have failed, up to now, to train my rescue to be camping ready. Matter of fact, I think Abby's aggression, separation issues , everything, gets worse as time and bonding continue. My daughter has been taking care of Abby when I travel. Otherwise, frankly.. I couldn't afford a kennel and a trip at the same time.

While I was attending the recent Florida gtg, Abby decided that my daughter's home was her territory and showed her true possessive, aggressive nature toward the other dogs and all things she felt was now hers. Abby isn't really welcome there anymore but my daughter knows I'm attending the Texas gtg and shall put up with Abby one more time.

It was my dream after my previous dog Sandy passed, to have another companion that I could travel with. I have had dogs all my life but never one as strong willed and challenging as Abby. I can not travel with Abby (yet) and hope its not too late to turn things around.

My rambling has a point.. and it may sound harsh... but as much as I love Abby, we are not a good match. My lack of training ability or whatever you want to call it.. has resulted in my life being ruled by my companion. I am making renewed steps to change this but I can't help but wonder if I had let Abby be matched with a better owner, or even one that just didn't like to travel, if things would of been better.

Food for thought.

Alice