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Post by rowlfsmum on Aug 24, 2015 14:06:00 GMT
I don't think any hound would stay quiet with a fox hunt going by!!!! Postmen are also a regular target!!! Have you tried a plug in Dapto to sent out calming pheromones?
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Post by loosecannon on Aug 24, 2015 14:55:06 GMT
Albert stayed quiet. I suspect the Saluki in him was thinking, why bark when my subjects, Ringo and Patxi are doing such an acceptable job? Back to Patxi, why would I plug him into Dapto? We're trying Lavendar on his bandanna.
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Post by rowlfsmum on Aug 24, 2015 16:23:26 GMT
Plug the Dapto into a socket - wally!!!!! I sprayed rescue remedy onto Rowlf's bandana at Fun Day and it calmed him a lot.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2015 17:01:22 GMT
You're doing a great job Simon.... they pick up behaviour problems really quickly but it takes much longer for them to unlearn those behaviours. Your patience will pay off and each little step is one closer to him being able to be calm and relaxed.
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Post by Wipuki on Aug 24, 2015 18:31:09 GMT
Plug the Dapto into a socket - wally!!!!! I sprayed rescue remedy onto Rowlf's bandana at Fun Day and it calmed him a lot.
Simon and Helen only offered to have Paxti as a stop gap foster, and we now need to find him a more long term solution, preferably before the bank holiday weekend. If you can help, or you are considering Paxti, please get in touch asap? I know most of you know the next bit, but for the benefit of any guests reading his thread:
He has evidenced some lead reactiveness and can be barky to outside stimulus, but he does take his cues from other dogs around him, and is much calmer around calm, well behaved dogs. He is very responsive to positive training and correction techniques and once, settled will be a wonderful, loyal companion.....a typical collie x type.
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Post by loosecannon on Aug 24, 2015 20:13:33 GMT
Seems I know more about Patxi than Dapto. Still. Thanks Wipuki. We're only a x1 foster establishment and although it's very good for Patxi, the rest of us humans and hounds are exhausted. Patxi's a fun guy. Much puppy.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2015 3:37:08 GMT
I'm afraid I can't help. Apart from still having Effie until 9 September, I already have a reactive dog in Alice. The combination would not be good for Paxti - nor for the rest of my pack - as she would over-stimulate him. A dog like my Daisy would be ideal for him, but not Alice... they would make each other worse.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 25, 2015 11:22:13 GMT
Oh, what a shame.
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Post by loosecannon on Sept 1, 2015 12:55:04 GMT
In case I don't get to the photos any time soon, I just wanted to report on how well Patxi's been doing.
I was absent with leave at the weekend, Thurs - Mon, and wouldn't have gone if not for having paid for tickets and giving two others lifts to the venue. We're one dog too many at the mo.
In steps a friend of Helen's, volunteering to stay-over with her, as an extra pair of hands and to be with Patxi when the other dogs are being walked.
What a fabulous job they did. No stop gap, but a real boost to Patxi's welbeing.
I sensed an improvement as soon as seeing Patxi and Albert at the window on my return. Barking and howling of a neutral, greeting tone. More coming from Albert than Patxi. The actually greetings at the door was lively, but not manic. No barking. A half-hearted jump up from Patxi,,, little more than any of the others. Good manners all around and soon calmed down.
Later Helen recounted how her friend had got on so well with Patxi. He responded and learnt and improved so quickly that she'd started taking him on short walks. Starting with only 50m they and back, on lead, extending and increasing each day. The dog I saw on Monday evening was a chilled, relaxed puppy. Hence, still playful, but wanting to lie down more and sooner than Albert, who's yet to realise he's not a puppy himself...
Patxi also barks less and stops sooner, not going 'crazy'. Still rather manic some times, but remaining responsive and was particularly so with Helen's friend.
This is all still in a rather cocooned environment. He's got so very much more still to be familiarised, normalised and socialised with. Eg, horses with riders, going by or other dogs with unresponsive/unaware handlers. Also, Albert and playtime fun,,, but time-outs and separating those two works wonders. One has to remember how young he still is. At this rate, he'll catch up to 'normal' soon.
It will be interesting to get the feedback of the dog psychologist who saw him a few weeks ago. That'll either be soon or not for a few weeks. In the meantime, we're actually considering refocusing on Albert, whose promotion to the 2nd rung on the ladder's gone to his head!
Note that if she could, Helen's friend would be applying to foster/adopt Patxi, but she can't. Her circumstances don't allow.
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Post by rowlfsmum on Sept 1, 2015 13:09:26 GMT
Sounds like Helen's friend has really tuned in to Paxti. Glad all is going in the right direction.
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Post by aijee on Sept 1, 2015 21:10:30 GMT
Really sorry no alternative foster came up for the weekend Simon, although it sounds like every cloud has a silver lining - this one in the form of Helen's friend You, Helen, Ringo, Joey (and Albert) are doing an absolutely brilliant job with this young lad - good on you all
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Post by Deleted on Sept 2, 2015 4:42:49 GMT
I'm glad to hear you came home to such positive developments. Onwards and upwards with this little man, Simon.
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Post by loosecannon on Sept 2, 2015 6:43:44 GMT
In case of confusion, it wasn't just for last weekend, Patxi needs a full time foster. We're currently a 2+1 dog establishment.
Albert might go first of course. So hard to predict. No. Impossible!
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Post by loosecannon on Sept 9, 2015 9:59:19 GMT
I'm having a technical issue with uploading photos at the mo. Forgotten/lost user name and password.... Doh!
In the meantime, we'll have to settle for words and I'll try to paint a picture. :clearsthroat:
Apart from lack-of-photo-upload-itis, I've been holding back on an update regarding Patxi. A foster must remain careful not to go over the top about how well a dog's doing. One knows full well what a twit one can look when it becomes clear that the good bits were just a passing phase on the way to more badder bits.
At the risk of twitness, Patxi's 'problem' with bark-rage, has left the building. It revisits occasionally and I could very easily invite it for a visit at very short notice. However, when it's here, or more accurately, in Patxi's mind, it doesn't hang around long, nor set off all the fire extinguishers and smash the windows.
He didn't bark at the dustmen yesterday. His barking at the postman was quite frankly, pathetic. No effort put in at all. Far better showing from Ringo. He hasn't barked at nothing (as voted by 3 out of 3 of the other dogs present) at night or early morning, for days, if not over a week. I can't remember. Been asleep.
We had a great session with a dog behaviourist last week. Some of the techniques she is fabulous at were and are a challenge for my tough, manly ruggedness. Nevertheless, a few points I could grasp and have been a huge insight. Patxi's been full to the brim of adrenalin. His muscles have often been rigid over his whole body and in particular his rear legs and shoulders. This has been when nothing around seems to be happening. He's been in a fight vs. flight syndrome, without rest. Hence, often went (sort of) zero to full-on very quickly and for no apparently good reason and stayed at full-on when that 'reason' had gone. Being so highly charged with adrenaline, many small factors that we'd not notice, would build up and up until something tipped the balance.
I'm exhausted just thinking about how he felt. I'm also aware of some humans that have mind states like this!
The plan has been to drain the adrenalin. Then, when something actually does arise that would get a dog excited in some way, he's starting from a proper zero base line. This gives him a chance to make a better judgement about his response and the handler time to intervene if needed in helping him make the decision. Turning an auto-response into an awareness of the situation and his circumstances.
He is not 'fixed' yet, in terms of acceptable normalisation / desensitisation. No way. He still too often completely looses awareness, let alone focus, on his handler. What he is now and often so is relaxed. Soft muscles, ears and tail. What he does so now is pay attention, make great eye contact and 'stop' when told and even sometimes when asked.
My next post shall either be some photos or a story about how Patxi went into a complete crazy, uncontrollable, frenzy of barking and gnashing of teeth and hasn't stopped since...
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2015 10:10:10 GMT
Sounds like you're making some brilliant progress with Paxti Simon. And such an entertaining, yet informative update. Great job!
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Post by catsanddogs on Sept 9, 2015 12:32:10 GMT
Sounds very positive. Sounds like the behavourist was on the money. Who did you see ? PM me if you wish, it may be worth us seeing her for Ella just to iron out the last bits, though whilst Rocky still sets her off it may be hard work
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2015 13:01:37 GMT
Sounds very positive. Sounds like the behavourist was on the money. Who did you see ? PM me if you wish, it may be worth us seeing her for Ella just to iron out the last bits, though whilst Rocky still sets her off it may be hard work I found the behaviourist I used for Alice was very good. She's much improved when we meet other dogs when she's on the lead; far less reactive - Alice that is not the behaviourist!!! She's near Wokingham so a bit of a way for you - although we did the training at Virginia Water where there was always loads of dogs - but I would definitely recommend her and would go to her again if I had a difficult foster dogtrouble.co.uk
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Post by rowlfsmum on Sept 9, 2015 14:27:47 GMT
Sounds as tho you are making some good progress there Simon.
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Post by aijee on Sept 9, 2015 14:28:06 GMT
Great update Simon. Really glad to hear that your training/patience/persistence with Paxti is paying off.
Any news on a home for Albert or are you still a two-foster household at the moment?
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Post by loosecannon on Sept 9, 2015 14:33:16 GMT
... Who did you see ? ... Sherree @hamblehounds.
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