Help please at my wits end

[Boostar]

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Hi, I love my dog to peices shes my fourth dog, (others have passed away) she's only 13 months old but she just wont stop pulling and running away from cars. I get to a road even if they're no cars she still tries to run as fast as she can to get to the other side. Oh and it took up to around the age of 10months for her to actually be brave enough to go walkies (I tryed everything).

I sat by the road with her for around 2 hours and she did not settle down one bit, she takes no notice of treats (gravy bones.. even ham) when we're out walking she just seems to be too paranoid. I'm at my wits end because today we was about to cross the road to get home and a double decker bus was approaching and she just bolted, caught me off-guard and I fell into the road, the bus had to stop..

With her pulling I try the changing direction and have been trying for a few months but she does okay when we are going the opposite way but as soon as I turn she starts, on the way home it is impossible (with the few roads we have to cross too).

I have been doing the stand still like a tree, I do that and she just tries her hardest to keep moving and doesn't even look at me, I let the lead have slack and bam she's at it again, I've been very consistent but her issues inside her brain seems to take over. Having said that I walk her in the mornings to the beach, getting there is a nightmare (takes ages) because of our training, but once down the seafront she's fantastic off-lead.

I've tried a halti but shes so stubborn and paranoid she uses her neck muscle to keep her head straight, at the moment I'm using a harness to take the pressure of her and myself. I don't really have the funds to buy anymore products, I've tried most of them, I brought a choke but had to take it off because she still pulled like crazy and was hurting herself. There are no dog classes in my area (I can't drive) but then again I've manged to train around 6 dogs to walk loose lead.

Oh and she's a 55lb New zealand hunterway X

Sorry it's so long but after the insident today I'm considering giving up, but that's not fair on her because she's great at home and very intelligent, also I couldn't get another dog if I gave up on her because that's just RETARDED. Thanks guys in advance.

EDIT: Don't know if I mentioned but I got her from a farm in the middle of nowhere at the age of 12 weeks and I pressume something happended on that farm with a vehicle to make her have this paranoid fear.

 

[lurcherman]

Wow headaches lol. Do you think its the noise or the presence of a big moving car, bus, truck? if its the noise then you could try noise dvds but this sounds deep... There is people on ere with more advise im sure. Best of luck.

 

[Boostar]

Wow headaches lol. Do you think its the noise or the presence of a big moving car, bus, truck? if its the noise then you could try noise dvds but this sounds deep... There is people on ere with more advise im sure. Best of luck

I think it's the rumbling and vibration along with noise but I have played loud dustbin lorry sounds and she takes no notice in the house! Thanks for the reply

 

[Rocky Rescue]

Have you taken her to the vets to get her hearing checked ?

Are you able to go for a walk and avoid roads with heavy traffic ?

 

[Boostar]

Have you taken her to the vets to get her hearing checked ?

Are you able to go for a walk and avoid roads with heavy traffic ?

We last went vets for her 6 month check up, going in the next month for her spaying so hopefully get a checkup before the op.

As for avoiding roads, very hard because I live in an estate which has a massive carpark right outside our house, then as you leave brings you onto the busiest road in our town. :sweating:

But after we pass that road (Nightmare) It does quieten down.

 

[Boostar]

She's doing better on the lead concentraing on me more, still wary of roads and loud cars, that has to be because of her farm life up to 12 weeks old, I heard that's the most important part of there life also she would of heard loud tractors etc... :thumbsup:

 

[MissYeh]

Your dog being only focused on the sounds when on the road, sounds to me this will need to be trained again from the ground up. Start from the start and slowly build it up again to gain confidence.

You mention she doesn't take note of the sounds when in the house. This is a very good basis to build upon. It would have been a lot more difficult if she was afraid of the noise when inside as well.

What do you do when you notice your dogs starts to be scared?

 

[Boostar]

Hi! just like to say I had a dog sitting/walking job for a couple months and my dog, Boo was so focused on the Lab I was looking after he basicly helped her fear of roads and cars, also she's now mothering a 7 week old 2lb pup!

She's awesome

 

[Poochbypost]

I know this sounds abit far off the mark, but make sure to assert yourself as pack leader, if you are not viewed as the pack leader your dog assumes this role, they will get scared at things because they have nobody to look upto for guidance. It can be done by

-not letting your dog through doors first

-pushing them out of the way with your foot in your stride if the dog is laying in your path

-dont let the dog sleep on your bed (in a pack the pack leader gets the cumfy place)

-always eat before your dog

If you need any help pop us an e-mail and we'd be happy to help

 

[Boostar]

Hi thanks for your advice but I just don't believe in pack leader business with humans; dogs know we are different species I don't see a need to pretend to be a dog.

However my new puppy is defo pack leader of my older dog lol.

Also both my dogs are crated at night and I do go out before them etc

 

[anniehm]

To a lesser degree we have had this and he is also from a farm. The positive is things go much better once he turned a year, and now (he's 2) its pretty much ok. We worked with a trainer as these weren't the only problems, but essentially we took him out on the lead 4 times a day and crossed the road several times (pavements were ok, he was petrified of crossing the road and would bite my feet to try to stop me) i went through 3 pairs of wellies, two pairs of boots but the solution was to wear sandals, he didn't want to hurt me. The theory is just as with human phobias you have to simply get them used to it. It will take a long time, 6 months for is i would say, but with love and perseverance you should get there.