No Change!

[Sadie]

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A brief update on 14 month old Jacques.

We bought the diffuser - no change. I've tried 1mg Diazepam in the hope it would calm him enough to cut his nails - no change! The herbal Rescue Remedy has no effect either.

We are taking him to a class this afternoon where, with luck the lady who runs it will be able to assist us. Meanwhile, we have a very lovely, loving whippet dog just out of puppy but who lacks confidence and is scared to death of everything!

Among the advice we have received is castration. If Jacques nervy behaviour doesn't improve before he's 18 months we may go down that route, as much to avoid testicular cancer as to help with his nerves.

Jacques is beautifully bred, but I'm wondering if anxiety is in the breeding. He was a very shy, reluctant pup and that should have alerted us. But we love him and so does Sam, so we press on!

Thanks for all your messages of support and encouragement.

Annette x

 

[FeeFee]

Sorry to hear you are still having problems with him, I hope your patience pays off and you start to see some improvement soon :luck:

Although I'm generally very much in favour of neutering I would be cautious about having a very nervous dog castrated, and would personally want to leave it for now and work on his behaviour first. A lot depends on the dog and the reasons for his nervousness, but it's possible reduced testosterone might make him even less confident. At the very least I'd want to get a proper behavioural assessment done before going ahead.

Have you considered trying TTouch with him? It can work wonders with nervous dogs, and is something you can easily be shown how to do yourself at home. If you are in reach of Bath then Sarah Fisher is the best person to contact and is brilliant, or there is a list of TTouch practitioners here:

http://www.ttouchtteam.com/CAPrac.html

 

[Sadie]

Thank you FeeFee. I will read up on the link you gave but briefly, Jacques problems aren't fear of people or being touched. He is totally hyperactive, and insists on being with me constantly. This means he is on my feet whilst I'm doing the dishes, behind me when I vacum, whining at the bottom of the stairs when I go for a shower or clean, pines when I go out of the house ie visits/shopping etc. in fact, he thinks he's my shadow and that he must be where I am!!

He still jumps up at everyone, which has caused my daughter to visit less often, as the twins are frightened of him. I have used his large crate on such occasions but my husband gets cross as he says the family should "just get on with it!" I have to crate him in the kitchen when I'm doing dinner or dishing up as he is almost on top of the work top trying to see what's going on!

He is still so very young in his ways too. He closes his eyes when nibbling biscuits and drinking milk, just like a baby would! He is a bit better when he's run miles in a day but we haven't always got the time or the energy to run him that much, although he does get out every day.

When my sons take Jacques and Sam out I heave a sigh of relief, and quickly dash round doing upstairs jobs before he gets back! As with our neighbour, who has a 2 year old, she does certain jobs when he goes for his afternoon nap, as that's the only time she can get on!!

Sorry to carry on but I'm feeling quite weary just now. Hubby is in hospital and both my sons hardly at home. I keep hoping Jacques will settle but as I said earlier, if this is just `him` then we have a long road ahead of us.

Thanks for your time.

Annette x

Sorry to hear you are still having problems with him, I hope your patience pays off and you start to see some improvement soon :luck:
Although I'm generally very much in favour of neutering I would be cautious about having a very nervous dog castrated, and would personally want to leave it for now and work on his behaviour first. A lot depends on the dog and the reasons for his nervousness, but it's possible reduced testosterone might make him even less confident. At the very least I'd want to get a proper behavioural assessment done before going ahead.

Have you considered trying TTouch with him? It can work wonders with nervous dogs, and is something you can easily be shown how to do yourself at home. If you are in reach of Bath then Sarah Fisher is the best person to contact and is brilliant, or there is a list of TTouch practitioners here:

http://www.ttouchtteam.com/CAPrac.html

 

[Sadie]

Today looking for birdies....http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/i415/Annette_Showler/Jacquesonmonday-1.jpg

Thank you FeeFee. I will read up on the link you gave but briefly, Jacques problems aren't fear of people or being touched. He is totally hyperactive, and insists on being with me constantly. This means he is on my feet whilst I'm doing the dishes, behind me when I vacum, whining at the bottom of the stairs when I go for a shower or clean, pines when I go out of the house ie visits/shopping etc. in fact, he thinks he's my shadow and that he must be where I am!!
He still jumps up at everyone, which has caused my daughter to visit less often, as the twins are frightened of him. I have used his large crate on such occasions but my husband gets cross as he says the family should "just get on with it!" I have to crate him in the kitchen when I'm doing dinner or dishing up as he is almost on top of the work top trying to see what's going on!

He is still so very young in his ways too. He closes his eyes when nibbling biscuits and drinking milk, just like a baby would! He is a bit better when he's run miles in a day but we haven't always got the time or the energy to run him that much, although he does get out every day.

When my sons take Jacques and Sam out I heave a sigh of relief, and quickly dash round doing upstairs jobs before he gets back! As with our neighbour, who has a 2 year old, she does certain jobs when he goes for his afternoon nap, as that's the only time she can get on!!

Sorry to carry on but I'm feeling quite weary just now. Hubby is in hospital and both my sons hardly at home. I keep hoping Jacques will settle but as I said earlier, if this is just `him` then we have a long road ahead of us.

Thanks for your time.

Annette x

Sorry to hear you are still having problems with him, I hope your patience pays off and you start to see some improvement soon :luck:
Although I'm generally very much in favour of neutering I would be cautious about having a very nervous dog castrated, and would personally want to leave it for now and work on his behaviour first. A lot depends on the dog and the reasons for his nervousness, but it's possible reduced testosterone might make him even less confident. At the very least I'd want to get a proper behavioural assessment done before going ahead.

Have you considered trying TTouch with him? It can work wonders with nervous dogs, and is something you can easily be shown how to do yourself at home. If you are in reach of Bath then Sarah Fisher is the best person to contact and is brilliant, or there is a list of TTouch practitioners here:

http://www.ttouchtteam.com/CAPrac.html

 

[Sadie]

Can't get the pic to upload.. :angry:

 

[TTT]

It sounds a bit hectic there! Have you had a dog before? Don't feel bad about getting the dog to spend time in his crate while you get on safely with your chores and when you have visitors etc., it is the sensible thing to do. Good luck with your training classes. :luck:

 

[Esty]

It does sound like Jaques' problems around the home are all linked to his general nervousness. He is not comfortable by himself and making his own decisions and has a massive fear of losing you which is why you have a little shadow!

I'm assuming he isn't on any food that is making him hyper? He sounds like a more extreme version of my whippet, Grover in his level of 'needyness' . Grover's problems are, I'm certain, caused by anxiety, and I'm sure Jaques' will be too.

I really think that TTouch would help. I went on a course with Sarah Fisher a couple of months ago and was mesmerised by the difference it makes to dogs.

My 2 yr old whippet Grover was always more nervous than his litter mate Roscoe and I will say that it went from nervousness, to being scared of other dogs to absolute fear aggression which we are currently working on using TTouch. After a couple of dogs went for him due to his nervousness, he went through a horrible stage where he would try to attack any dog that went past us becasue he was so scared it might get him first I'm not saying Jaques would do this but I am sure TTouch would help him gain confidence and as a result he should be happier in his own skin and more happy to relax away from you instead of following you around. This constant following you will actually not be making him happy, it sounds a bit obsessive, poor fella. And poor you!

 

[Sadie]

LOL I had to laugh! Jacques is my 13th whippet, so I'm not exactly new to the breed! I've had them from as old as 15 months as ex kennel/show dogs, to new born that I bred myself. Jacques is most definitely the most beautiful, well bred and neurtoic dog we've ever owned!!

Our Sam is now 11 and puts up with no end of Jacques puppyness, which is good to see. However, his need to constantly be with me makes me irritable and resentful. I hate feeling this way, as he was my choice of pup this time last year. Members will remember the hassle we had over bringing him home, then taking him back for 6 weeks until his breeder gave us another chance!

Circumstances worked against us first time round, which is why we refuse to give up on him. My son believes Jacques remembers being shipped back to his breeder and returning again, and is worried we will do the same thing twice. I can't believe the pup would remember back to 15 weeks....can you? :unsure:

The ring craft lady has closed her training school, so we didn't get very far on Sunday. Bath and Bristol are miles from us and I don't think I could do that journey driving myself.

If there is anyone local to Leighton Buzzard apart from my good friend Carol Neale, who would be willing to help one to one with our boy, I would be very grateful. My husband and I are both retired now, and wondering if we have simply got out of the habit of youngsters?!!!! :teehee:

Thanks to all. :thumbsup:

Annette x

It does sound like Jaques' problems around the home are all linked to his general nervousness. He is not comfortable by himself and making his own decisions and has a massive fear of losing you which is why you have a little shadow!I'm assuming he isn't on any food that is making him hyper? He sounds like a more extreme version of my whippet, Grover in his level of 'needyness' . Grover's problems are, I'm certain, caused by anxiety, and I'm sure Jaques' will be too.

I really think that TTouch would help. I went on a course with Sarah Fisher a couple of months ago and was mesmerised by the difference it makes to dogs.

My 2 yr old whippet Grover was always more nervous than his litter mate Roscoe and I will say that it went from nervousness, to being scared of other dogs to absolute fear aggression which we are currently working on using TTouch. After a couple of dogs went for him due to his nervousness, he went through a horrible stage where he would try to attack any dog that went past us becasue he was so scared it might get him first I'm not saying Jaques would do this but I am sure TTouch would help him gain confidence and as a result he should be happier in his own skin and more happy to relax away from you instead of following you around. This constant following you will actually not be making him happy, it sounds a bit obsessive, poor fella. And poor you!