Comments on: Curse of the Eager to Please Dog

By: Greyhounds CAN Sit

Greyhounds CAN Sit — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 07:10:38 +0000

I love the last photo in particular, you and Honey both look so relaxed 🙂 The power of love is amazing, Honey is proof of that.

Asher isn’t a confident dog despite having been in a pet home for 6 months before I got him. His first home wasn’t a bad home but I think he was more treated as an ornament rather than a much loved pet. I am so proud of how well he copes now with everything that gets thrown at him. He’s gone from a dog who hid under a chair at a Greyhound run when in his previous home to a dog who had a ball when we had a lunch for friends at our place with approximately 30 people and 30 Greyhounds here. I’m not taking any credit, all I’ve done is just let Asher find out who Asher is and he’s much braver than he thought he was 🙂

By: melF

melF — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 12:06:17 +0000

What a lovely post Pamela. It is so wonderful to see and read about how far Honey has come. Yes. Maybe being with you is the absolute best thing about her life. She loves you both so much. Honey has become a sailing dog!

By: Cheri Hoffer

Cheri Hoffer — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 21:40:56 +0000

Re. deciding whether or not to take my dog or a client’s dog into a new situation, it’s of course largely based on temperament and experience. LOTS of exercise before the new experience, to take any edge down to a lower level.
But no matter the past experience, most important is keeping tuned in to the dog’s comfort level… calming signals, panting, loose vs. tense body language, the look in their eyes and the consistency vs. contrast between these things at home and these things in the new environment. So I may take the plunge, but significantly, I have a way out figured ahead of time if things are not comfortable.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 23:14:18 +0000

In reply to Pamela. Awesome!! Looking forward to it!! I asked a friend to go with me to "Whisker Walk" this weekend... not exactly to help with Charlie, but just so I am not doing it alone. I think it will be better with two people. I'll keep you posted!

By: Pamela

Pamela — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 20:24:29 +0000

In reply to Ann Sowards.

Good thing to remember, Ann. A little bit of fear with us is much better than a crazy amount of fear without us.

Don’t you wish you could just ask Phoebe which she prefers? I suspect she’d tell you to stay home and wait on her hand and food. 🙂

By: Pamela

Pamela — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 20:22:16 +0000

In reply to Kimberly.

I’ve used DAP (dog appeasing pheremone) sprays with extremely fearful foster dogs. Because the anxiety level was so high, I had a tough time figuring out if it worked or not.

From talking to others, DAP works for some dogs and not for others. You just never know until you give it a shot.

I’ve had good luck with using a Thundershirt for a fearful foster dog. But my dog Honey found the velcro kind of scary. Unfortunately, it’s hard to know what will help Oliver feel more comfortable until you try something.

In the end, getting settled into your new house is probably what he really wants.

Good luck. Hopefully you’ll be in your new home soon and things will settle down.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 20:16:33 +0000

This post came at a perfect time in the life of my Cavalier, Oliver. He loves nothing better than to be sandwiched between his people. We are moving across town and I know he’s stressed because he’s going a long time between meals. I have been and will continue to take him with me whenever I can (even to Home Depot) while we prepare our new house for move in. And maybe a little hand feeding won’t hurt in the end.

Have you ever used a pheromone collar? My vet is recommending one.

By: Ann Sowards

Ann Sowards — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 14:38:13 +0000

I get this. I am never sure if Phoebe would rather go with me on an all day trip to town to take care of my Mom, or stay home with her pack. Maybe she’s ok with whatever I want, since I obviously desire her company. I think that’s what dogs do for us…they adjust to our moods, wants, and rules. And are fine with it. So much better than sleeping alone by the side of a road…hungry, cold, lonely and scared.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 12:15:00 +0000

In reply to Emma. It's smart to know each dog's (and person's) limits. I bet Katie loves having the house to herself sometimes.

By: Pamela

Pamela — Tue, 03 Jun 2014 11:43:52 +0000

In reply to Lauranne.

In the case of BD, it’s not as if you can protect him in a bubble where he never has to see other dogs. So it’s good you’re helping him to get past his fears.

And the only way any of us get past our fears is by slowly learning over that that when we meet the thing that scares us, it doesn’t kill us. 🙂