Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 7:56 am Post subject: don't know what to do for the best
Hi I have posted quite a few times lately but i'm at the end of my tether now with Jenson (20 months) and it's really getting me down and I'm wondering if he would be better off re homing him, I really don't want to as he has come along way with Bailey but He is also making life miserable both indoors and outdoors and me and hubby are having arguments everyday about Jenson
Outdoors he is better without bailey (or so we thought) he hasn't barked at dogs all week BUT last night a grandad went past with child on a little ride on toy and Jenson went beserk barking etc at the little boy it was so embarrassing. I think it was the ride on toy as he doesn't like the hoover or pushchairs (but is ok with bikes ) it's unrpedictable.
Indoors he is great Except if someone comes downstairs which is quite alot as there are 5 of us, he jumps up off the floor and barks and stretches his neck up really far barking loud even when he sees who it is he continues to bark for maybe 5 seconds more.
I just need some advice pls i'm desperate 1to 1 training is between £40-£50 per hour and I can't afford this at the moment cos i'm sure it would be ongoing on a weekly basis.
I just need ideas on what to try at least then I feel i'm doing something so far we have tried ignoring it but that hasn't worked I've tried shouting at him (more out of frustration ) that hasn't worked.
Any ideas would be great I'm desperate now, He is a lovely boy but i am having regrets about having him now and I feel guilty i'm just so confused
Sorry to hear you're struggling with Jenson. Unfortunately I don't have any suggestions but I'm sure someone will be along with good advice! keep your chin up and big hugs to you
Oh Sarah I can imagine how you are feeling, it is not unusual for an over reaction when they see kids on these ride on toys, we have had that sort of response which I agree is embarrassing, also people in crash helmets or strange clothes, it is a sort of shock reaction usually when they are in the teenage phase.
I never really knew how to correct it other than a sharp NO, so can't offer advise.
Have you contacted Lizi at all since you have had these problems, she may be able to guide you with some answers .
Hi thanks for replying it's good to know I'm not alone, It's the barking at anyone coming down the stairs or walking into the lounge that I really don't know how to handle it just dets everyone shouting at him and any new people children's friends get quite scared which is understandable, I have now bought a stair gate to put across the kitchen/lounge door don't know exactly what for yet but was wondering if I make him go in there for unwanted behaviour or is this just pointless ?
I have not replied to your recent threads about Jenson because as others have suggested, you PMing me would be a good idea, but as yet I have yet to receive a message from you. I simply don't know if I can help you with this from so far away unless we talk about it.
I had a spare half hour a couple of days ago and I read through your entire post history (yes, I really did) and there were some things that jumped out at me. When Jenson was a pup, one side of his head was dipped where the temporal muscles hadn't developed. You said that he used to scream during puppy class for no particular reason. Both of these things together suggest a problem with the trigeminal nerve on that side if his head, which can have any number of causes. Was this ever diagnosed or treated? Did the muscle on that side of his head develop? Any trainer or behaviourist worth their salt should have taken a full medical and behavioural history from you for Jenson, and the last thing that should have been suggested, even if the nerve problem seemed to have been resolved, was a choke-chain or any other collar or lead that tightens around the neck and certainly NO yanking, popping, jerking, snapping or any other type of 'correction' that impacts the neck and head. In any case, resolving leash-reactivity by punishment is absolutely not the way to go, but I shall refrain from ranting on about that here.
Jenson has on-going skin itchiness, but this it seems has not been resolved as yet. Food changes have been suggested but from reading your posts any change that you have made has not been for more than a few weeks, which is not long enough to determine whether food is the cause. In any case, when a food allergy is suspected, a proper elimination diet needs to be embarked upon - not just switching from one low/mid-range commercial kibble to another. If Jenson is stressed (and I believe that whatever the cause of his behaviour, he is stressed) this will impact how his immune system functions and make him susceptible to allergies. Very often, if the stress can be reduced, itchiness stops and skin heals up because the immune system starts to function better. A stressed dog is also a hot dog, which always makes skin problems worse.
So Jenson has health issues as well as behavioural issues - whether they are connected, I can't say for sure, but I'd be surprised if there wasn't a connection. I also believe that Jenson has the hardest temperament type to work with - he naturally is not an 'easy' dog and needs a massive amount of input to keep him on an even keel.
It seems from you past posts that he got picked on a lot as a puppy. This may factor in his reactivity towards other dogs, although I feel that there's more to it than this.
The only way to a resolution that I can see is through intensive, concerted, dedicated, reward-based training from you, which is something that I can help you with, but I have to know that you are prepared to work with me, trust me, follow my advice to the letter (including dietary advice), and put the effort in over a long period of time - not just give it a go for a couple of weeks or only do the 'easy' bits. I would also urge you to get complete blood count and chemistry panels and urinalysis done for Jenson and to have your vet do a full, external exam, paying particular attention to his neck and head area (looking for areas of sensitivity, pain, etc) so that we know whether or not there is a behaviour-related health problem that needs resolving.
I am not going to make training suggestions for Jenson on here - we need to talk off-forum if you want my help. Free of charge. Ball's in your court ...
I have had similar issues with Alfie although alfie's is down to fear, not sure if thats the same for Jenson? I hve worked with a behaviourist and it is damn hard work.... but soooooo rewarding when you see them making small steps in the right direction, everything i did with alfie has been on a positive reward basis, i didn't have to shout or use anything to cause him to be confused or hurt him (spray collars, alpha roll etc etc) he is now starting to allow me to be in control of situations and it is so heart warming to know he's starting to trust me completely it is a slow progress and we both still make mistakes but we're getting there
I think Lizi has offered you a fantastic opportunity, if i were you i would snatch her hand off
Good luck and keep us posted, i know how stressful it can be to have a reactive dog and i think its especially hard when you have 2 dogs to take out etc as it makes it even more difficult to fully focus on the reactive one but if you work through it, it will make Jenson so much happier aswell as your household i imagine
Sarah, I do hope you will contact Lizi, everything she says sounds totally relevant, and it will be very confusing for you to deal with your problem with lots of conflicting advise on the forum.
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don't know what to do for the best
but He is also making life miserable both indoors and outdoors and me and hubby are having arguments everyday about Jenson 
) it's unrpedictable.
Oh Sarah I can imagine how you are feeling, it is not unusual for an over reaction when they see kids on these ride on toys, we have had that sort of response which I agree is embarrassing, also people in crash helmets or strange clothes, it is a sort of shock reaction usually when they are in the teenage phase.
but if you work through it, it will make Jenson so much happier aswell as your household i imagine 
