Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 11:33 am Post subject: My Lab stressed HELP sorry so long
Well we started back to dog trining last night after 2 week break. Scout my 14th month Black Lab was so so stressed. All the dogs were newbies so Scout went into meltdown, it got to the point the trainer was thinking of sending him home. He is getting worse, I think it's insecurity, he's a nitemare to walk as he is just not focused at all, no matter what we do. He's kicking off at carrier bags, dustbins. When we see another dog he just barks and barks & gets really stressed. Hubby is thinking of going to vet to enquire about chemical castration. I could have cried for him last nite at training. In the house he is great very well behaved, but has started not to settle like he used to, & cry. The only time he will settle is if me and OH are sitting in the living room. He has never been attacked by another dog, he plays with our other Lab. Trainers have suggested its cus Choc Lab is top dog & he is trying to "prove" himself. I am at my wits end with it all as trainers want to come, but hubby has said its not a training issue but his energy changes when he goes out for a walk & wants to go down the lines of chemical castration, to see if that works. Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I thought in certain (not all) cases it did help, he is thinking of this rather than the op just in case it doesnt work, but if it does improve then to have the op.
Sorry to hear you are having trouble. We are at the opposite end of the country but our trainers run Fearful Fido classes and on the website they have links to a number of resources that may help you.
Having read about the awful experiences of a couple of people here, after their had their dogs chemically castrated, I don't think this is a route I would ever take.
It sounds as if you need to see a decent behaviourist to get to the bottom of why your dog is behaving as he is. I wouldn't take a trainer's word for it if all they were talking about was him trying to be dominant, as dominance is so often misunderstood and misinterpreted.
The fact that he is kicking off an inanimate objects, as well as unknown dogs, to me says he is a fearful dog and castration, chemical or surgical, can make fearful dogs even worse. So before you take any step in that direction, I'd definitely try working through the problem with the help of someone appropriately qualified.
As a quick fix get him a DAP collar - not addressing the issue I know but it did help Cassie when she first came here and was terrified of everything - took the edge off so she was still scared but could address the fears instead of her mind just shutting down into panic.
I'd be very reluctant to go down the chemical castration route too.
Have you looked into Tellington Touch? I never manage to describe it well but it can be excellent help for dogs with all sorts of issues. Not sure if there is anyone close by, but you can see a list of UK practitioners here:
http://www.ttouchtteam.com/CAPrac.html#Q2 if you are prepared to travel a bit.
Have you heard of the Thundershirt? That might help some, along with looking into other options.
We tried Tardak with Baxter - a form of chemical castration.
Baxter has seen 2 behaviourists as he has behavioural issues - with people and he bullies other dogs, he's frightend of all noises (he has a noise phobia) and he's generally very anxious all the time.
Chemical castration doesn't truly resolve anything and neither will castration until a behaviourist has helped you.
From someone who knows first hand, please don't go down the castration route (chemical or otherwise) until you've seen a behaviourist and followed a modification plan. Getting Baxter castrated whilst he still had unresolved issues was the worst thing we could have ever done as whilst he's better with people (as we now know how to manage this) he's now a nightmare with other dogs (unless we have his ball and launcher).
Baxter constantly wears a DAP collar which we change once a month - they do make a difference.
Have a look on the website http://www.apbc.org.uk/ for details of a behaviourist near you. If you have insurance they may cover the referral which has to be from your vet.
Sorry to hear you are having a tough time but I too think your first port of call should be with a good behaviourist as well. Your husband surely should empathise with such a decision. You will not get immediate success but it may be just what he needs. Definitely worthy of letting your husband speak to one to convince him
____________ Gillian, Millie & Arya, watched over by Becky, Arwen & Amber from the Bridge. Run fast & free
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You will not get immediate success but it may be just what he needs. Definitely worthy of letting your husband speak to one to convince him 
