Papillon Kisses

Willem, about that 'dominance' stuff, here's some science-based information for you: http://www.dogwelfarecampaign.org

Oh Thistle, with your mosaic coat you are anything but unremarkable!

I don't buy any treatments from my vet and they specifically told me not to get the heartworm injection. So not buying that. To clarify: they weren't saying the injection was unsafe but that it may be better for my dog not to have it.

I do, but I know some will think I'm overloading him with chemicals. I use Interceptor Spectrum, which includes worms. I like that it treats up to 4kg weight, and he's 4kg tops, whereas others are "treats up to 10" which seems like too much. It also gets all the worms in one vs. trying to piece together a greater array of products. Currently using Advantix for fleas + ticks but I want to switch to Nexguard when I run out for greater tick coverage and less mess. And I agree, there's no way in hell I'm messing around with heartworm.

I took a look out of curiosity. It's showing as being for sale at both vet n pet direct and budget pet products. Stefmar doesn't have it.

I think I saw recently that it's no longer being made, unless that was heartguard.

Damnit, he's now getting all OCD about regular shadows and not just light reflections.

I can't help with vets, but what techniques did you / the behaviourists use to try to stop the barking?

He was quite tired and hungry afterwards but has been completely back to normal since (well, his idea of normal ). It's like it never happened, but I think I'll need a bit longer to recover. He was allowed to go to training today provided he wasn't too stressed before or during (which is the aim anyway). It went well, though during a break he decided to roll in possum poo... so there he is, collapsed to one side, legs buckling and body flailing around and my logical side is saying it's possum poo, you know it's possum poo, but the feeling side is concerned it's another seizure, and did I mention I need more time to recover? Geez Mal! How is everyone else?

Yep. Start routine is that he goes into another room and on his mat and I put his harness on. Set out the search. Then open the door and 'find it'. (At training he'a held back then release with 'find it'.)

Haha, yes he is a special boy. Sniffing is one of his coping / destressing mechanisms too. We have a go/start word: "find it!" The "all done" is paired with that hands thing too, forgot about that. Initially having the harness as a cue really helped... but not recently. With the relaxation protocol I'm doing all done / good boy / hands thing then specifically calling him away and seeing if he wants a drink. If I don't he will continue sitting on his little mat, because who knows me going upstairs and down again or opening the fridge or sitting on the lounge might be part of it. :D Darling boy. Thanks for asking in your Fenzi group. Are you in any other Nosework groups on Facebook?

How are you signaling to your dogs that search time is over? I have tried having a celebration/making a fuss/big verbal reward and "all done", then taking off his harness, then putting him into a room (and have tried a couple of different rooms) and onto his mat or bed and with or without a treat. I then remove all the boxes in his absence. This isn't working: he goes straight into full on search mode the moment he is released. Last night he went into search mode each time he walked into the room where we train. It seems to have worsened since we moved up to Intermediate where all the boxes have been removed. We only use boxes at home. I ignore it as instructed, but we've been told we need to work on this as it devalues the game if searches are fruitless and can lead to frustration. Previously I've praised / "all done!", removed his harness, and then packed up the boxes in his presence. This seemed to work better: he was still inspecting boxes while I'm packed up but wasn't working the room as such. But the instructor said I need to take him out of the room and keep experimenting. I feel like putting him in another room is a trigger for him to think I'm setting up for another round, as happens in class. Oh and I have created a box inspector monster. Amazing amount of excitement and drive to inspect boxes whenever they appear! Yesterday I had to hide one away as even when it was on top of a table and out of sight he was still swanning around underneath.

I didn't post earlier as I didn't really have anything to add, but I hope your little munchkin feels better soon.

Thanks Panto, and I know that would never be your intention. :) I think there's a greater awareness of mental illness in dogs these days but we have a long way to go, especially when there's well-known trainers still using punishment on dogs including anxious ones and not referring dogs to VBs when they sorely need them. I was aware of 'OCD' in dogs so have never played with laser pointers or light up flashing balls or encouraged the behaviour. When it first presented itself we immediately redirected him (after an initial moment of surprise / WTF is he barking and fixating on) and continued with that and environmental management, but in Feb this year it just spiraled. On a similar note I also redirect any prolonged licking of paws or anything else, and I personally would never teach spin/twirl to a dog or at least not one with anxious tendencies. But with the latter I acknowledge that I'm pretty risk averse and have a high-risk dog.

Ah not hilarious in Mal's case, he gets really obsessive and riled up, and barks / lunges / attacks our walls. He completely loses it, is in a very negative emotional state and cannot focus on other things, or at least couldn't until he went on Prozac. For him it's not a game but a mental illness: canine compulsive disorder aka CCD. We call that OCD in humans but we can't ask the dog if there's obsessive thoughts paired with the compulsive behaviour. CCD is sadly common in border collies compared with other breeds and usually has a locomotive component for them, like shadow/light chasing or fly snapping. If I were your friend I would be preventing that behaviour as for many dogs it starts off as a game and people laugh and encourage it, but it can suddenly without warning spiral into a severe mental illness that is hard to stop without medication. The dog spends their entire time fixating on lights/shadows. It's no longer fun for them. Anyway, just my thoughts with any dog but especially those like border collies in which there can be a genetic predisposition. Their wine cellar certainly does sound amazing though!! Here's an article about OCD in dogs: http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/13_9/features/Dogs-With-OCD_20062-1.html NB I feel the article goes into a bit too far with owner blaming: this stuff has genetic underpinnings and you can have done all the right things by your dog and he still gets it.

Yeah, the one that didn't work. When you mentioned "dulled but still anxious" I immediately thought of Ace. Whatever it was, you are an awesome dog owner to have picked up on the fact that your dog was still suffering and to have stopped it! I hear you about the conditioned response to lightning, lol. Malcolm has GAD & canine OCD, and his compulsive behaviour is 'shadow chasing'. He fixates on light reflections/shadows and attacks them (or rather attacks our walls/cabinets/glass). Even in his absence whenever I see a light reflection my heart kind of skips a beat and I lose track of conversation as my brain kicks into 'must locate and eliminate the source before my dog reacts' mode.

It is awful to see the severe anxiety. We have had good success with clomicalm, after trying xanax with no good results, plus other adjuncts too (DAP, thundershirt, music). I also allow sleeping in the bedroom when it is a bad thunder night. In a much better place now, but took a bit of trial and error, and I'm glad that the medications have helped. One day we might get off them. It is. There was one which just dulled her faculties but I could still see fear in her eyes and I just held her. I can't remember what that one was now, but we did find one which just made her sleepy rather than dull. One of these? http://fearfuldogs.com/acepromazine/

He seems to be back to normal, no tilt or weakness. In fact he looks better than he did before it happened (looking at his eyes/expression). Thistle, I'm going to take him back at least to Task 10, which has knocking but no doorbell or saying hello. :)

Yeah, my primary concern was/is that it was a stroke. I asked about that/other causes and the vet said if it was anything other than a seizure there'd be signs consistent with that, and that there wasn't any of those other signs. His most significant health history is Addison's Disease and GAD/OCD, his heart is fine. Under strict instructions to try to keep him calm, as if we weren't already!! The tilt and weirdness has gone, he's just been very tired and more reactive. Given the turn around I'm wondering if he had another little episode at the vet (he was staring... but that can be his OCD) or when we when he first came home. Will call the vet again tomorrow. Thank you Gruf and TSD. Feeling the love.

Looks like we posted at the same time. Thanks Thistle.

He seems to have picked up again.

Same. It's not that I wouldn't want to save my dog, it's more that I don't know whether fight, flight or freeze would kick in. Some people can perform amazing feats when loved ones' lives are at risk (lifting cars!) but others go into shock.

It's a terribly grainy photo, but here's Malcolm last night. His 'indicator' when he's found the source is to scrunch up and do his best impression of a fat cat. :laugh: (I swear he isn't rotund it must be the stance.)

I once got 'look a sheep'. :laugh: