mita

I learned from our experience with the prima donna sheltie with separation anxiety, the power of ignore to hose down the high emotional state these dogs whip themselves into. I had to turn my back to her, no eye contact no matter how she 'emoted' to get attention. Only afterwards when she'd given up & was being calm, was I to call her over, tell her 'Sit' & that's when she got a pat or a treat. Great rule of thumb, ignore the dog for 10-15 minutes before you go... then ignore for 10-15 minutes when you come home. Keep up the great work. BTW, for our other small dog that had separation anxiety, the vet prescribed Valium. He said it was a muscle relaxant which would drain some of the frenetic activity. But that it was not a 'brain fuzzer', so the dog would be more alert for new learning. I found it very useful in this case. He also recommended the Troy Calming Paste ... used on horses & dogs. Neither of our 2 dogs with SA could've been left in the yard. That seemed to heighten their anxiety. They did better in a secure, weather-proof, small room -sized verandah deck which had all the familiar smells of their family. They had their day beds there, with toys, chew treats & items with our scent on them. I used to give them their meals there so it'd get associated with being a good place.

Gill, RSCPA Qld also has an SMS alert service as part of Pet Recovery. People can send their mobile & postcode details to be registered. If a pet in their general postcode area is logged on the Lost & Found Register, then they will receive an SMS telling them to look out for it. So 'spotters' in that location can be recruited very quickly. Details here on how to register mobile & post code: http://www.rspcaqld.org.au/en/LostAndFound/%7E/link.aspx?_id=042A3BBFBC2F4997B61D10099A9D8D77&_z=z

It is good, Gill. Pity that it isn't done in other states as well. So handy for there to be a central place. I still think there's a big place for the Facebook ones that are local area... like the Central Coast, Orange etc. Very good for reaching people specifically in that area ... and quickly. I keep an eye on the RSPCA Qld one .... for missing or found Tibetan Spaniels. If there's one... I then put it on the Tibbie Pet list, because the breed fanciers know what to look out for. Just found one, in fact.

Not a Facebook page. RSPCA Qld's public interactive Lost & Found website is a really central place. http://www.rspcaqld.org.au/LostAndFound/

It would be good, but at least this will help those who are on facebook. i didn't mean it as a criticism... but just that it's such a great idea it'd be good if lost & found sites could be open to non-Facebook members, too. So If anyone has connections with these sites .... please ask them to open them up, like the Adelaide one.

Nope - I said in my first post that she's a gentle, calm, submissive dog. She just goes mental when completely alone and has no 'off'switch that stops her hurting herself. She's a doll when there's someone around though. Not your fault, Jelly. It was my over-active imagination that did it. :) I could do with some training myself .... in reading comprehension. :) :)

Your assessment of Roo based on what you let her do, is based firmly in reality. So your theories have a solid foundation. From all that went before, I'd expected her to be a frantic, always hyperactive dog. But you saw a dog that's malleable. And she sure looks the picture of total relaxation in the crate. BTW, you've obviously never met a fat bogan. :)

That's fine, IMO. She's under your supervision. And maybe those howls will turn potential thieves off! :) I'd encourage her to keep them up. :) :)

I have 2 words for you, Jules. More photos! And 1 word for Miah, Gorgeous! :)

I remember that. It was an Australian council. Can't remember where exactly. ADDED: Found it: http://www.news.com.au/national-old/dog-in-northern-territory-given-parking-ticket/story-e6frfkvr-1225768604662 I don't like seeing a dog tied up outside the shopping centre, either. So many reasons. I'd never put my tibbies in such a vulnerable position. And they'd be magnets for theft.

Lost Dogs of Adelaide is the only one posted so far that non-Facebook subscribers can open. You have to be on Facebook to open Newcastle & Central Coast. For lost & found pets, it'd be a good idea if you didn't have to be on Facebook to open. Adds more people who can access.

Mel, I'd be continuing to try to contact the breeder, just as you're doing. In the case of the frightened new girl next door, her new owners were able to directly talk to her breeder whenever they wanted (she was in Brisbane, too). And we always knew our girls' breeder would be at the end of the phone or email (interstate), if ever needed. It's certainly reassuring to have that support ... and be able to ask questions & get advice.

This sounds just like the gradual 'coming out' of the girl next door ... who spent most of her first couple of weeks hiding at the back of a soft crate. (Your girl sounds as if she's ahead of that!!!). She, too, wouldn't eat ... but then got tempted... a little bit at a time. Truly, after a couple of months, she was eating like a horse & using her charms to wheedle food from her new 'dad's' dinner. She was like a different dog, then... & became the most loyal little family dog. I'll pull out & PM the list of strategies. But the things that seemed to work best (but with time) with the girl next door, were not overwhelming her with attention (exactly what you're doing anyway)... & getting down low so we didn't loom over her. I'm only guessing but maybe her reacting to her name, is also a kind of 'hiding'. To be honest, it seemed a couple of months of very gradual settling until the penny entirely dropped for the little dog next door ... that this new life is fine & these are my people now. It seems to be something that moves at the dog's pace. BTW this girl, too, has the most glorious coat!

Everything crossed here.

By the way, in the cases I experienced, I would've been surprised if there hadn't been distress or fear after little dogs had been taken out of already well-established lives. And in our girl's case to have her first experience of flight in the cargo hold of a plane. It's mighty noisy down there. Then to land into a home/yard with no familiar smells, sights or sounds. I sent a message to the breeder saying the little one had arrived safely ... & we'd concentrate on the settling in (as I described before). I already expected it'd take a few weeks. We've always adopted adult ex-showdogs (who've come from the south). This is my experience & my position only. The OP has to do whatever she considers best in her own particular circumstances. I have no evidence about the actual life her new dog lived before, nor the temperament under unstressed conditions. I also had a breeder I likely could communicate with, if it'd been necessary. I hope whatever happens it turns out well for the dog.

Good advice. I adopted a little p/b dog, 6 yrs old, from a breeder after illness required the rehoming of her dogs. This one had been her top show girl.... & was also dearly loved with access to family life. She was flown up to me in Brisbane .... & was absolutely frantic with distress. Well, she had been 'torn away' from her well established & happy life. This distress went on for a few weeks .... then she gradually eased into another good life here. She just needed to learn that... and I needed to have patience to let her do it. Then, she 'returned' to her true unstressed personality. Lovely little dog, with loads of social confidence, and she shone with happiness. You would never know it was the same dog. Similar with the 3 yr old p/b girl that our neighbours adopted from a breeder. Where she also had a lovely life as part of the family. So it was again, a real wrench to be suddenly separated from it. She was terrified. She spent a lot of time, staying at the back of her soft crate. When my little dogs popped their heads in to encourage her to come play, she growled. She wanted nothing to do with all these people & dogs that were not her people & dogs. Time and patience again .... then within few months she adored her new 'mum' & had 'dad' wrapped around her paw. Our little dogs had become her very best friends. She'd learned that her new home, family & friends were OK, in her opinion!! Even then we thought she might go back to being terrified when she had to go to the vet (a woman). To everyone's surprise, she was fine. Totally accepted the vet. In both cases, a good everyday routine was set in motion, lots of treats for any second where they were calm .... & doing nothing to reinforce the distressed behaviour. We remained calm, too. I have a list of strategies given us at that time, for how to foster confidence in a frightened, shy dog. Let me know if you'd like them.

Those little tails never stop wagging. I love their colourings .... have they got Siamese cat in them? :) Beautiful, affectionate, confident ... & they're still only babies.

My tibbies are such calm, little Buddhists, who follow their own routines, that I feel like the chaotic one who should be sent for training.

I was wondering the same thing. I'e had a quite a bit of renovating going on here & I have a Catmax Caboodle ... a moveable cat pen. Not suitable for bigger & vigorous dogs but it's great for our calm little tibbies (& the cat). It keeps them out of the way of the trade work & the people & vehicles going in and out. A dog-specific portable run would be just the ticket for a Springer Spaniel.

I agree with showdog that even tho' ethical breeding is technically classed as a hobby, it's anything but! I've been so impressed with the sheer professionalism of numbers of registered breeders I've come across. Only yesterday I spoke to an older woman who, for many years, showed Dobes with her husband. Retired with just JR pets now. But she still had that sense of commitment and thirst for further knowledge and genuine care. She said she'll bring her photo album of her 'Dobe' years for next time we meet.

Told you that! :) You can see it in their eyes. Amazing for such babies.

Oh, they're beautiful babies ... & there's so much sweetness & intelligence shining out of their eyes. I love the names. And I also love the wonderful socialisation they're getting with the children. They're going to be great family pets.

muttrus, we own small dogs and they're never in the front yard, not even if I'm gardening there. I've always had that policy, even when we owned shelties. We have sturdy side gates that aren't opened easily and the dogs are kept in our large backyard. Host of reasons ... safety of the dogs, no barking at the passing parade outside, free access to front door or meters by those who have to go there. And for me ... peace of mind!

Thank goodness, then, that you have vet care in the mix. All the more reason why no one can say you've failed (& least of all, you!). OK, strategies that work with Roo haven't been found yet.... or everything humanly possible will have been tried. That's not failure. We had an elderly little dog, as I told you, where we came to the end of the road, nothing worked. I also think it's reasonable if you decide to get a second opinion (based on recommendations). A fresh eye could bring fresh insights.

You've not only put in an enormous amount of time and effort.... but you've also now got a huge swag of information on what didn't work. No way would I use the word 'fail' for you. Finding quality diagnosis & management strategies are what counts, IMO. When I thought we had a hopeless dog, I went to a vet-behaviorist associated with our University here. I got a superb understanding of both dog behaviour and the principles of behaviour modification. Shaped to our dog's needs. I've just searched & found a vet-behaviorist associated with the University of Melbourne, Dr Gabrielle Carter. She includes separation anxiety in her treatment interests. And she studied behaviour at one of the leading US universities, Purdue. Also, with the dual skills of medical vet & behaviourist, you'd have a context for medications & any thought of PTS. And, as I said, all the experiences that didn't 'work' so far, are actually valuable information for a vet-behaviour's assessment of the dog & situation. http://www.goodpetbehaviour.com/about/about-dr-g/