Jellyblush

Hi there Erny. That is very interesting and I'm going to look into it. No tests have been done aside from regular testing of bloods to ensure the meds are not having any adverse effects (Roo's urine since taking them is orange and there is some concern re. kidneys long term. ) She the kind of dog anyone would love to own!! :D She tends to like all women and men, she seems to take a very strong like or very strong dislike to men. She is timid with some men but adores others. This is truly fascinating! Who knew?! Roo and I run for 60 minutes per day, then 30 is off leash park so she gets her social interaction. I might try switching up the runs with bike rides plus some drills. Would this be a good idea? Thank you and all others for this advice. I adore my dog, I mean well and I will try anything from her, but I'm not greatly experienced and so very grateful for this forum. Thanks to all for your responses. Today, Roo had a trial with a household of uni students. It went really well :D After an hour or so of pacing the hallway when I left she settled, and by the afternoon when I picke her up she was really calm and relaxed. The girls can take her 8.30 - 5.30 3 days per week at $20 per day :D I have also ordered herbs. It is a start

Thanks very much :) That is kind. Yes, they sure did. Unfortunately, he moved to the UK when we split up. Yes. They recommend pts. I plan to ask them tomorrow if I can foster a very young puppy, with a view to keeping if it works out though. it did for a while, then it's effect disappeared. WE do a half hour run before I leave, another one plus a dog park visit when I get home. 90 minutes a day - it's the most I can manage for her. I agree. But how to find them? I hoped someone might know someone if I posted here, and I've tried the rescue, trainers, the vets and other forums as well

Yep, I have some links to read and consider and I have been in touch with Herbal Hounds re the herbs. The two weeks off start next week, next Monday, and what I do with them will be largely dependant on the vet behaviourist visit though. If the recommendation is pts, the two weeks will not be spent trying more things, but going to the beach, on hikes, feeding her her favourite foods and saying goodbye If she says, as I hope, that this is worth another final shot then I'll use those approaches for sure

Hmm, now I'm worried. What if she COULD escape because they weren't careful enough? Do you all think it would be better not to try the student household, and just go with the dog daycare who will have more stringent measures in place? The idea behind the students in that I canot afford the $160 per week the daycare would cost on a long term basis, so was offerring them $100..... Very grateful for your views.

Of course, that is a given. I did check out the students yard and we have done a couple of short visits to ease her in. Roo should not be able to escape - but I'm going to have a chat to them about how closely they'll need to watch her the first day

Thanks for your replies. I know what you are saying Lilli, but I do not think rehoming is an ethical answer, for reasons pointed out elsewhere in this thread. I have been in touch with rescue organisations who have said that it will be virtually impossible to rehome here. Also, anxiety is cumulative, and the stress of a new home after 3 years with me (already her second home) will make her issues worth. i have been committed and devoted to her, I have spent easily $20,000 on her including damage to property, I don't go out outside of work and I constantly look for solutions - I think the chance of finding another owner with this level of commitment to her and her issues is low and the organisations I've spoken to agree. It would not be fair to put her through the stress just for the new owner to put to sleep when they go to a movie one day and she destroys their home. I think the daytime minding is the only solutions that will work, and possibly I could capitalalise on the reduced anxiety this would bring with revised meds and a new training program. I have approached my only local dog daycare with Roo's story. They are unable to compromise on rate, but I'll book her in for a trial day this week anyway. I am also trialling minding tomorrow, by a group of uni students who share a house, so someone is always there. I'm nervous as they're young and I hope can cope if Roo frets. Then Wednesday it is back to the behaviourist to view the video footage of Roo. I will ask her if she thinks it is time to pts. If she does, then I will.

I have been with Medibank for 3 years, and they have been wonderful. They don't cover any of her behavioural consults or meds, none of the Hollards ones do (which also includes Woolworths which was mentioned earlier and many others), but they have had to cover an awful lot of accidents she has had while exhibiting her behavioural issues, and I've had the money within two weeks every time. I only had to send her history the first time. She is also a rescue, and they just accepted that I didn't know a thing about her before 6 months. I pay $54.95 per month for top cover and more or less have broken even every year - bearing in mind she's young, that's great, since you can reasonable expect to be out of pocket in the first half of the insurances life and then begin to recoup in the form of claims after a few years. The only thing is that they don't guarantee continuous cover after 8 years - so it's worth switching to another one that does - like RSPCA - before that time.

Sorry if I misunderstood, thank you for your response. Thanks everyone else who has commented too. I have decided to take two weeks of work to ensure that Roo is not under any stress while I have a proper think about the situation. I have been in contact with the herbal hounds people too - thank you for that idea.

not at all. lots of people have said pts would be kinder in this thread, and I have appreciated those comments and taken them on board. you are the only one who has stated that it is a personal failing of mine that I haven't done it already. if you don't understand the difference and why it matters there's nothing I can say that will convey it to you.

Why not? Anyone reading this thread can see that I am coming to the decision of putting my dog to sleep, making me feel guilty by telling me I've not done my best by her serves no purpose and doesn't help her or me. But of course, you haven't really read the thread, or you would know that I only have one dog, and that the other dog described was the dog of a different poster. You would also know that my dog hasn't been in pain for 8 hours a day for some time, she has been reasonable successfully medicated until recently. Voicing your opinion by saying I should consider putting her to sleep for her welfare is great, constructive feedback. Saying "it stinks that you can't see that" and laying the guilt on me when I'm struggling through a very painful and difficult decision and trying to make the right one is pretty poor human behaviour in my opinion.

Thank you dogMad! I have sent them a message through their facebook site with a ink to this thread,and I will call them on Monday.

Hi everyone. Thanks so much for your comments. Rosetta, I will be seeing her behaviourist again on Wednesday morning, and I hope you are right and that a different medication may assist - I have absolute faith in her and she will let me know. I have spoken at length to trainers who say that since I am away 45 hours per week (that is just my job - I NEVER do anything on the weekend without her, like, oh, I don't know, date and try to have a life? I haven't even had a haircut for over 6 months!) that behavioural modification is unlikely to have an effect, basically stress levels being what they are, then new learning has no ability to penetrate. I am hopeful that while there is not one single change that will work there may be a combination - i.e. maybe minding for her during the day, plus a change in meds, will calm her enough for a training program to have a chance at working. I would like to thank the poster who said "if she was in this much physical pain, would you pts". Because, absolutely, I would. So that has given me a lot of pause for thought over the last day or two. I very much want to do what is best for her, not what is best for me. Melissa, I'm so sorry to hear of your story. Like you, I find reactions of others the hardest. People teling me she's a 'bad' dog - when she's actually exceptionally well behaved - she's an anxious dog. Or that I should have pts immediately. Also - I feel I must have posted something confusing at some point, because there are so many comments about rehoming. I am NOT considering rehoming. Not at all. I will help her if I can, or pts. What I was considering was a daycare type arrangement during my working hours only. Sorry if I confused people. Enigma, I am in Melbourne's inner North. I would very much like some more information on chinese herbs - is this something I could ask the vet or behaviourst about? Or just order one for anxiety online and try it? Thank you to everyone for your support and helpful comments.

Thank you everyone. I really appreciate your well wishes and just a place to get this out - only one or two of my friends really 'get' it. I have made an appointment with my regular vet to discuss pts, and have spoken to my boss about taking a couple of weeks off work to just spend some great time with her doing her favourite things, beach etc. I don't know if I will go this way but ever since I saw the videos and how distressed she was I have been moving ever so slowly in that direction. The point about how I would act were is a physical ailment is a good one. If she was in physical pain I would pts absolutely. You are correct - I have looked into this and found the price for a revisit is 50% - $300 :) The price includes a half day session, 3 months unlimited follow up, scripts and a training plan. I am very happy with Dr. Carter so it's well worth it to me.

Hi everyone. Thanks heaps for your replies. Roo does start panicking the second I am out the door. Even if I pop into a shop for 2 seconds she panics. She has become worse over time – anxiety is cumulative so says her behaviourist and I can see this in her. She has tried a DAP, which wasn’t really effective, plus I can’t have Roo inside, although I know this is preferable, as she does such severe anxiety that she does an awful lot of damage, her damage bill in 3 years to my place is nearly $8000. I can’t afford it  She has a Thundershirt, which doesn’t have any effect sadly although I had heard great thing. I have tried rescue remedy, but not Chinese herbs, so thanks for the tip. I am scared to consider rehoming as another family may not go to the lengths I have for her and may put her to sleep anyway, and she wouldn’t even be with me . Also, because anxiety is cumulative, it might make her much, much worse. I do know that noone can be home all the time, but my idea is to reduce the anxiety level but getting rid of the bulk of the time she’s alone, to the point where training might become effective. At the moment it has no chance because of the amount of time she’s alone. Thank you for all your responses, much appreciated.

Hi dog lovers. I am posting a plea for help, and I am really quite desperate I have a gorgeous 3 year old terrier, Roo. I got her as a rescue. She is cute as a button but she does have some significant issues around separation anxiety. Very significant. When around people, she lolls around, she's quite gentle and submissive, she knows all her commands and a couple of tricks, and is great with kids and other dogs. When I got her, it was with my ex partner who worked from home, unfortunately he left so now she I muddle along as best we can, but I can't be with her as much as she needs When she is left alone, which she needs to be each day as I work full time, she self harms, chews at steels doors and breaks all her teeth, rips her claws out scrabbling at the concrete and is in a frenzy of anxiety for 8 - 9 hours. I have tried every avenue to help her and am now faced with putting her down. To cut a long story short - I have fostered another dog, tried training, breaking behavioural cues, switched to raw diet, run her twice a day including before I leave, hide her food and feed from toys, have created a sandpit in the yard to occupy her, she has a behaviourist as well as her trainer and is on the highest doses of meds her body can handle. Yet still she panics and self harms. She's my best friend and this breaks my heart. So, in a last ditch effort to help her, I am hoping to find someone who is at home all the time, and would be happy to have her mooch about at your feet or lie in a spot of sun in your yard while you potter about your business. She's no trouble, and there'd be no need to feed her, walk her, take her to the vet or commit to a dog. Just to have her chill with your family from 8.30 - 5.30 five days a week. She is a gentle, sensitive soul and very calm and obedient as long as not alone. I can't afford professional dog daycare in Melbourne at $45 per day on an ongoing basis, but I would be happy to pay the right person what I can. Please, if you are interested, or you know someone, PM me as soon as you can. Ideally looking for someone in Melbourne's inner north. I am also very very grateful for all other suggestions. Jelly Here is our story: http://www.essentialbaby.com.au/forums/lofiversion/index.php/spam/t1045158.html And here is my girl