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If you think you might want to try a dog, you could ask a friend if you could "borrow" their dog for a test run (assuming she's dog friendly, no resource guarding issues with dogs etc) to see if it helps. That way you could be more sure you weren't just adding to your problems, since another dog doesn't always help separation anxiety,
Usually I will butt out if someone brings up Cesar Millan but in this case I must speak up for this poor dog. A puppy mill survivor is fragile emotionally and Cesar's methods are not appropriate in the slightest for this situation. This tiny creature needs to learn to trust.
OP, did the rescue you adopted from work specifically with puppy mill survivors? If not, I would try to locate a good online support group (puppymillrescue Yahoo group is a good start). You need the advice of foster moms and adopters with experience dealing with these unique pups. Getting the dog out of the mill is only the first step.
You THINK you know Cesar Millan but you don't. I think you ALL could learn from him.
I guess you missed the episode he did on PUPPY MILL dogs where he TRAINED THE RESCUERS "Last Chance For Animals" , "The Brittany Foundation", INCLUDING THE PUPPY MILL CAMPAIGN LEADER. . Sharon Osbourne actually adopts one in the end.
His methods are ALL about TRUST. And building confidence. You'll never see better examples than these three off the top of my head. Two went to the Dog Psychology Center and one (Roscoe) was rehabbed at home. I'm posting the videos because not everyone may be be familiar with going from one part of the episode to the next on youTube.
I have worked for MANY MANY MANY rescue and puppy mill dogs. MOST often the OWNER is conveying weakness, tension, emotion, and unable to help the dog get past their issues because the OWNER can't.
The HUMANS are holding on to the puppy mill history. NOT the dogs.
They're always the ones "comforting", "empathizing", talking in high voices which sounds like fear and weakness, petting when they're scared or aggressive - reinforcing the fear/rewarding/nurturing the unbalanced state of mind therein etc etc etc. Also these people with insecure dogs are all the same. They CANNOT keep their hands off the dog, talking constantly, saying "good girl" over and over and over - even in the middle of my meet and greet in the middle of a sentence when I'm making notes on something important like MEDICAL HISTORY....they'll stop talking to point out some dumb thing like "oh look he loves that duck".
You can understand EVERYTHING about an owner by observing their dog. NOT KIDDING.
One lady CARRIED her Bijon around our highrise for YEARS after getting her out of the puppy mill all the way down the hall, down the elevator and outside...plopped her down and then she freaked out hearing sounds, then carried all the way back up the highrise ALL BECAUSE THE DOG WAS SCARED OF WALKING ON THE LEASH SIX YEAR AGO.
Are you even kidding me.
Then she tells me "Oh you just have to grab her and pull her out of her crate because it's her secure place"
IN HER OWN HOUSE FOR 6 YEARS.
RIDICULOUS.
GAVIN PTSD afraid of sounds - Abused ATF bomb dog - 10 weeks of rehab
S4 Epi-10 part 1 of 3
ROSCOE Unlocking the brain to move forward and not shut down "I really don't know what to do with him but he's gonna tell me what to do" (he also had some physical problems)
I got a rescue dog several months ago (she was kept outside to breed at a puppy mill.) The dog had never been socialized. I think, whether by nature or how she was treated, she's shy. I've never seen such an unhappy dog in my life.
Well, she's attached herself to me with a vengeance. I cannot leave the house for more than 20 minutes before she either tries to destroy the crate she's in, or the house in general. Oh, and of course, she has to urinate and defecate like a racehorse, even if she had just gone before I leave.
I've tried crating her. I've tried exercising her. No matter what I do, she barks and goes haywire if I'm gone more than 20 minutes.
I tried putting her in the kitchen with a chew toy, water, a bed, with her held in by a baby gate. She jumped the gate and crapped up the LR. Again.
This is the third rescue dog I've had (the previous ones died of old age.) I think getting a dog is a lifelong committment, but I cannot DO this anymore!
Does anyone have any advice? Drugs? I'll do anything at this point!
Watch ALL the videos I posted.
When you change YOUR energy, you'll see a change in hers.
If she will "exercise" then she's not that bad and my guess is she needs MORE. By exercise I assume you mean WALKING on a leash, not just running around a back yard.
I noticed you said "tried exercising". Does that mean you stopped? I encourage you to keep it up. Walking is the biggest gift you can give them - because that's what dogs do. WALK. It will help drain her energy and give her confidence and get her brain back in balance...as long as you are not SENDING NERVOUS energy down the leash and walking in a calm but confident way.
Now, if you work all day, your challenge is much more difficult and you'll have to sacrifice super early morning and late hours for her rehabilitation.
Last edited by runswithscissors; 10-31-2014 at 12:39 PM..
Gee, hit a dog and then stick your hand in her face and get bitten. Who could see that coming?
There's not much sadder than watching a dog ask over and over, don't make me bite you... and then the person makes her bite him.
Thanks for sharing.
The Cesar Milan/Holly video breaks my heart (I've seen it before). The dog is nervous, trying to get away from him and appease him, Cesar struts and postures in a macho way, and touches her, and continues to crowd the poor dog. He's lucky the bite wasn't worse. And what kind of response does Cesar Milan give, on television, when he is bitten by a dog - just pours water over it. When bitten by a dog, you apply soap and water as soon as possible, as well as disinfectant if it's available. I think Milan preferred to portray himself as macho. Fact is, even if one is up to date on tetanus shots (as I am and I would imagine Milan was), a dog bite, even a small puncture wound, can become infected.
I feel sorry for Holly. Can't believe that Milan "didn't see that coming", Holly telegraphed it loud and clear.
A lot of times normal physical exercise does not really tire a dog out. Many dogs, depending on their health, stamina and breed, can go go go for such a long time that it's basically impossible for a human to wear them out with walking, jogging, fetch, that kind of thing. What does (in my experience) consistently wear dogs out and make them sleepy is MENTAL exercise. Trick training, scent work, various dog sports, puzzle toys, that kind of thing. Stuff that forces the dog to focus and try new things. With a timid rescue I would start small with this and use a ton of positive reward reinforcement. This also builds confidence and trust.
Obviously an appropriate level of physical exercise is also needed for mental and physical health, but I'm just saying, with a lot of dogs, walkies aren't going to cut it for tiring the dog out, and when dealing with separation anxiety you really want a contentedly tired dog, not one with frantic energy to spare.
There are so many really good, knowlegeable trainers such as:
Patricia McConnell, Karen Pryor, Victoria Stillwell, Sue Sternberg, Jean Donaldson, Brenda Aloff and Ian Dunbar.
Nice try.
HERE'S the FOLLOW UP to that PARTIAL video you posted. It's no secret that she is PERFECTLY rehabilitated and happy now - LIVING WITH CESAR'S PACK. (at the time of the follow up video).
You can't. She isn't anywhere NEAR Cesar Millan's league. HE'S the one who saves red zone dangerous dogs who would otherwise be euthanized or turned back into rescue.
And I notice you didn't make a SINGLE COMMENT On the several stories of success I posted.
I posted those videos to contradict and PROVE that the comment that Cesar didn't know how to work with damaged dogs or how to gain TRUST is entirely FALSE.
Quote:
A puppy mill survivor is fragile emotionally and Cesar's methods are not appropriate in the slightest for this situation. This tiny creature needs to learn to trust.
And this OP's dog has NOTHING TO DO with a food aggressive dog like the video YOU posted.
Last edited by runswithscissors; 11-08-2014 at 05:27 AM..
The Cesar Milan/Holly video breaks my heart (I've seen it before). The dog is nervous, trying to get away from him and appease him, Cesar struts and postures in a macho way, and touches her, and continues to crowd the poor dog. He's lucky the bite wasn't worse. And what kind of response does Cesar Milan give, on television, when he is bitten by a dog - just pours water over it. When bitten by a dog, you apply soap and water as soon as possible, as well as disinfectant if it's available. I think Milan preferred to portray himself as macho. Fact is, even if one is up to date on tetanus shots (as I am and I would imagine Milan was), a dog bite, even a small puncture wound, can become infected.
I feel sorry for Holly. Can't believe that Milan "didn't see that coming", Holly telegraphed it loud and clear.
HAHAHAH THAT DOG IS PERFECTLY REHABILITATED NOW AND LIVES WITH CESAR MILLAN. (at the time of the follow up video)
I love seeing people cherry pick what videos they choose to disparage Cesar Millan.
How come you had NO COMMENT on any of the ones I posted with the worst possible cases and best possible success?
Are you suggesting that Cesar Millan can work with HUNDREDS OF DOGS over a decade and never get bitten? LOL ok.
And I think you don't have much experience yourself. There is no URGENCY to do that whole disinfectant drama immediately with a dog bite. The NUMBER ONE PRIORITY is to deal with the dog regardless of a bite. Maybe you're confused with a cat bite. Ask your doctor.
So you think they are going to waste valuable AIR TIME showing Cesar washing that bite long after he's finished working with the dog? WHY?
Last edited by runswithscissors; 11-08-2014 at 05:28 AM..
Gee, hit a dog and then stick your hand in her face and get bitten. Who could see that coming?
There's not much sadder than watching a dog ask over and over, don't make me bite you... and then the person makes her bite him.
Thanks for sharing.
OH right. She's SO UNHAPPY and afraid of Cesar she licks him to death. HERE. In her NEW HOME at Cesar's ranch where he RESCUED her (at the time of the follow up video). From owners who were unable to do the rehabilitation she needed and would have endangered their toddler.
Don't believe everything people tell you. WATCH his hundreds of success stories over 7 years of PROOF.
Last edited by runswithscissors; 11-08-2014 at 05:30 AM..
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