Overcoming a fear

[malinda]

Ok the short version of this story:

The other night Megan woke up yelping. At first I thought maybe I rolled over on her, since she sleeps in our bed. She was shaking and trembling. It seemed like forever before we got her calmed down. When we finally got her calm she went back down to lay at the bottom of the bed and started all over again. A loud yelp and the trembling started. My husband finally got up with her and went into the living room where over 1/2 hour later she was still shaking.

Later that morning we noticed her muzzle was swallen. So we are now guessing that she was bit by something.

The problem is now she refuses to go into the bedroom. Last night for the first night she has been home she slept on the couch. My whining husband complained all day today that he misses his puppy sleeping in our bed. I think she is old enough to sleep on the couch if she chooses too. I am concerned though that she will not go into the bedroom.

My feeling was to let her ride out this fear and in time she would adjust and not give it a second thought. Is this the right thing to do?

 

[Krikkit]

Poor Megan

What a shame! I think you are doing the right thing by not pushing her back to the bedroom. You could use your clicker for this Malinda. First start off by clicking and treating for just a glance at the bedroom, then a foot towards it, then a whole step towards it etc etc. This does work very well. You could build up gradually until she is actually back on the bed. I suspect that once she has been brave enough to venture through the door she will be fine Give Megan a hug from me - bites are no fun at all :(

Sharon

 

[malinda]

Thanks Sharon

I was actually thinking the same thing myself about the clicker. Maybe we will try that.

 

[nanabear]

I definitely agree......let her get over it in her own time. Give her time to forget about it and one day she'll follow you in, go after a toy or a treat. If you force her - it will just take longer.
Dogs can really be funny - she probably thinks something on the bed "got her".

 

[JazznChase]

Poor Megan! I wonder what happened?

Jazmine & Chase give her LOTS OF BOXER KISSES!

 

[karens]

The first time I turned on the fireplace, my rescue Spencer fled the room. To be honest it did not even occur to me it might frighten him. I felt so bad, had I known I would have better prepared. He would not return to the room, and that is where we spend most of our time, and could not move my entire entertainment center into the kitchen :rolleyes: He would stand at the edge of the room and bark incessantly.

I started at the edge of the room and gave him treats to encourage him back in. Every step he made I praised him like crazy. I did not try to make him go past the first couch cusion (well he has to sit on the couch!!), which is about a third of the way into the room. It took two days, I know I rushed him, but wanted him near, and knew he would do anything for food! We are all better now..he is comforable anywhere in the room and I can even turn on the fireplace.

 

[Alisha Mobley]

I agree to allow her time to recover from this. The other night my son was shooting his cap gun w/ caps in the house (that thing drives me nuts). It has never bothered the dogs before but for some reason it scared the crap out of Sheeba and Pru. Pru ran to the kitchen all crouched down and Sheeba ran over and sit on my feet leaning against my legs. I made Tyler put the gun up and after about 15 minutes I had to push Sheeba off my feet. She laid on the floor and wouldn't move too far away. Pru wouldn't come out of the kitchen. After about an hour Sheeba acted normal but Pru still wouldn't come out of the kitchen. I tried calling her and all she would do is wag her tail from the kitchen. If one of the kids would run by she would crouch down. This is very unlike Pru, she has never been afraid of anything or anyone. I still can't believe how her and Sheeba acted. Right before we went to bed I called her, she walked real slow kinda crouched down ears back, into the living room. After I scrubbed her head and neck and hugged and kissed her she acted fine. She started jumping around and trying to play like normal. It was so weird.

 

[malinda]

Update

The clicker worked. Megan is now going into the bedroom and even slept there last night for a few hours then ventured out onto the couch.

Which was a great thing. Mom didn't kicked out of bed and dad was happy that his baby slept on the bed for a while.

 

[Brutus and Amaya's Mom]

We have worked with Amaya since she was a puppy on fears to help build confidence. One of the keys is to not make a big deal or reward fear. If you cuddle and pamper the puppy when it thunders they are getting rewarded. Amaya isn't scared of rooms but we have addressed things...like the vaccum and the cupboard with the pans in it. The key is to show her its okay and try to get her to touch it with her nose. As soon as she touches we praise her. Even if she make a beeline to another room. I agree that you could also use treats and take it slow.