Backsliding and more skittish!!

Xenos · #1 16-09-10, 10:25 PM

We've had Xenos is training for a couple of weeks now (a total of six time, tomorrow is the final day of the contract) and he did well out in busier areas but had minor freak outs. Yesterday and today his freak outs have gone to extreme - he pulled like a maniac to get away from, get this, a two year-old little girl that was saying hello to him! Dramatic pulling. Something I've NEVER seen in another dog. At my wits end and desperate to help him. It's costing us a lot of money and my husband is hinting that we may need to let him go!

He is SO perfect at home. We love him to bits and my daughter will be gutted if he isn't with us. I don't know what to do, but I am reaching out for help here. It's so sad!

PS - he is two years and almost four months. It's been almost a month of him freaking out outside. Before this he was generally skittish, stalked animals, people, leaves, anything that moved. I will note that he has some good days and bad days, so it's not constant outside.

Caryll · #2 17-09-10, 07:54 AM

Was there anything else going on at the time? Had anything upset him a little before the little girl?

Sometimes you have to try a little lateral thinking - try not to look for the obvious, but the perhaps more trivial looking things, maybe a strong, loud wind or a car sounding its horn just before etc.

LOVEGSD · #3 17-09-10, 11:11 AM

Maybe something more than the little girl spooked him, a noise that maybe you missed??

Xenos · #4 17-09-10, 11:16 AM

We do know that loud noises spook him, but in this case - it was a quiet evening and inside of our building. If a large/tall man walks near - he freaks out. The child was happy and didn't notice. The parents on the other hands, held back a giggle at the display.

He does this randomly too and to describe it, I couldn't. You have to see this scene to believe it. It's as if someone is trying to kill him. He will literally bust out and drag us in a zig zag pattern. A total, and complete panic.

I keep asking the vet for Prozac, but he thinks it's not an issue because Xenos is calm indoors. I think this boy really needs it to cope with his extreme anxiety. People keep asking me if he was abused or rescued. He was never was.

LOVEGSD · #5 17-09-10, 11:22 AM

Aww the poor chap it must be horrible to see him so freaked out. Have you found anyone who knows about wolf hybrid behaviour that can help you?

Caryll · #6 17-09-10, 11:32 AM

Have you tried any herbal calming remedies? There are places on-line that can give advice on what to give. Give me a couple of days & I'll ask on one of the other forums for you.

Xenos · #7 17-09-10, 11:33 AM

Our trainer is experienced in this area, but today is the last day of training (it's pretty expensive and we're not sure if we can afford another series). Xenos did a pretty good job out there during the training, but it seems he is really scared of our hallways, the car noises, rubbish trucks, etc.

I will add that during one training session, he was brought to the pet store. He got nervous but braved through it. Then people acted like jerks - mothers picked up their kids and walked the other way. A guy froze and said "this is my biggest fear." Xenos picked up on it and he lost confidence a few times - totally depressed. The reactions from people don't help our dogs at all. He may look threatening (I hate to say this, but if he were long-haired, less black or even a white GSD people wouldn't be as worried) but he isn't out to bite anyone - he's never bitten anyone.

I am in a tough spot right now. If Xenos doesn't get fixed, then he will be miserable and my husband will start looking for rescues. The vet said Xenos will become a fear-biter by the time he is three. I am running out of time

Xenos · #8 17-09-10, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caryll

Have you tried any herbal calming remedies? There are places on-line that can give advice on what to give. Give me a couple of days & I'll ask on one of the other forums for you.

We've tried Rescue Remedy, but that worked only twice. We have some other calming tablets, but they did nothing. Also, it was suggested to give him Benadryl to see, but that doesn't help either. I think he needs Prozac (and I am against using these medications on animals, but I strongly believe this is a necessity).

LOVEGSD · #9 17-09-10, 11:57 AM

Ah sorry I didn't realise the trainer you were already using was experienced in this.

What I would say to your hubby is that building Xenos' confidence up is going to take time, he's got a long road ahead but I am sure if you remain consistant and take things slowly he will learn to trust.

Sadly people judge GSD's on sight and you're right their reactions

Xenos · #10 17-09-10, 04:16 PM

Before I could even bring it up, the trainer approached us about Prozac. He wrote out a note to give to the vet, stating that Xenos' behaviour is internal and cannot be treated with training alone. So we are taking him to the vet in less than an hour. They will sedate him for a series of tests to determine if there are other causes (apparently eye issues cause skittshness in GSDs) and then draw blood to see if he is a match for Prozac/other anti-depressants. They said the full results take about 30 min to come back - so fingers crossed that nothing else is wrong so he can get on medication.

Can't believe we're resorting to this, but if the trainer can see it too, then it's something we seriously need to entertain.