XPost: uk.rec.pets.misc, alt.med.veterinary, rec.pets.dogs.behavior   
   XPost: alt.animals.dog, alt.pets.dogs.pitbull, alt.pets.dogs.labrador   
   XPost: rec.pets.dogs.rescue, rec.pets.dogs.health, rec.pets   
   From: ThePuppyWizard@EarthLink.Net   
      
   You're a MENTAL CASE.   
      
   YOU MURDERED YOUR OWN DEAD DOG   
   Summer for THE SAME PROBLEM.   
      
   REMEMBER?   
      
   "Tee"  wrote in message   
   news:32j7i8F3mtmm3U1@individual.net...   
   > From what you've written you've been doing everything right.   
   The number one   
   > prescribed medication for a fearful dog is repeated   
   socialization attempts.   
   > Being happy, ignoring perceived threats, acting like you & the   
   dog are the   
   > only two people in the world is the most effective way to   
   attempt to head   
   > off anxiety attacks.   
   >   
   > Reading your dog's body language, trying to intervene before she   
   goes into   
   > panic mode, and letting her decide what her limits are will go   
   along ways   
   > with many dogs.  If your dog is treat-oriented then carrying   
   treats around   
   > with you can also help.  If someone asks to pet her and you   
   think she'd be   
   > willing to allow it, have the person offer her a treat first.   
   If you see   
   > her becoming panicked try to distract her with a little training   
   exercise   
   > where you give command(s) she knows and treat her for obeying.   
   >   
   > Having said all of that, there are some dogs that just don't   
   respond to   
   > these methods.  The fact that your pup was like this when you   
   brought her   
   > home is a very big indicator that she has a faulty temperament.   
   Pups like   
   > this are either rehabilitated with the methods described above   
   and employing   
   > alot of patience and repeated, consistent attempts, or they're   
   not.  The   
   > ones who aren't, IMO, should be allowed to remain like they are,   
   with   
   > understanding owners, and no longer be continually exposed to   
   frightening   
   > things.   
   >   
   > A behaviorist can help you more than a trainer if you are   
   willing to seek   
   > professional help for her.  There are also medications available   
   to help   
   > short-circuit panic attacks.  Some medications are stronger than   
   others.   
   > Several of the more common ones will not change her energy   
   level, focus or   
   > anything else noticable.  If going out in public is important to   
   you and you   
   > think she would miss going on her walks then talk with your vet   
   about a   
   > medication called Clomicalm and then seek a behaviorist.   
   >   
   > In the meantime, take your cues from your dog.  Be especially   
   vigilant when   
   > she is around children.  She may be a total marshmallow who   
   'wouldn't hurt a   
   > fly' but fearfulness and anxiety can and will trigger dog bites.   
   If she   
   > feels cornered or harrassed, especially when she's already in a   
   panic state,   
   > don't allow anyone but yourself & someone you know she trusts to   
   go near   
   > her.   
   >   
   > --   
   > Tara   
   >   
   >   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)