XPost: alt.cats, alt.pets.cats, rec.pets.cats.health+behav   
   XPost: rec.pets.dogs.behavior   
   From: efamaaea@bigpond.net.au   
      
   rainbow  wrote in message   
   news:1126766693.005791.121410@g43g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...   
   > All I WANTED WAS HELP FOR MY DOG, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? THIS IS ALL   
   > RANTING AND NONSENSE.   
   > I CANNOT AFFORD A PET PSYCHIATRIST OR PET INSURANCE, THATS JUST NOT AN   
   > OPTION, I AM STILL A STUDENT   
   > AND NOT EVEN I HAVE INSURANCE.   
   > I NEED SOME PRATICAL HELP, FOR EXAMPLE SOMEONE WHO CAN RELATE OR HAS   
   > TRAINED THERE DOG WHO IS SOMEWHAT   
   > SIMILAR TO MINE, THATS ALL. I DON'T WANT TO READ LIKE 30 PAGES WRITTEN   
   > BY SOMEONE WHO IS MENTALLY UNSTABLE AND IS LOCKED IN A   
   > PADDED CELL AND ALLOWED INTERNET ACCESS TO EASE THERE INSANITY. I   
   > THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE PRACTICAL!!!!!!   
      
   Excuse the insanity here at the moment...everyone's been to busy arguing to   
   answer my questions too. It's always hard re-training a rescued dog. My   
   Grandma has recently rescued a similar breed (small terrier/whippet looking   
   thing) It was totally neurotic when she got it, and hated men and tall women   
   in sneakers (mainly me). Through a lot of love and affection it has become a   
   lot better. It takes time, patience and a lot of love. If you have a friend   
   with a very calm, relaxed dog, you can try introducing the other dog into   
   the same room/backyard as your dog. Stay with them, and if you can get   
   someone to hold the other dog, so they can see each other. Animals have   
   what's called a 'flight distnace'- they will allow a threatening object or   
   individual to get only so close to them before they will fight or flee. What   
   you want to do is work at decreasing your dogs 'flight distance'. Give your   
   dog lots of attention and treats when the other dog is there, at first keep   
   the other dog at your dog's 'flight distance' ie. bring the other dog close   
   until your dog starts looking agitated. Try not to bring it so close that he   
   will get really worked up and you will lose his attention. make the other   
   dogs presence a positive thing. Over time, gradually decrease the distance   
   between the dogs. Stay tuned to your dog's behaviour, and don't do long   
   training periods at first. After he gets used to the first dog, try   
   introducing him to a group of dogs- ask if you can 'look in' on a puppy   
   training school. as before, keep a good distance between him and the other   
   dogs at first, gradually decreasing it as he feels more comfortable. keep up   
   the attention and praise, the presence of other dogs MUST be a positive   
   thing and he MUST be assured of your support and love. This will take time   
   and patience, but it will be more than worth it. I'm sorry this is so long   
   and rambling, but general instructions don't usually help. This method has   
   worked for me with getting dogs (and cats) to live together without   
   fighting. I hope it helps, it sounds like you have a lovely little dog.   
   >   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)