I need help, I'm getting desperate here...

[Cuda1447]

Fiancee and dogs again

Lola with big bone


Fiancee with two cute dogs!
http://pics.bbzzdd.com/users/Cuda/P1010333.JPG


I can't linkify it, something is wrong with my browser... weird. Anyways, off to work. I'll post more pics when I get home.

As some of you may have seen from previous threads, my fiancee and I have a mini-dachshund.

She is about 7 months old now. When we first got her house training went pretty good. She would run around outside (apartment complex) play with other dogs and people and do her business. As she got older she got a bit skiddish around other people, no big deal. After awhile it started affecting her house training. She was scared to go outside. If we told her "lets go out" she would get scared and run away. We would take her out and she would run back to the house. She doesn't do the whole leash walking thing, I have to drag her constantly. We can get her to do her business, but its a real difficult task every time. We have been fairly patient with the walking on a leash thing too, she hasn't made any progress.


We decided to get another mini-dachshund as a playmate. Hoping she would get used to other dogs (we have a cat as well) and just start to act normal. The new pup is actually pretty good with house training (she's only 7 weeks) but Lola (the bigger dog) is getting even worse. The last 3 days in the house she is scared of our porch/door to the porch it seems. She is shaking a lot, hiding under our couch. She won't come out for treats or anything. We have to literally pick up the couch to get her out. The new dog (Sadie) runs around the house no problem.


I don't think this latest problem is related to Sadie because when Lola isn't scared she plays with Sadie just fine. They sleep in the same pen and even in the same bed together. There is a bit of growling from time to time over food, but its very mild.



Anyways, I need some tips. I asked our vet and they were pretty much worthless. I think they are more into making money then helping dogs. They said we need to socialize her more (we've been taking her to dog parks and everything) and we may need a trainer. Oh, thanks for the great advice.


If anyone has any suggestions/ideas/experiences with things like this any tips would be awesome. This is getting really frustrating and I feel bad for my dog. She's such a loving dog normally, but she's just so skiddish lately that she won't even play with us or anything.



Sorry, no cliffs.

 

[Kirby]

Let her live outside for a while?

 

[jemcam]

Looks like drugs are the answer

 

[Cuda1447]

Originally posted by: nkgreen
Let her live outside for a while?

We live in an apartment complex. Not possible currently.

 

[NaOH]

Personally, I'm not a professional or anything, but I'd drag her out and give her a treat/praise her once she gets outside. Like the only rewards she'd get if she'd go outside and hopefully she feels better. That has to be one of the weirdest problem I've heard of (frustrating as well i bet). My dachshund/pom mix LOVES going outside. But she is shy around new people and dogs.

 

[ElFenix]

:camera:?

 

[Cuda1447]

NaOH, I've tried that technique. Maybe I need to take it to a higher level. Currently she doesn't take treats when we are outside, at all. Even if I put her on a leash, drag her outside, make her sit for 20 minutes, she still wont take the treat.

 

[zoiks]

The problem is almost always with the owner. Sez the dog whisperer that is.

 

[NaOH]

Pics please!!
I love mini-dachshund!

I'm sorry to hear about you problem. =/ We had some troubles with our dog before too. It IS frustrating.

btw this is HCl

 

[Tsaico]

One of my dogs is still pretty scared of loud noises and things, what finally got me to get him outside was carrying his heavy ass around. The after a couple of days of just walking around while holding him I started to put him down on the ground for a little bit. Then picked him back up. After a bit just put him on the ground and started walking around a little, he was still scrared stiff, and then started jumping to try to get me to pick him up, but I kept walking and in the process not to get left behind he would run to keep up. Eventually he could do the whole leash thing just fine. He still gets a little weird around unfamiliar dogs or people, but not as bad as before when he was a puppy.

 

[NaOH]

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
NaOH, I've tried that technique. Maybe I need to take it to a higher level. Currently she doesn't take treats when we are outside, at all. Even if I put her on a leash, drag her outside, make her sit for 20 minutes, she still wont take the treat.

Hmm, my dog at first didn't take treats when she knew i was leaving. I would put her in a cage and give her treats and water. Eventually she got used to it after a lot of repetion (i eventualyl bought some dehydrated chicken and it's hard for her to ignore those.). Now she even gets into her cage when i tap on it (well, for abuot 90% of the time). When she gets in I over enthusiastically praise her and give her treats). I think in alot of these cases, it just takes a lot of repetition (sticking to the exact same routine day in and day out), and patience on your part.

I would try dragging her out and pulling her around, if that doesn' work....carry her around occasioinalyl thorugh out the day and gradually put her down like the above post.

 

[Cuda1447]

bump

 

[thomsbrain]

I've never known a dachshund that wasn't a complete neurotic mess. Just be glad she isn't aggressive... yet. The last pair I knew, one of them used the couch for its toilet, and the other one was fond of one of the bedrooms. Both of them shook with fear when any stranger would enter the house. One would just pee, and the other would try to bite you. :thumbsup: I know that's not helpful, but the point is that breed disposition can be a factor, especially in these ridiculously overbred "mini" dogs. You've got to realize that you're dealing with an animal that has a brain the size of a peanut.

Now for something more constructive:
I think treats will still be key here. I would start by simply standing near the door and calling her over to give her a treat. Don't open the door or anything. If she can deal with it, then after a while you can start facing the door while you give her the treat. Then maybe she gets the treat while you have your hand on the doorknob. Then maybe the door is open just a little crack. And so on. She's may need baby steps to overcome her fear.

Another thing to try might to just take her out and sit down with her in a quiet place for a long time, occasionally offering treats if she'll take one. Sit long enough that she can eventually calm down. It might be an hour, so take a book. The book will also help you relax and project that confidence. You don't need to walk her, just let her get used to being in that one spot so she can see that she's not going to get attacked or anything. Then maybe later you can walk her a bit and sit again.

 

[skyking]

This is a reach, but how does she do in the car?
I'd take her out to the car for any food. Sit with her and feed her dinner out there. It can be a quiet controlled place for her instead of the great outdoors.
If she gets used to heading out to the car for dinner, it will be no big deal to take care of business along the way to/from.

 

[bctbct]

Your mini dach a chewer? We have one that absolutely chews everything including walls and my shoes. She knows its wrong because she looks guilty when we catch her but she wont quit chewing stuff.

edit 8 mos old

 

[amdhunter]

Drag her ass outside until she likes it.

 

[Cuda1447]

Good suggestions guys, let me try to address a few.

Thomas -

Ya, I know this particular breed can be a pain. They are known to be very stubborn, which I have witnessed. They are also fairly intelligent breeds from what I understand. Everyone thinks there dog is very smart, but I do think Lola learns fairly quickly. The baby steps is a good suggestion, I'll give it a try.


Sky -

She loves the car. When we shake our keys to go to the car she will follow us outside and straight to the car. Quite odd. After awhile in the car she gets a little nervous sometimes though.


BCT -

She isn't to bad of a chewer. When she was real young she was, destroyed one or two things. Nothing to bad though. Def. chewed up our carpet a lot, but that habit has stopped. Aside from the potty training/scared thing she is a VERY well behaved dog. She gets a bit aggressive when playing, but nothing to major.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Thomsbrain has good advice.

You need associate going outside as a fun activity. Either treats or lots of praise/excitement. Try it in small doses of time and slowly increase the time outside. And something as sitting outside on the stoop with her on your lap or sitting next to you while you give her treats and praise will do wonders. If something spooks her, you need to distract her with treats, praise or walk her in the opposite direction.

My friend has a mini-doxie who hates to go outside for walks. She babies so badly that the doxie won't ever change til my friend changes her behavior. My doxie on the otherhand always wants to go outside. He also loves riding in the car and once we're outside, he always runs for the car.

 

[ManBearPig]

we have a mini and regular dachshund. your dogs are so fucking cute haha.

 

[skyking]

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
Good suggestions guys, let me try to address a few.

Thomas -

Ya, I know this particular breed can be a pain. They are known to be very stubborn, which I have witnessed. They are also fairly intelligent breeds from what I understand. Everyone thinks there dog is very smart, but I do think Lola learns fairly quickly. The baby steps is a good suggestion, I'll give it a try.


Sky -

She loves the car. When we shake our keys to go to the car she will follow us outside and straight to the car. Quite odd. After awhile in the car she gets a little nervous sometimes though.


BCT -

She isn't to bad of a chewer. When she was real young she was, destroyed one or two things. Nothing to bad though. Def. chewed up our carpet a lot, but that habit has stopped. Aside from the potty training/scared thing she is a VERY well behaved dog. She gets a bit aggressive when playing, but nothing to major.

Hey, the car thing might just work! Feed her out there, take her for a short ride now and again, she should get over her fear so long as you keep it positive. That is the key with fear, you can't just force a fearful animal along.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: bctbct
Your mini dach a chewer? We have one that absolutely chews everything including walls and my shoes. She knows its wrong because she looks guilty when we catch her but she wont quit chewing stuff.

edit 8 mos old

Loud clap with your hands to distract her. Then provide her with a proper chew toy. In the meantime, spray inappropriate areas with bitter apple.

 

[Cuda1447]

Won't the loud clap scare the dog more?

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
Won't the loud clap scare the dog more?

No.

 

[Cuda1447]

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
Won't the loud clap scare the dog more?

No.

I'll trust you and try it!


Updating with more pics of cute pups at the top.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Originally posted by: Cuda1447

Originally posted by: Capt Caveman

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
Won't the loud clap scare the dog more?

No.

I'll trust you and try it!


Updating with more pics of cute pups at the top.

Another thing would be too put a bunch of pennies in a soda can and shake that or toss it(so the dog doesn't associate the noise with you) as a distraction.