Gun Shy

[Breaking Bombs]

So I noticed something very interesting today. I put my pistol on today and was practicing holster draws when Brutus decided to walk in. Everytime I would draw the gun he flinched and backed away. After a few times he started growling at me and walked away. So i decided to test some things.

I pointed the gun towards (but not at and 100% empty, I checked more than once) him as he walked down the hall and he would stop and kinda back up. He didn't seem to have quite such a drastic reaction when I had the slide back but he still wouldn't come to me.

Then I sat down and placed the gun in my lap and called him over. He came happily, but but stopped about a foot away when he saw the gun. I tried to coax him towards it to show him I wasn't going to hurt him with it. But he just backed up again. When I grabbed his collar he growled again.

I know it's not the smell of gunpowder or solvents, since the gun is brand new and I haven't shot it yet (or cleaned it).

As soon as I put it down he lovey dovey again. I don't know his past at all, but he certainly seems to understand what a pistol is, and oddly a sense of how it works (he wasn't nearly as scared with the slide back). Either way he definitely doesn't like them... I really wonder why...

[Kristie E]

Interesting. He must have some association with it. The first gun Gwen ever saw she tried to eat it and ended up biting my husband and ripping my brand new hoodie...

[Christie M]

Weird. Really weird.

I am sure that he heard gun shots while he lived here. We both shoot and also use blanks during training to test and condition the dogs. But I know for a fact that he was never in direct contact with one while here. I wonder exactly what was going on in his head??

[Breaking Bombs]

I dunno, he is a weird dog. He seems to understand a lot of things I wouldn't expect him too. But then he still has yet to realize that when I leave him in the morning I always come home for him in the afternoon/evening. And that I always feed him (he inhales every bit of food like it is his last). And he is very stubborn.

But I love him either way and i'm really glad I adopted him. I am a lot less stressed out in general since I got him.

[Kristie E]

I dunno, he is a weird dog. He seems to understand a lot of things I wouldn't expect him too. But then he still has yet to realize that when I leave him in the morning I always come home for him in the afternoon/evening. And that I always feed him (he inhales every bit of food like it is his last). And he is very stubborn.

But I love him either way and i'm really glad I adopted him. I am a lot less stressed out in general since I got him.

I may be wrong but I think that those things you just described are why most of us love our stripey pals. Gwen eats like the food is running out of her bowl.. It makes me think that there is blood in the water and she is a shark....

[Breaking Bombs]

I find it amusing myself. I am slowly moving him to raw food, and he seems to take a little more time with that. But so far it has mostly been free samples of pre-ground stuff or marrow bones. Tomorrow he is getting chicken legs though.

[dutchringdog]

Sadie too. she east like it will disappear in 2 seconds, she is getting better though. I do love how smart they are! I think Sadie has learned more from Thalie than me.

[Christie M]

I find it amusing myself. I am slowly moving him to raw food, and he seems to take a little more time with that. But so far it has mostly been free samples of pre-ground stuff or marrow bones. Tomorrow he is getting chicken legs though.

He's gonna love that!! He had quite a bit of raw here and did well on it!

I think the separation anxiety thing is more just his temperament rather than a learned response. For that reason, I don't think it can ever be unlearned. As I had previously mentioned, it is part of the reason he was surrendered in the first place. There are medical options for it, but if he isn't destructive and manages to cope for himself, I don't know that it is really necessary.

Love the updates!
Christie

[Breaking Bombs]

I've started leaving him in the backyard on nice days, and I think he does a lot better there than cooped up in the house. I still leave him with the food ball and water (although all this damn pollen keeps getting in it), but it gives him room to roam and squirrels to bark at.

The only time it is really a problem is when I leave town, like I did for the first time last night. I left him a kennel that family had good experiences with, and the of which trains working GSDs, and he was not happy. I guess he kinda hurt his face a little because he would try to push it through the fence every night I wish there was a better option... but at least by mid-may I will be done with traveling for training, at least until my wife moves in and can watch him for me.

[Kristie E]

I've started leaving him in the backyard on nice days, and I think he does a lot better there than cooped up in the house. I still leave him with the food ball and water (although all this damn pollen keeps getting in it), but it gives him room to roam and squirrels to bark at.

The only time it is really a problem is when I leave town, like I did for the first time last night. I left him a kennel that family had good experiences with, and the of which trains working GSDs, and he was not happy. I guess he kinda hurt his face a little because he would try to push it through the fence every night I wish there was a better option... but at least by mid-may I will be done with traveling for training, at least until my wife moves in and can watch him for me.

ahh so sad.. Gwen doesn't seem to really care when I come or go.. the only way she really shows it is if someone tries to handle her and I am around .. we are working on that one..
Lonnie my GSD had some real problems with separation anxiety... whew one day I got home from work and he popped out of the garage door while I was pulling in. I started yelling at him and my son looks at me and says "Mom, why are you yelling at Lonnie?" I looked at him and said, "I am yelling because he is supposed to be in his crate!" He twisted the whole front of the crate up and worked the back door open... sigh.. I am so glad I got him through that.

[Christie M]

I wish there was a better option... but at least by mid-may I will be done with traveling for training, at least until my wife moves in and can watch him for me.

For those occasional situations, I would drug him. Why let him stress and hurt himself?

The old school method was to use sedatives. The problem is, with just sedation, the dog experiences all the stress but can't physically react to it. Drugs like Acepromazine, benedryl...are not appropriate at all. There is MUCH more success with anxiety specific drugs. I can PM you doses if you want. Many vets aren't up on the new protocols yet.

[vneerland]

I wish there was a better option... but at least by mid-may I will be done with traveling for training, at least until my wife moves in and can watch him for me.

For those occasional situations, I would drug him. Why let him stress and hurt himself?

The old school method was to use sedatives. The problem is, with just sedation, the dog experiences all the stress but can't physically react to it. Drugs like Acepromazine, benedryl...are not appropriate at all. There is MUCH more success with anxiety specific drugs. I can PM you doses if you want. Many vets aren't up on the new protocols yet.

I am confused here. Am I to understand the dog goes bezerk when kenneled? Or that he cannot handle to be separated, regardless of the setting?

[Christie M]

I am confused here. Am I to understand the dog goes bezerk when kenneled? Or that he cannot handle to be separated, regardless of the setting?

He has some speration anxiety, but it is not extreme and can be managed in his household. However, he works REALLY hard at breaking out of crates and kennels. he will certainly injure himself trying. When he was here, he came to realize that he couldn't escape so he quite trying. Everything in his new home is going well, but when he was kenneled during travel, he beat up his face trying to get out. So we are talking about short term relief for those situations.

[vneerland]

Wow.

[Sugars Mom]

Do you have doggie daycare around you? We take Sugar when we have to work out all day (we usually work at home) and she loves it! She plays with dogs all day, they walk her with a pack of dogs, and its great socialization overall for her. Maybe it would help Brutus with his separation anxiety.