Feeling unsafe.
There is a list of things that get 18-month-old Jack Russell Eva nervous, overwrought and unable to cope. They all boil down to one thing – she feels unsafe.
The list includes:
Travelling in the car, over-reacting to people, throwing herself at the door when there’s knock, noise sensitivity and anything sudden.
She ‘loses it’ when out walking and there’s a situation she can’t cope with. She becomes frantic when someone approaches.
Vulnerability
It’s hard to imagine what it must be like, from the moment you wake up, to feel so vulnerable to everyday things around one.
Each thing they treat as a separate problem, something to ‘stop’.
I see them all as aspects of the same thing, vulnerability and panic. She needs to feel protected while the lady and gentleman work on helping her to feel less vulnerable. To feel more confident.
The more bits we get into place, the better the whole picture. One thing affects another.
Knocks on the door
She has a ‘meltdown’ when someone knocks on the door. She has already heard their vehicle on the drive and the door shutting.
Trying to get her to sit on her bed when she’s so aroused is a big and pointless ask. The fear/arousal needs dealing with first.
They will ‘immunise’ her to sudden knocks. They will do this by creating knocks themselves, all over the place including the front door.
A knock will herald food.
Cars on the drive
Eva is often already fully stirred up before the knock on the door. She hears the car coming up the drive.
They will work on desensitising her to that also. Every car on the gravel will now herald a handful of kibble on the floor – or maybe her ball. She loves a ball. Ball and food will need to be kept to hand all the time because there isn’t time to go and get it. Consistency is important.
Eva doesn’t feel safe at home when someone comes towards the house. How must she feel when she sees approaching person when out, trapped on a lead?
Walks
Walks are either quiet walks starting from home, largely off lead. At worst encountering tractors.
Or, there are the ‘best’ walks, more challenging walks to Eva, that start by going in the car.
As soon as she knows she is getting in the car Eva shakes with fear. A few months ago they had a car accident. Nobody hurt but they had to wait by the side of the M1 for three hours waiting for rescue.
Now being in the car is purgatory for her and ruins the walks. She’s already in too much of a state when she gets out of the car to cope with meeting approaching people and dogs.
So, they will work on her fear of car travel (we have a plan). Meanwhile they can stick to the walks starting from home.
Meeting dogs and people when out
When car fear is conquered they will then start to work on her ‘reactivity’ to dogs and people she meets.
They will work on leaving the house as calmly as they can. The will put her on the longest lead possible so she doesn’t feel trapped.
Whenever they see a person or another dog the lady will immediately create distance. As she does so she will ‘make good things happen’. She will be upbeat, not anxious. (I believe dogs can smell our emotions as well as being experts in reading or body language).
Using distraction is simply management. It doesn’t change anything.
She will change how Eva feels. Before moving away, the lady will point out the person and rejoice!
Each piece of the jigsaw contributes to the overall picture
They will deal with each of the various smaller issues gradually. Each will contribute to the whole picture of building Eva’s confidence.
NB. For the sake of the story and for confidentiality also, this isn’t a complete ‘report’ and is always written with permission of the client. If you listen to ‘other people’ or find instructions on the internet or TV that are not tailored to your own dog it can do more harm than good. Click here for help
