Chasing Shadows/lights PLZ HELP!!

[DarinBongo]

Originally Posted by damp

Yes and you quoted me in other threads too ... fine... and not only quoted... but your post was deleated!!!!

PTS IS AN OPTION and for sure a good option ...

I am still waiting for your (better) advice(s) to the OP... how to deal with the problem:


Please keep my opinions out of the thread, but offer your(s) and I bet the OP will know what to do, to make the best for his/her dog.

I've never had a post deleted actually - so you can get off your high horse now. My post in the dog born without a tail is still there and has not been deleted and that's the only time I've ever posted in one of your threads. So perhaps you should learn how to read before posting more stupidity.

I already posted that the BETTER advice would be to try and remedy the issue with someone who has actual KNOWLEDGE of these types of situations, like an animal behaviorist as suggested by stale.

[DarinBongo]

Originally Posted by Shelby427

not to get totally off topic here, but if you knew the OP's past threads, she/he doesn't usually take the advice anyways and will probably post the same problem a month from now.

It's not the first advice the OP has heard either, this is a dog that is left outside unattended for most of the day, hasn't had any training, barks, jumps on the glass door etc. We've given good, solid advice and it's up to the OP to take the advice.

Shelby, I don't think I've ever seen a post of yours I don't agree with, and what you've posted here may be true. But even if the OP doesn't want to take the advice, what if another new member who has the same problem is looking for help and comes upon that "advice"? I know I did a lot of research here before ever posting a thread, looking for old threads that would have the answer to my problems. Just as many members here would post to search for answers to common questions that are posted. It is not my belief that you should give up on a dog before giving it a fair chance and I'm not going to change my opinion on that. Just as if you let a dog run rampant, you will never know how truly well behaved your dog could me. Which is the same as if you let a dog's disease get the better of them, you may never know how the dog could have responded to appropriate treatment. But it's always worth it to try the latter and see what kind of results you get.

[Janus'sMom]

Why can't we all just get along?

OK, enough with the bickering, you both put forth your advice and leave it at that. If ya can't get along, then ignore each other. This is a site to HELP ONE ANOTHER and GIVE OUT ADVICE, not a site to bicker and batter each other's advice. Not everyone has the same opinion, or wants to do everything the same way.

And on another note, as I've said before... the first rotti site i went to told me to put my pup to sleep and trade him in for an older "model" cause he was a typical pup that chewed and bit alot at 2 months old. And with that advice as my first to that I got, I never went back there. And it doesn't look good to just give that advice for future members looking for advice on this subject either. It my drive away other people that are new to the site if they see that enough in other threads as well.

So lets stop the bickering since its getting off topic and getting personal.

[stale]

thanks for the reminder, janus' mom - and i'm still curious how the OP's dog is doing.

it is rather disconcerting to see one's name (even if it is just my online handle) put into the middle of an argument...

so, OP, you still watching this? any updates on your puppy? i'd like to know how they're doing...

peace, eh?

stale

[Anne]

Originally Posted by damp

Sorry... we all (and you too Anne) respond to the written words and all advices given here (no matter who we are and what we know or think) are given without seeing the dog in question in person ... but what the OP wrote!

Bingo... Bongo: My 8 years old dog is NOT perfect... but still alive yes he is alive because he is mental and physical sound and does not need any kind of medicine or "special needs" trainers/behaviorists nor my bank to keep him alive!

Put to sleep is hard to do, but sometimes necessary and an option if you know JUST a bit about dogs and if you LOVE your dog!

I have no idea why I got a special bolded mention Damp. Is it because I disagree that euthanasia is the first option for the OP's dog? Is it because I would seek professional advice before ending the life of a dog?

My 7yo dog is still alive too but she is no longer physically sound, she has cancer. I am happy to pay for treatment for her current 'special needs'. I care not one jot that my bank balance is depleted to pay for her care. My dog is more important than my bank balance. She deserves no less than the best care I can provide for the years of devotion and loyalty she has given me. Shame on me if I would put money before her care and comfort. I am not of the opinion that a dog should be euthanised because professional care will cost money be it veterinary or training/behavioral.

My dog will to be put to sleep. It will be done when the time comes that I can no longer keep her pain free because I do know 'JUST a bit about dogs and LOVE my dog'. In the meantime I will pay for specialist oncology care for her. If she had a behavioural problem I would happily pay for professional behavioural advice.

You see Damp, my dog is not 'just a dog' that should be euthanised because her 'special care' costs money. She is a very much loved canine family member. She deserves better than to be put to sleep because things are no longer easy.

I hope the OP will take the sensible advice given here by some and seek out a qualified behaviourist to help her dog. Not everyone gives up on their dog so easily and puts them to sleep when the going gets tough.

[poohbearsmom]

In addressing the OPs original post:

Poohbear has OCD tendencies. We found this out when my Stepson moved in with us and brought his laser pen. In very short order, Pooh was chasing shadows as well, and she still goes bezerk over flashlights if we have to use them.

Not good. These types of involuntary responses can be counter conditioned using Classical Conditioning techniques. You will never change the temperamental make up of your dog; he is what he is. You can, however, through patient work help him through this, and with careful management, it is possible to help the dog overcome issues like this. Again, the dog is what it is. That this dog is fixated for an inordinant amount of time is very telling of the basic mental makeup of this dog, and this is something the OP needs to think long and hard about. A qualified behaviorist is definitely in order here.

In addressing everyone who has gone off topic, and decided a good old fashioned witch hunt is in order because someone offers a different opinion on the subject: Chill the hell out.

This forum is what it is: a Discussion Forum. If we did not have members on this board with different opinions, experiences and core beliefs, this would be a pretty boring place. I think we should respect each other enough to listen respectfully to what the person is saying. Especially when that person has forgotten more about dogs than many of us will ever learn. Some people in this world respect the dog for being a dog, and that is something I believe is very important.

I am a person who strongly believes that even dogs can suffer from mental illness; I've owned a few in my lifetime, and one of the contributing factors in my decision to PTS my sweet monkey, Alfi, was because not only was she physically unstable, she was mentally unstable and a real liability. A companion animal should be a joy to own, not a constant battle, and certainly not a huge liability with unstable behavior.

Many times people are willing to put the work into a dog to try and change things, and in the long run they realize the best thing to do was to put the dog down humanely and relieve it of it's demons. We love these animals, and much of the time, it's very difficult to accept that this dog we love so completely has an elevator stuck between two floors. To each his own, folks, please put the pitchforks away, and let's offer this person options based upon our own experiences and knowledge levels.

This dog can likely be helped to some extent, but his elevator will always be stuck.

[stale]

is there any update on how the puppy is doing? i'm curious, and nosy, and butting in where i may not be welcome, i know...

but i AM concerned about your puppy, and would like to know if there's been any improvement, backsliding, rehoming, what-have-you...

peace, eh?

stale

[debbiej]

thank you Elisabeth.
I would add, we live and learn. I spent a considerable sum of money on a dog I loved dearly who had cancer. it did nothing but prolong her life and my sorrow for a few months. So I've learned. dogs don't live long enough, even at best. I feel that I learned a lot about what is reasonable and rational for me to do for a dog, even one that I still tear up over.

someone here once said something like this; when we have to let a dog we love go, we can honor them by passing on what we have learned from them, to the next dog in our life. If a dog can live and die with dignity and the joy of being a dog, we have done well by them. way too often it is ourselves we are thinking of when we try to save a dog.