she is one SENSITIVE dog!!

[webangel2b]

Dixie is so sensitive about things that happen. This morning I was trying to navigate the family room without lights on. Well I felt my toes separate and I caught her foot, she yelped and I found the lights.

She left the room, went back upstairs and had to be coaxed down again. She would not come to me or even look at me. This is not the first time I've done something, but it's like I've broken her heart.

Takes quite a bit of time and I refuse to pressure her into it but I do get her favorite toy out, or give her some treats. Just in an attempt to stop her from fearing me so bad.

Anyone have other suggestions for this, I feel like a heal and she is so upset with me. You can just tell that she's hurt, not physically but emotionally or her spirit - thought they were suppose to forget stuff quickly. She will be over it by the time I get home but the cold shoulder lasted all morning (several hours).

[poohbearsmom]

Some dogs are affected by environmental stressors more than others. Some dogs are softer than others. Just as we are born with our own "hard wired" temperament, so are dogs. Some dogs are so sensitive to stimuli that their recovery is slow, or even not at all.

We like to say that it's not the reaction that's so important, it's the recovery the dog makes. If a weak nerved dog is not taught how to overcome what scares it as a pup, it often has a very difficult time recovering from things as an adult. Some dogs simply don't have what it takes, and no matter how well they are managed as puppies, still don't recover well.

It sounds like your Dixie is a very "special needs" kind of girl. The one thing you do not ever want to do is to coddle her while she is exhibiting fear or distress. You seem to have a handle on that since you mention bringing out toys and having a party.

The downside to having a dog like this is the extreme responses they display to ordinary everyday things. This is usually not a "one size fits all dog" nor a take anywhere you want dog, but in the security of their environment, with lots of classical conditioning (desensitizing, counter conditioning), they can sometimes play a little better with the hand they're dealt.

It takes a lot of care and consistency on the owner's behalf, and care should be taken when company comes over to avoid any incident. As well, serious supervision around children is called for. Fear bites are the most dangerous kind, and a dog in panic will give a flight/fight response depending upon the circumstance, and how cornered it feels.

There is no cure for inborn temperament issues, however, you might seek the assistance of a reputable behaviorist and have her evaluated. You might be able to come up with a plan that would help ease Dixie's tension and over reaction. Just realize that dogs with this type of temperament require special handling and very consistent treatment and management in order to make any headway.

I'm not a big fan in keeping a dog alive that is unhappy with the world it lives in, and I'm not a big believer in medicating a dog to make it right with the world, but there are options out there that are often used in conjunction with behavioral modification protocol that a behaviorist can suggest.

Hope this helps.