Well, since yesterday, I have been giving Skye Bach Flower remedies (which she loves) for her separation anxiety:
Aspen - Vague or unaccountable fears. Appearing agitated for no apparent reason
Heather - Overly concerned with companionship. Constant barking
Honeysuckle - Homesickness or over-attachment to the past. Loss of owner or home
Vervain - Enthusiastic, always want to be involved, high strung
Walnut - For any period of change
Rescue Remedy
I am shocked at the result... today I taped Skye and there was less than 20 seconds of half hearted whining in one hour! Compared to continues screaming before... WOW! I am also giving her a rawhide bone, but she had that before and that didn't make such a huge difference.
I know we are not in the dry yet, but what progress! So happy! She also seems less manic when I come home, so I guess this indicates that she is less stressed.
I am also doing some separation training with her in the park by tying her up on a bench and gradually moving further away, yard by yard. She was much better this morning already than yesterday, calmer and I could get further away. Excellent.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Skye and her screaming as well as a bee sting
Skye has given me a lot of worry over this week-end. First my neighbour told me that she screams a lot and seems really unsettled. I have noticed a few times that she was yelling when I came back from walks, but didn't realise it was that bad.
Then yesterday at St. Edwards obedience show, I left her in the car (boot open as it was hot) whilst working Jesse. I then had people coming up to me saying that she was screaming and that they had taken her out of the car to comfort her. I went straight back to fetch her. It was very nice of those people, though I did tell them that Skye screams but she does that instead of barking. Although she sounded very distressed (and probably was a little bit), she isn't actually that terrified as she would still eat and sometimes screams like that when I come home out of excitement. My friends (Pat) heard her but they know her, so didn't think it necessary of taking her out.
Anyway, shortly after this episode, Skye got stung by a bee and her lip swelled up like a shar-pei's. So I gave her some anti-histamines which worked well. She soon perked up and a few hours later, she was back to normal.
So, I am now left with little Skye and severe separation anxiety, or at least, severe vocalisation. So I have got some Bach Flower remedies today, ordered a homeopathic remedy (ignatia) and have started separation training in the park (tying her and Jesse on a bench and inch by inch move away so she gets used to that). We'll see how we get on.
Other than this, she is getting so good, really no trouble at all. Still a bit of resource guarding - especially yesterday. But overall getting really good. But I am sure we will be able to conquer this separation anxiety too, which most likely stems from losing her first home and the first home never leaving her home alone.
Then yesterday at St. Edwards obedience show, I left her in the car (boot open as it was hot) whilst working Jesse. I then had people coming up to me saying that she was screaming and that they had taken her out of the car to comfort her. I went straight back to fetch her. It was very nice of those people, though I did tell them that Skye screams but she does that instead of barking. Although she sounded very distressed (and probably was a little bit), she isn't actually that terrified as she would still eat and sometimes screams like that when I come home out of excitement. My friends (Pat) heard her but they know her, so didn't think it necessary of taking her out.
Anyway, shortly after this episode, Skye got stung by a bee and her lip swelled up like a shar-pei's. So I gave her some anti-histamines which worked well. She soon perked up and a few hours later, she was back to normal.
So, I am now left with little Skye and severe separation anxiety, or at least, severe vocalisation. So I have got some Bach Flower remedies today, ordered a homeopathic remedy (ignatia) and have started separation training in the park (tying her and Jesse on a bench and inch by inch move away so she gets used to that). We'll see how we get on.
Other than this, she is getting so good, really no trouble at all. Still a bit of resource guarding - especially yesterday. But overall getting really good. But I am sure we will be able to conquer this separation anxiety too, which most likely stems from losing her first home and the first home never leaving her home alone.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Some new pictures and a new snood
Here's some new pictures especially also of Skye looking cute and her new snood.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
7 months old
Today, Skye is 7 months old. How time flies.
She has definitely settled down a lot and has become so much easier over the last couple of weeks. She is now a real joy to have around - though she has still got her moments LOL.
Today, I saw Flash and Skye play nicely together for the first time for quite a while (except that time when Flash played after anaethetics), so I think the message is finally going through of not playing rough and Flash is settling down with her too.
She has definitely settled down a lot and has become so much easier over the last couple of weeks. She is now a real joy to have around - though she has still got her moments LOL.
Today, I saw Flash and Skye play nicely together for the first time for quite a while (except that time when Flash played after anaethetics), so I think the message is finally going through of not playing rough and Flash is settling down with her too.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Group walk and no more crate at night
Skye is definitely changing into a fine young lady now, he has much less crazy outbursts and zoomies and when she does, she is now easily stopped. She is also becoming very responsive now, though her recall is sometimes a little patchy at the moment when the spaniel nose takes over. LOL
On Saturday, I organised a group walk in Anerley for Skye and it was great. There were about 8 dogs and Skye did some playing and lots of running. She was great and very sociable. So it looks like the events of the previous week-end are now all forgotten. :-)
Since Saturday, Skye isn't locked into her crate anymore at night either. I leave the door open now and will remove the crate asap and just leave her bed there. It's so good to know that she doesn't need to spend more time in a crate at night.
On Saturday, I organised a group walk in Anerley for Skye and it was great. There were about 8 dogs and Skye did some playing and lots of running. She was great and very sociable. So it looks like the events of the previous week-end are now all forgotten. :-)
Since Saturday, Skye isn't locked into her crate anymore at night either. I leave the door open now and will remove the crate asap and just leave her bed there. It's so good to know that she doesn't need to spend more time in a crate at night.
Friday, August 12, 2011
More confident with dogs again and TTouch
Skye has been much more confident with dogs again and I haven't seen any aggression since Sunday, not last night either when she was tied up in obedience. So I think she will be ok. I have however organised a little socialisation walk tomorrow to help her socialisation along a little.
Tonight, Jacqui popped in for a lovely evening. Skye had her first taste of TTouch and LOVED it.
Tonight, Jacqui popped in for a lovely evening. Skye had her first taste of TTouch and LOVED it.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Being defensive/aggressive :-(
Yesterday afternoon, I took Skye to the Silver/Gold Award training and she had a ball. At the end of it, we went all for a little walk together and she played with some dogs (well, getting them all to chase after her) and she went off chasing birds. She was shattered after that.
After the classes, I went to Karen to pick up my meat. One of the dogs there (GSD) kept following Skye and sort of looming over her and cornering her (especially as there were also many other dogs and not that much space indoors) and Skye kept telling her off, more and more aggressively as it fell on deaf ears... Eventually we separated them and Skye then played with a little toller puppy, all teeth, but nicely.
Today I took her to agility training with Jesse, and Skye was very defensive and sometimes aggressive to most of the dogs there and only approaching very cautiously. This could be because she was tied up, but she had never done this before there! In fact she hadn't been aggressive to any dogs before other than play very roughly occasionally with Flash (which I stop immediately). So I am now wondering whether yesterday's experience left her more scared than I thought... I'll see how she does on walks and I will try to get a little socialisation group together perhaps after the Silver/Gold Award course...
I hope I can stop this in its tracks as I really, really do not want to deal with more dog aggression issues!
After the classes, I went to Karen to pick up my meat. One of the dogs there (GSD) kept following Skye and sort of looming over her and cornering her (especially as there were also many other dogs and not that much space indoors) and Skye kept telling her off, more and more aggressively as it fell on deaf ears... Eventually we separated them and Skye then played with a little toller puppy, all teeth, but nicely.
Today I took her to agility training with Jesse, and Skye was very defensive and sometimes aggressive to most of the dogs there and only approaching very cautiously. This could be because she was tied up, but she had never done this before there! In fact she hadn't been aggressive to any dogs before other than play very roughly occasionally with Flash (which I stop immediately). So I am now wondering whether yesterday's experience left her more scared than I thought... I'll see how she does on walks and I will try to get a little socialisation group together perhaps after the Silver/Gold Award course...
I hope I can stop this in its tracks as I really, really do not want to deal with more dog aggression issues!
Friday, August 5, 2011
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