Post by knen on Sept 6, 2017 7:14:52 GMT -5
Hello,
We adopted our racer(5yr old) about 6 months ago. He is the sweetest most patient dog I've ever been around. It has been a really slow process trying to get him to come out of his shell...
anyways, the past month has been absolutely fantastic, he was slowly starting to show a tiny bit of playfulness. Also starting to show his affectionate side by roaching for us and asking for belly rubs. He really started to feel like our dog.
Recently we took a trip in the car to a park about an hour away. He has always been very mixed about the car. Really excited to get in, then within 20 minutes, whining and stressing to get out. Anyways, the same thing occurred on this trip, both ways. We arrived at the park, went for a good hour and a half walk, being patient with him, letting him smell many things, etc.
Now we are back at the car and my wife has to take a call for business. So she goes into the car, and we go sit at a nearby picnic table - in view of the car. Now to be clear this is new, we've never asked him to relax outside while either of us sits anywhe outside. He now starts to stress, he is continually pacing, looking at the vehicle, whining loudly/continuously. Wouldn't take treats, won't lay down( I ask nicely but firmly). After her call she comes and sits at the table with me. He continues to show the same behaviour. Eventually he does lay down, twice, for short periods of time. We do reward him for laying down.
We leave shortly after. Again, building stress in the vehicle.
Now he seems to have regressed back to when we first got him. Very quiet, aloof, a bit timid again. Seems very lethargic. Not interested in play. Slight seperation anxiety when we leave the house now.
He's always seemed to lack confidence but now he seems demoralized... any idea why this would have happened? Any advice on how to help my poor boy?
We adopted our racer(5yr old) about 6 months ago. He is the sweetest most patient dog I've ever been around. It has been a really slow process trying to get him to come out of his shell...
anyways, the past month has been absolutely fantastic, he was slowly starting to show a tiny bit of playfulness. Also starting to show his affectionate side by roaching for us and asking for belly rubs. He really started to feel like our dog.
Recently we took a trip in the car to a park about an hour away. He has always been very mixed about the car. Really excited to get in, then within 20 minutes, whining and stressing to get out. Anyways, the same thing occurred on this trip, both ways. We arrived at the park, went for a good hour and a half walk, being patient with him, letting him smell many things, etc.
Now we are back at the car and my wife has to take a call for business. So she goes into the car, and we go sit at a nearby picnic table - in view of the car. Now to be clear this is new, we've never asked him to relax outside while either of us sits anywhe outside. He now starts to stress, he is continually pacing, looking at the vehicle, whining loudly/continuously. Wouldn't take treats, won't lay down( I ask nicely but firmly). After her call she comes and sits at the table with me. He continues to show the same behaviour. Eventually he does lay down, twice, for short periods of time. We do reward him for laying down.
We leave shortly after. Again, building stress in the vehicle.
Now he seems to have regressed back to when we first got him. Very quiet, aloof, a bit timid again. Seems very lethargic. Not interested in play. Slight seperation anxiety when we leave the house now.
He's always seemed to lack confidence but now he seems demoralized... any idea why this would have happened? Any advice on how to help my poor boy?
