I'm not sure whats up with Lace.

[sibs]

The last week or so Lace has not been herself out on walks. She seems fine in the house and bounces around, eating drinking etc fine. Sometimes she doesn't want to go out at all. Other times she wants to go but after 10 mins or so really pulls to go home, sometimes wimpers and shakes. She is fine in the garden
She has had arthiticky issues with her wrist but I don't think thats the problem as she is weight bearing.
Today she had her annual vacs, chip check and mot but Mrs vet couldn't find anything to worry.
the only other thing I can think of was that one morning a few weeks back we were out and there was a clap of thunder and lightening. However the following days she was fine.
Any thoughts?
My inclination is to take her out for a short walk but not force it and this we have been doing. To do this we are walking the dogs separately as Max really needs more exercise and if Lace and I peel off he wants to follow .

[sharron]

was there any other little noises, like a bus or noisy car. after this type of noise any small noise can trigger this response. Also how did you react to her, and how do you react to her name. this can also fuel the problem. Even if not intentional.

[sibs]

I can't think of any other significant noises. We do live in London so noisy anyway, but have wood and common 4 houses down from us. I'm not sure what you mean about react to her name. I tend to be matterfact and not try to comfort but I guess its not easy critiquing ones own handling skills. Weve had plenty of practice with Max who was a bag of nerves when we got him and still stalls if there is a strange human nearby.

[sharron]

i dont know what i meant either. brain working faster then the hands can type me thinks.

I would do small walks and build it up again, so that she can build up her confidence again.

[Lisa]

Sibs your handling it *EXACTLY* right. Lace is a very sensitive girl with such a murky history that its always going to be hard to know what pushes her from her up front bravado back to that scared little girl. It could be something so simple and suttle that we cant put our fingers on.

Take her out on short walks, keep her within her comfort zones, most importantly watch her body language constantly try to get her back home before her anxiety levels build. Once your comfortably back out for 10 minutes push another 2 then another 2 and gradaully build her back up.

The other thing that may be worth talking with the vet about just to be sure is that although she has arthritis in the wrist that that hip repair isnt giving her a bit of grief. Maybe speak to them about trying her on a pain killer or if she is already on it upping it slightly for a week or two and see if that makes a difference.

[sibs]

Thank you both for the reassurance. Yesterday am took her around the streets on her own. She loves streetwalking as she knows she might bump into a cat and she was fine. I and T took Max and her for the pm walk which is always shorter and again fine. She is on Rimadyl 1 bd and I have her on Chondroitin supplement as well and this seemed to make a big difference over the cold weather. Because she is such a bouncy feisty girl it is so marked when she is not right. Max on the otherhand we are used to being scewed up that we just factor that in automatically though I have been able to get him to walk past people recently without stalling.I will keep you updated