Hi all Just had the most awful time with Poppy I think, hope, that she is just frustrated from being on crate and quiet time after op, we went on our evening stroll as usual after she had eaten, quick wee and then finally found a place to poo and then it happens she goes completely bonkers..jumping at me, grabbing the lead out of my hand growling, barking grabbing me, I try to sit her and calm her down and then we set off only for her to start again..and tonight she pulled so so hard, and broke off her collar and was running loose near a main road no recall just barking and running wildly like a dog possessed it was really horrible....I don't know what to do, I suffer from PTSD panic attacks etc so this is not helping me or her im really lost as what to do.....thanks for listening...
Re: In Tears with Poppy's antics Lois, how stressful that her collar broke and she got away... You poor thing. Hope everything is a bit more settled now. Really, it all sounds like normal puppy exuberance. As you said, she has been a bit restricted due to her recent op and she's got lots of mental and physical energy to burn. One thing that might help to burn up a bit of that energy is training her to do a repertoire of tricks. Shake hands, roll over, weave through your legs, touch a target with her nose, high five, take a bow, finding hidden treats on cue. All can be taught in the house and without any pressure (because they'd just for fun) Try putting her brain to work - it has the effect of wearing out the rest of them too
Re: In Tears with Poppy's antics So sorry to hear that you are having a tough time - they can seem very difficult at times! Sometimes Charlie just seems to burst with energy and excitement - it's like there is too much excitement to be contained in one small puppy body. Plus, if Poppy has been on bed rest, it'll be worse, of course. Rachael's suggestions are good ones - things to get her to focus, and listen to you.
Re: In Tears with Poppy's antics Cant add to the good advice Lois, but it will soon be over and she can go for those long energetic romps once more , hang on in there, tomorrow is another day and the horrors of today will soon fade, take care x
Re: In Tears with Poppy's antics Oh No! I read the title of this and thought tears of laughter :-\ So sorry they weren't - you must have been panic-stricken, I know I would have been. Just so glad Poppy is ok. I think there is something in the air as Lilly has been dreadful out off-lead at the moment - using the dark mornings and evenings as an excuse to keep her on a long lead to be honest I would go with Lois's ideas too and try some inside trick work and clicker work as it should wear her out a bit - lots of little short exercises to stop her losing focus though. Hope you have recovered this evening x
Re: In Tears with Poppy's antics Lois, I hope you are ok, nothing else to add just wanted to send my support and hope that tomorrow brings you and Poppy a better day. I have had many, many bad days with Charlie but we keep going and are coming out the other side. Please take care. xx
Re: In Tears with Poppy's antics lois, i can relate to your ptsd, jasper as just turned 11 month old,it took me a long time to relax around him when out on our walks, i have worked on the recall for 9 months, i have just started to have some success with the recall jasper is my first dog, i needed to teach myself to relax more when out on walks with him, poppy will be feeling how anxious you are ??? or may be its her post operation ??? i can just sense how stressed you are feeling this is just my own experience, i am not an experienced dog owner
Re: In Tears with Poppy's antics So sorry to hear this, Lois, how stressful for you!! Sounds like pent-up energy to me, too. Mental games will help, I think, but hopefully she will be able to have her usual routine back soon. Do you have much recouperation time left? Deep breaths.....let us know how today goes!!
Re: In Tears with Poppy's antics Thanks all will def try some tricks today I have looked on you tube and there seems to be some good ones on there. It is a bit of a vicious circle at the moment, My panic attacks have surfaced again after a year or so being fine not quite sure why will never know, so I am on high alert everything is a danger to me Poppy and everything is more difficult, so I guess Poppy picks up on this plays up I lose the plot and then I actually dread taking her out and she picks up on that and off we go again, her swelling has gone down so I am going to let her have a run inside today we have a large warehouse so I will let her run round that,thanks for all your support...thanks Lynn for understanding PTSD not many do I am too a first time dog owner. x
Re: In Tears with Poppy's antics Just to bring you some hope, had my Lab castrated 2+ months ago and he was hell afterwards when allowed some freedom, in fact before that. It will pass I promise. If you can, hide some food or a ball in the warehouse for Poppy to find, that will use up mental energy as well. I do understand how you feel plus your PTSD, as when my 16 week old pup broke his elbow and had to be in cage for a month, then a small room for a month, I nearly had a nervous breakdown with the stress and worry of it all, terrified the screw would come out of his elbow and we would have to go through it all over again. My heart is beating faster with just the memory of it. Who would have dogs!
Re: In Tears with Poppy's antics Much sympathy Lois - walking a dog on a lead in busy places, that is not yet well behaved, can be very stressful at the best of times, I think. The warehouse idea sounds a good one. Have you got any other options like that? Can you, say, drive to a dog park to allow Poppy some exercise when she is recovered from her op? Or a quiet safe place where she can be off lead or on a long line? I wonder if it would be easier if you separate Poppy's training and exercise from "walks". By this I mean maybe you could set aside a short amount of time where you can concentrate on a few small steps of training (if that's lead walking etc), where you have a plan what you are going to do, and other times - when Poppy needs exercise - try to work something out that means you don't have to struggle with her on a lead for long? I hope you find a less stressful way forwards. Best of luck to you.
Re: In Tears with Poppy's antics So sorry Lois. Hopefully this will all calm down once Poppy can get rid of her excess energy again.
Re: In Tears with Poppy's antics At the moment I could easily strangle her....but then she looks at me with her big brown eyes...little Minx..ha ha
Re: In Tears with Poppy's antics Ok all Today Poppy has been really really bad on the lead jumping, grabbing lead, me, growling shes hurt me twice today now at my wits end!! How the hell do I tell her NO so she understands at the moment we end up in a wrestling match with me usually losing out, I have resorted to crating her longer than normal...Help needed urgently...
Re: In Tears with Poppy's antics Oh Lois,I've been out all day today and no forum time,yours is the first I've read.....bloody hell!how,did you get her back.....?god ,I'm a nervous wreck WITHOUT PTSD...already I'm putting a spare collar in my treat bag.....hang on,I'll see if a spare lead fits as well ;D I'm joking to cheer you up,you have had a horrible fright.This is a horrible time recovering from her op...you are reaching the end of the countdown now......that warehouse is going to come into its own to use for training restricting/ exposing her to distractions. theres a post way back from Rachael,in fact I think it was in answer to one of mine when Dexter had given me a scare.Her previous dog ran back to a road they had crossed to lick a squashed scotch finger,I'm chuckling while I'm writing this because it sounds so funny....oh but blimey it's not...it's a story to give you the shivers but it shows you aren't alone......you are never alone on the forum,someone can always sympathise and advise ......I'm good on the sympathizing....not too strong on the advising and sorry Rachael for talking about you as if you aren't here xxx
Re: In Tears with Poppy's antics Sorry we were typing at the same time.....I'm no help Lois,I've never experienced this level of excitement I really think that's all it is and I think she will definitely be picking up on the fact that you are stressed and ticked off.i would say give her some toys and crate her right now so you can have some time to calm down and a break from her and her antics.have you got anybody there with you that can take over for tonight?she's tested you today you poor thing x
Re: In Tears with Poppy's antics Thanks for Sympathy, trust me when we get home after our wrestling match sorry I mean walk...she will be as good as gold and will cuddle up on the sofa with my Hubby he gets all the love I get all the crap...I am finding it all a little too much at the moment...but hey ho there is always tomorrow
Re: In Tears with Poppy's antics They can be little horrors can't they ! Can you get her to the warehouse easily? I would put some toys round it and get her to find them. Do lots of heelwork and sit/stays with no lead on....don't make any of them last too long, keep the pace up but ask her to do lots of things and reward her when she gets it right. If you're worried about her collar breaking again you could use a slip lead instead. There are some that have a stopper both sides of the sliding ring so it wouldn't over tighten like this one. http://www.dapperdog.co.uk/wolters-moxon-reflective-slip-lead.ir They're also quicker and less faff to put on so perhaps less stressful. So hope she calms down a bit for you!!
Re: In Tears with Poppy's antics Quick update...sorry to bore it helps to write it down...I am taking Poppy to the vet tomorrow just in case she's in pain I read if they are a bit grumpy it might be there way of showing pain and it seems to happen after she has a poo so maybe it hurts I don't know but I need my mind put at rest!! But hubby came home and offered to take her for her walk and she behaved like an Angel...no poo but an Angel feel gutted she only plays me up!!! Lets see what tomorrow brings
