Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!yale!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89!Carla.Campbell From: Carla.Campbell@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Carla Campbell) Newsgroups: misc.handicap Subject: Wimp-dog Message-ID: <16069@bunker.UUCP> Date: 3 Dec 90 16:56:45 GMT Sender: wtm@bunker.UUCP Reply-To: Carla.Campbell@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org Distribution: misc Organization: FidoNet node 1:129/89 - BlinkLink, Pittsburgh PA Lines: 77 Approved: wtm@bunker.UUCP Index Number: 12154 [This is from the Blink Talk Conference] Hi, peoples. A question for yous: Y'all might remember my talking about my wonderful mutt-guide, Chance (aka Furrface, Fuzzy Fanny, etc). As I have gloated on previous occasions, he is a fantastic guide. He's also quite a character, if a well-behaved one. Recently, though, I have noticed a growing problem. He is _terribly_ afraid of sharp 'cracking' noises-- fireworks, circus-animal tamer-type bull whips (in a circus setting! sheesh! Get yer minds back outa that gutter!), gunshots, etc. He used to just sort of quiver when he heard such sharp cracks, but he has taken to violently shaking and trying to hide or run away from them. The other night we were at the theater, and two blanks were fired onstage. I thought he was going to tear up the seats, trying to crawl under them to hide. Even Scott playing with Silly Putty and popping the bubbles in it makes him start to shiver and hide under my desk. He has not always been _this_ unsettled by such sounds. He is unphased by cars back-firing, loud drums, screeching synthesizer noises, drills, motorbikes, etc. But his fear of the sharp noises seems to be getting worse. I have no idea what made him so scared of these things, as he has never been hurt by anything like that while I have had him, and yet it is getting to the point of being a problem. I hate to see him so petrified and, while I can still control him, it is awkward in theater situations, and the like. I hate to think of what he would do if he was actively, rather than passively working when something like that 'went off' near him. As I have said, he has not always been skittish like this about these noises-- he spent his first 4 working years in the theater, where he heard many blanks being fired, and gave them little notice. But now I am afraid he will give himself a heart attack quivering and drooling in terror the way he does. I pet him and try to reassure him throughout such things as fireworks displays, but he seems 'beyond reach' when he really gets upset like that. I try, also, to keep him out of such situations, but the occasional sound like that is inevitable if you go to fairs and shows, and I don't relish the thought of limiting my activities to those which are sharp-noise free.Does anyone have any advice on breaking him of this? Would increased exposure to these sounds with accompanying praise help, or would it just make him worse? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. On a happier note, we discovered today that he _loves_ to go 'biking'. Scott and I rented a tandem bike down by the beach (we are in Los Angeles, visiting relatives over the 4-day weekend). We rode, and I looped the leash around my wrist. Chance ran alongside and enjoyed the romp. He was _great_ about not running in front of the bike, behind it, or pulling to the side. I just called directions to him when we were about to turn, and turn, he did. He, as when working, ignored the dogs and children about, and ran alongside us, just at the end of his long leash, but with it slightly slack. We had to stop and let him rest more than we would have stopped if we had left him behind, but for an almost-nine-year-old pooch, he did quite well-- hardly got winded. We stopped two or three times in the mile or so we rode, and he seemed to love it, romping alongside us and wagging the old tail and tongue in the breeze. I was, frankly, surprised at how well it worked. I was worried that 'ya just can't teach old dogs new tricks', and was prepared to forgo the biking if it looked like it would be dangerous or unpleasant for the mutt. Now I wanna run out and get that bike I've been talking about for a year and a half. Of course, we'd have to limit ourselves to one-mile trips with frequent stops if we took 'im along... that, or get a baby trailer for him! (Just kidding! Just kidding! Don't everyone leap at me at once screaming 'canine torture!"-- for that, I have Silly Putty. ) --Carla -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!129!89!Carla.Campbell Internet: Carla.Campbell@f89.n129.z1.fidonet.org Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com