[sublimerstar]

Hello everyone! I would like to introduce myself to the online community, I have two dogs, one rescued, two cats, both rescued, two rats, and fish… needless to say I love pets! My fiancé and I are desperately seeking advice on how to get our Australian Cattle Dog under control. We rescued her last fall after the passing of our 17 year old dog that was also rescued. As for her history, we were told she was found as a stray, then adopted and returned TWICE for behavioral problems and issues, and shows signs of being abused. She also came with a warning that she should not be around children. We love this dog, and I cannot imagine returning her, but she is out of control.

Our first issue with her behavior is when she goes into what we like to call, ‘freak out mode’. Her first freak out occurs almost every morning when she wakes us up, jumping on us, pawing at us, running 100 miles per hour throughout every room, jumping and spinning in the air, turning around full speed on you, scratching your face, body and legs, one can get the idea. I must also mention she does all of this while barking using her super high shrill bark that has almost gotten us evicted on several occasions. She will not look you in the eye when she is acting like this, and will not respond to her name, treats, or commands. We always tell her, ‘no feet’ and have tried holding her feet, holding her, scolding her, shaking a can full of rocks at her, hormone collars, but nothing calms her down. She will continue to do this until she just decides to stop, and returns to a normal dog. This will happen multiple times throughout the day, no matter where she is and who is there. It is scary when she freaks out because we are afraid one day she will seriously hurt our little 3 pound Yorkie by jumping on him in one of her fits, not to mention our future offspring or a guest in our residence. Does anyone have any advice that would help control her? (and no, it’s not because she has to go to the bathroom, she has a different behavior for that and does not freak out before going outside or when she has to)

Our second issue is much like the first one, however it occurs when she is being taken for a walk on a leash. Once she is outside she goes into her outside freak out mode, which apparently is quite common for Australian Cattle Dogs. It is physically exhausting for me to take her on a walk, it’s like a full body workout! She will not stop pulling, she continues to pull even when she is choking or making herself puke because she is pulling so hard. Every time she pulls, I tug on the leash and say, ‘hold on’ and this continues the entire walk. If she sees ANY wildlife, including flying birds, it is over, and I am lucky to keep her leash in my hand as she freaks out. Then the high pitched barking, running, jumping, pulling and everything else starts while I try to hold on. Once again, in this mode she will not respond to her name nor make eye contact. When I start to get too sore and worn out from fighting her, I will wrap the leash around my shoulder in an attempt to keep her under control, this has resulted in welts and rope burns so it is not helping either. We’ve tried walking indoors, taking short practice walks, using treats, changing directions, a no pull harnesses and nothing works. If the dog is inside, she responds just fine to commands, but outside, she is a wild animal. I am not strong enough to walk this dog, the constant pulling of her is taking a toll on my arm, shoulder and wrist. I’ve never met a dog I couldn’t train and that went so out of control as I have been training and showing dogs since a very young age, and to have a dog that doesn’t respond to anything is very frustrating. I am not looking forward to another winter of her pulling me down on the ice. Is there any hope of this getting better? (and no, it’s not because she doesn’t have enough exercise, the dog runs at least 3 miles a day, while pulling a grown man, on top of play time and chasing the kittens around)

The final issue really worries us, as the dog is petrified of precipitation. We guess that’s what you could call it, basically, she hides in the smallest place she can find, once I had to pull her out of the enclosed litter box, and does nothing but put her head down and shake. The anxiety she experiences is enough to make you want to cry when you at her. She will do this when it’s 90 degrees and sunny outside if there is a storm in the next county, city, or state. Thunderstorms, rain, light drizzle, even overcast days are all equally as terrifying for her. The vets suggested medication, but I refuse to medicate a dog for this. They have also suggested conditioning her to thunderstorms with a cd, but that hasn’t helped her being afraid of rain that isn’t even here yet. This is the only time she doesn’t pull on a leash…

I am at my wits end, mentally and physically, trying to control this dog! Please help! Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, but I must say I am one of those lucky people to graduate college during the recession so I am unemployed and totally broke!

Thanks

[german sheep]

she has a big conflict and does not know what the day will bring together with the owner and tries to find a way out of this conflict by spinning around the way she does. She has pure stress and her level is so high that she needs the movement and her jumping and shrill barking to handle her accumulation of drive.

You can try to break this ritual:

occurs almost every morning when she wakes us up

don't let her wake you up, do it with her before she comes to you in that you take her imediately on the leash and walk, run run run with her through the house, save the yorki!!!
OR You can do the same with your dog what she does to you. When she barks and makes stress, drive her stress level higher by screaming and running, jumping after her and pushing (carefully but not soft) her so long until she calms down. Every time she gets on your nerves you repeat your behavior promptly, be loud, be indignand so that she has the possibility to learn that her attitude has consequences and her stress will grow instead of
getting low.
When you see her coming to a point of being a little be more "relaxed" stop and hunker down and invite her to come to you. Offer her some food. Does she start again you start again. Do it as long as you see she gives up.

Yes I know doing this in the early morning is a challenge (lol) but I have no other idea without seeing your dog.

Maybe the second issue will blow over when the first one is solved because a dog makes no differnce between inside and outside. Use treats to praise her.

For the last question use the leash yes inside the house too and move move move. Go ahead and don't take too much consideration of her. If she comes to you praise her with a treat and go on. Don't say anything but move. When you recognize that she orientates on you give her the possibility to find safety at your leg and lay your hand on her shoulder or give her a pat on the side.

LG
gs