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  1. #1
    Puppy Melissaanne2442's Avatar
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    Rescue puppy, Violet

    I recently rescued a black lab mix puppy. Her name is Violet and she is now 6 months old. We are pretty confident she was abused. She is terrified of basically everything and her tail usually rests comfortably between her legs. She has been getting into things and destroying them. She chewed through 3 harnesses and ate pieces of them. She luckily threw them up. She has also chewed up the couch, furniture, and shoes. So, we started crating her. She is very anxious when she is put in the crate, she has escaped 3 times, and she even injured herself while she was in there. She cut her snout in two different places while in the crate, assuming while she was trying to get out. Anything we put in the crate to try to make her feel comfortable or to entertain her, she destroys. I’m looking for some advice on what I can do for my baby! Thank you!

  2. #2
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    Hi ~ Welcome to the board. Things slow down here on weekends so be patient while you wait for replies...Monday will pick up.

    I've had two dogs who had/have terrible anxiety.

    The first one had separation anxiety but was non-stop hyperactive/restless. I used a pheromone product for Honey and what was then called an anxiety wrap for separation anxiety. The pheromone product is called D.A.P. Although I used a plug-in version near where the dogs slept, I don't advise that. It's messy...the oil gets on the plug-in and outlet. It comes in collar form and I've seen that one in action. You just leave the collar on. https://www.amazon.com/Adaptil-Calmi...ollar+for+dogs

    The anxiety wrap was the precursor to the ThunderShirt and worked wonders for isolated instances....not a leave-on thing. You need to sensitize your dog to it during calm moments so that it will work during stressful ones. https://www.amazon.com/ThunderShirt-...shirts+for+dog


    Both of these products can be found elsewhere (and you need to be mindful of proper sizes) but Amazon is handy for my purposes.

    My present girl, Sunnie, has what I'd call generalized anxiety. No separation anxiety. (and neither dog was/is destructive) Sunnie is scared of noises, being manipulated (tooth brushing, nails, etc.), changes in routine (taking too long to get her food mixed)...that kind of stuff. The DAP collar was too strong for her...it scared her to think there was an unseen dog around, apparently (I used it when I first got her and she was, unknown to us, pregnant)...and so did a ThunderShirt. Go figure.

    I found a great homeopathic product for Sunnie. It's called PetCalm and it's by PetAlive. I recommend the granules and not the liquid. https://www.nativeremedies.com/petal...-granules.html It's expensive but they always have really good promotions (buy 2 get 1 free is ongoing). You give it away from meals (clean mouth) three times a day. The real obvious change in Sunnie was that she no longer flies out of the kitchen when I open the fridge (!)...she just barely avoids the door touching her.

    I'm sure there are folks here who'll have suggestions for the destructiveness, etc. but I don't have experience with that. I hope with time that Violet will ease into comfort with you and her new surroundings. But some dogs are just wired to be anxious and also have sensitivities (food, skin, hearing, etc.). (I've had Sunnie's puppy Danny since he was about 40 days along still inside her and with age he's developed more and more issues with anxiety, too....and I know for sure there's no "reason" for him to be that way). Unless he's just witnessed Sunnie's bouts of trembling with no apparent cause and it's weirded him out. But I suspect genetics. Per the DNA test, there's Poodle, Aussie, and Husky in the mix...breeds "known" for being sensitive. The one puppy I've been able to keep tabs on has also grown into sensitivity.

    Anyway...welcome to you and Violet.

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  4. #3
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    Something else that's good for such things as thunderstorms and fireworks (proven by me) is an herbal calming collar. It's probably good also for generalized anxiety but I haven't really used it for such. I would not recommend it until Violet's destructiveness has lessened. It can come unadjusted rather easily (our guys' collars loosen with just calm movements/sleeping) and perhaps get kicked off and destroyed. These do work, though...and smell good, too!
    https://www.calmingcollars.com/home/...pink_paw_print

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  6. #4
    Senior Dog Shelley's Avatar
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    Unfortunately with a rescue dog, you just never know. Temperament is highly heritable, so if the parents has good temperaments, or piss poor temperaments, that influences the puppy's temperament. If a baby puppy then young dog is not socialized properly, and not just to people and other dogs, but to environments, unusual noises and situations, they will be afraid of everything, because they have no experience with that. It doesn't mean she was abused, it could also be a genetic roll of the dice, and lack of proper social skills.

    A 6 month old puppy should be crate trained for their own safety, for the reason you stated, chewing things she shouldn't, etc... If she wasn't properly introduced to the crate it will be more difficult to crate her now. She also sounds like she has separation anxiety which complicates crate training too.

    You should consult an animal behaviorist to help out with desensitizing the crate, and help with building confidence, and socialization. They can help you help her adjust, and give you techniques to reduce her fear, (by not coddling or reassuring her etc...) A small training class would benefit you both too, build your bond, and teach her manners and social skills.

    Barb has some great ideas too

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  8. #5
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    congrats on the new adidition, sorry things are not going too smoothly.

    The behaviour you describe doesn't actually indicate physical abuse. She may just have had zero socialisation. And a dog not used to people, places, sounds can behave just like that (depending on their temperment as well - nature and nurture)

    Do you have a small room you can dog proof for now? Crating will take time and while I encourage your to crate train, it will take time and you won't be able to "use it" until the dog is properly desensitized

    For crate desentization I woudl follow this step by step but spend days if not weeks at each step. She is already anxious and having been crated without desensitization she is already associating crate to bad feelings so now you'll need to go SUPER slow and positive.
    Crate Training 101 : The Humane Society of the United States

    some more ideas Crate Training- Part 1- Clicker dog Training - YouTube

    I'd also greatly consider this one: How to train your dog to be left alone- clicker training - YouTube

    Separation Anxiety Behavior Modification Training - YouTube


    This is a great short book with dealing with SA and options.
    https://www.amazon.ca/Ill-Be-Home-So.../dp/1891767054

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  10. #6
    Senior Dog Tanya's Avatar
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    I have heard great things about this trainer about SA. I think they also do online consults but her page has tons of info
    Separation Anxiety - What Not to Do - Malena DeMartini

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    Java (01-27-2018)

  12. #7
    Puppy Melissaanne2442's Avatar
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    Thank you all for your replies and ideas. Violet was doing okay in the crate, and then she started realizing she could escape from it, so that has been her main focus. She was willingly going into the crate when we gave her the command we chose, then one day that changed and she no longer goes in when we first tell her to, and sometimes she even runs upstairs and we need to go get her and walk her back down to her crate. We do throw treats in there so she will go in and get them, and we finally thought we had it secured. But, tonight, she managed to squeeze her body through the top of the crate and jump out of the top, luckily not hurting herself, but I know we may not always be that lucky. She has to be crated for her safety, but now I am equally as concerned with her hurting herself while trying to escape. Has anyone ever had a dog escape from their crate?

  13. #8
    Senior Dog Jollymolly's Avatar
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    I had a puppy that climbed up the side of the crate and out the top till I pearlised the crate was upside down. I learnt my lesson fast. I found that having a blanket over the crate helped calm Molly in her early puppy phase. While her crate was in my room I bought a piece of wood and used the top of her crate as a table top.

    Good luck

  14. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jollymolly View Post
    I had a puppy that climbed up the side of the crate and out the top till I pearlised the crate was upside down. I learnt my lesson fast. I found that having a blanket over the crate helped calm Molly in her early puppy phase. While her crate was in my room I bought a piece of wood and used the top of her crate as a table top.

    Good luck
    I wonder if this is why I never really had issues with pups in the crate. I always put a cover over three sides (mostly to keep air from a vent blowing on it) and took advantage of the table space afforded by the top.

    [It took me a minute to realize...hah...that "pearlised" was probably Spell Check converting "realized"....at first I thought you'd done something arts-and-craftsy with the crate.]

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  16. #10
    Puppy Melissaanne2442's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jollymolly View Post
    I had a puppy that climbed up the side of the crate and out the top till I pearlised the crate was upside down. I learnt my lesson fast. I found that having a blanket over the crate helped calm Molly in her early puppy phase. While her crate was in my room I bought a piece of wood and used the top of her crate as a table top.

    Good luck
    we tried putting a blanket over the top to cover the sides, but she pulled it down into the crate and shredded it.

 



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