An Anxious Lakeland terrier: Brainstorming A Solution
LH
is a fun, athletic, sweet, well-mannered little dog. She has always
been The Perfect Traveller. She has never been carsick.
Last month, when I took a couple dogs with me in the car for the day,
Tea started to pant and whine in the car. She panted for the entire
hour. She was still amped up after the car stopped and she hung out
in her crate in the car for a while.
Odd... I wondered if she was worried about the different crate or
location in the vehicle. I had moved her to the back of the vehicle,
because I had only 2 dogs instead of 3 dogs with me. Maybe the sound
and vibration were different in back, I thought, but she'll get used
to it. Not so much.
A few trips later, I switched Tea back to her usual position and
crate. Slightly better, but not fixed.
Then, I realized that the crate dolly in the back of the car was
occasionally moving and banging against a crate. So, I secured the
dolly and padded it. Maybe slightly better, but the dog wasn't
fixed.
She wears a long line, and the weighted collar. These help. She will
still eat treats, so I know that she isn't completely over the top.
I've been taking the dog on more trips in the past 6-8 months, and our
usual destinations are not exciting to us humans- a ride to the
grocery store or a ride to pick up the kid or drop him off. Sometimes
the dog gets out, and many times, she doesn't. Once in a while, we go
someplace where there are dogs (like the drop-in rally run-throughs),
or we go for a hike.
It seems that the dog is (still) fine when I initially put her in the
crate in the car. As soon as I turn on the vehicle, the panting and
whining begin. Every time, every trip, every segment of every trip.
(It is possible that she could generalize her anxiety to simply being
put into the crate- I don't want to go there!).
I'm going to completely back up to the basics to fix this problem.
I'm going to put her into the crate in the car when I go out to get
the mail. Then, I'll start the car and turn it off, go back in the
house. Meanwhile, we'll continue the driving trips.
There is a possibility that Tea has become so very excited by the
possibility of "Going Somewhere" and the possibility that the
destination is Very Exciting. Or it was the banging crate dolly, or
the different location in the vehicle, or maybe she did feel carsick
one day. Whatever it is, only she knows and she can't tell me! It is
possible that the anxiety and excitement was building inside of her
little head, and something triggered it to be fullblown anxiety that I
could see and hear.
The other dogs remain normal, easy travellers. Carter used to get
carsick- in fact, he associated the sight of his crate *in the house*
with being carsick, and would become nauseous (salivating, drooling,
headshaking) when I put his travel crate in the living room.
Today, I took all 3 dogs to the rally run-through, and just stood
around talking to people. (I learned about water trials and training
for Portuguese water dogs- fascinating!). I gave each dog a turn out
of the car. Parker the Airedale doesn't really need this, but the 2
Lakelands can always benefit from getting out to do Nothing
Exciting.
I wanted to share this with you, because I know we have people who
read the forum, and some new people. We don't always know the reasons
why dogs do what they do. We can't blame the dog or get mad at the
dog. We have to step back and look for a solution- it may take time
to fix a problem. But, we can't sit back and watch a problem get
worse. We have to act, think and brainstorm.
Lisa
Sara Peterka
The trip up went well no problems along the way. At the show went pretty well, there were 6 shows in 3 days. One of the shows I had a friend handle her and he was fluffing/combing her coat right outside the ring and a someone turned on their velocity dryer (motor was right by the 9 month old). The pup freaked out a bit, but settled down enough to go in the ring.
Then on the way home we made it to the border and there was a bit of a jam waiting to cross. The agent was slow and asked several questions. The sun was shining on the crates through the window.
At the border she started with an anxiety thing. I told her easy and quiet and she was not. I stopped and put a long line on her and she settled down.
No problems later driving to Pat's about 6 or 7 hours.
Then a couple months later I took her to the airport, and she had a full blown anxiety attack. Nothing seemed to work. So I tipped her for about 15 minutes and then she was fine again.
Sara
Pat Rock
happily traveled for several years, and then all of a sudden started
panting and whining during every trip. One of them we think was triggered
by traveling to her new home not in a crate but in the back seat.(she was 3
years old, had travelled extensively with me to shows.) The other one we
never figured out what might have been the trigger. She never changed homes
and lived as a pet.
Love to hear what people can contribute.
shel
I know we have been talking about this. I don't think I asked if you
had or had not. Do you think cracking the window slightly might
help? My thoughts are possibly some car sickness. Can you try a bed
with a tether for a short period and see if that helps rather than the
crate? I have seen a couple of lakies who pant and vomit
consistently in the crate adjust quite well to tethering in the rear
seat. I know not ideal with Parker, Carter, and often Shay in the
car. But maybe it is worth a try to see if she can be slowly
transitioned back if that works.
Go figure. These Lakies will never allow you to rest completely on
your laurels.
-shel
LMcCain
She was great on trips and took many of them, then one trip to Pat's,
she started the panting and shaking, drooling, etc.
I took her on rides in the front seat, tethered, several times. She
relaxed in the car. After she went on several uncrated trips without
any issues, I matter-of-factly crated her again on a trip. She
started to pant, I told her YOU BE EASY. She settled down and went to
sleep and that was the end of the problem for her.
Basically, we broke the cycle with the uncrated trips, made trips
pleasant again, then interrupted the negative behavior right away when
it started rather than letting is escalate.
Lynn
LH
fixing this...
breaking the cycle.
One possibility may be that I need to stop taking the dog in the car
for a period
of time. Many times, stopping the activity that triggers undesirable
behavior allows
that undesirable behavior to extinguish itself. Or, it may not.
We'll see!
It also does not matter now to me or the dog what started the
behavior.
Lisa
Andrea Mitzen
I have the same problem with Kendal and I've never figured out why or how to fix it. I am not sure she ever didn't stress pant in the car. I've had her in the crate, on the back seat, in my lap (not while driving), makes no difference. Despite all the work I did with her in the Sherpa bag before I took her to Pat's on the plane she still stress panted all the way from Amsterdam to Chicago. If I catch her not panting I tell her good girl and I try to always tell her she's fine. I did try once to give her a peanut butter kong for the ride but she ignored that entirely.
I do find it an interesting trait though somewhat disturbing. I'll be interested to see how this discussion progresses.
Andrea
Sara Peterka
The worst case of car anxiety I ever had was Murphy, the rescue. I worked on her from several different angles. I opened the van doors and let her jump in and out and she decided she wanted to sit in the drivers seat, when she was free to leave the vehicle.
I tied her in the passenger seat and weighed her down, and used the double line to enforce easy.
I tied her in the back of the van and had Vedette tell her to be easy. (btw, that was the most effective and least amount of work for me)
She rode in the crate with weight and a line to enforce easy.
It took a while to generalize her to ride calmly in the vehicle, but she learned.
Since Tea is mostly good, I wouldn't think it would take that much to get her settled back down.
Sara
LH
Lakelands are a pain in the rear... they are prone to anxiety, even
when raised well. My Welsh terriers
NEVER manifested anxiety like this. NEVER. And they tended to remain
fairly "the same" as adults.
It amazes me that a well-adjusted, happy, adult Lakeland will pick
"something" to get anxious about and then
make it a challenge for the owner to solve.
Really, does someone think I still need a challenge like this!?
Lisa
Kathy Davis
Andrea Mitzen
Sara Peterka
Kathy,
Thank-you so much for looking after Duncan. I am assuming that is the 14 y/o guy who's owner recently passed away? Anyway, I hope you enjoy him, he sounds like a very nice dog.
Sara
Sue
or can I- oh yes..... Give the little lady lots of encouragement- she
will need it!
Sue
shel
discussions?
-shel
Janis Moore
him giving us any issue about riding in cars or creating a new phobia.
He would pant when he got excited about a walk, etc. He would prance
when he wanted attention.
Hum............ this makes me think about Cassidy. My Wires have never
really had anxiety issues, other than Jamie and light flashes and that
turned out to be because she was siezure prone and I had no clue until
she actually had a siezure.
Sounds like I will be tested by Cassidy in ways that I am not used
too. As always this lists sure gives me some hints on Lakies.
Janis
Melissa
be great in the car, over the last year not so much. She whines and
sounds pathetic. I discovered early on that she gets sick in the
crate, so I use a strap that attaches to the seat belt clasp. Once I
put her in the front seat thinking she'd be happier closer to me - a
big NO NO, as air bags can kill a dog - but it made no difference. She
still whined.
Last weekend we drove to Las Vegas to visit friends. We took Jemima.
It is about a 4 hour trip. She whined the entire time she was awake
(the rest of the time she slept). We gave her several stern "knock it
off's" and "you're fine" and tugs on her line. She did not care, she
continued. She wasn't panting or drooling, though. Needless to say we
were not looking forward to the trip home. That blasted little monkey
didn't make a peep !!! What the heck??? That same afternoon, I took
her with me and she was an angel !!!
The next day, we took her to a vet appt. Thank goodness Tom was
driving. It was raining pretty hard, the traffic was horrible and
Jemima HATES windshield wipers. Her sharp, shrill bark in an enclosed
area was excruciating. I tried telling her in my firmest voice "You're
fine, knock it off", but she was having none of it. I used a towel to
keep her eyes covered and she calmed down. I did not know what else to
do. I was reminded of Pia's wrapping Ziggy in a towel when the
fireworks upset her. At the time I thought it was similar to swaddling
a baby - it does calm them down and they do feel safe when swaddled,
but I guess there was a better way to handle it.
I've taken her in the car twice since then and she's been perfect. Go
figure. But regarding anxiety - if this is anxiety - Jemima has so
many triggers that we are constantly working on. Once one is conquered
a new one crops up. When she hears any of the following sounds she
goes crazy, tied or not.
The squeegee in the shower
One particular drawer in the kitchen
Windshield wipers
Sliding glass door
One particular kitchen cupboard
The utility closet
The ironing board
and more I can't think of right now
Shel helped us with the trash trucks and the hose, but we still have
to be very vigilant and stay on top of it so she doesn't slip back. I
guess this sounds like a real rant. I guess it kind of is. Jemima is
still the cutest, sweetest, rascal, scoundrel, scamp I know. When she
comes onto my lap and puts her paws on my shoulder and tries to lick
my face, I can't believe what a little criminal she can be. I wish I
knew what it is that she is trying to teach me. I could learn a lot
faster if I had any idea what it is.
Melissa
shel
Put a second calmer on Jemima now in your home. Put that Calmer on in
the car. That dog is playing you and Tom. No more freedom. No
going without two calmers on her. If you don't have two come pick one
up from my house. Or meet me on my way to Orange Saturday. Order
one from Pat right away. I think you do have at least two if I am
correct. If two is not enough then I suggest you add even more
weight.
I do not remember Jemima making too much of a issue in the car. I
think once we got beyond my street she was quiet. I also had a second
line and a calmer or two without question. Remember it is called a Q-
Calmer for a reason.
For one use less verbal commands. One time is sufficient to say KNOCK
IT OFF. After that the dog wonders if you can back it up. Can you?
With a second line you can speak a whole lot less. Remember that.
There is no nagging or repetition.
When you speak it should be to tell her that she is Good. Even if it
is for a minute of quiet. That is the reward. That is the attention
she really should be seeking and needs.
She also wore not one but two Calmers and added weight if needed at my
home and was EASY all of the time. Then she wore one. If the
behavior changed, I slipped back on the second calmer. No swaddling,
covering her up is going to end that. You are only giving in to
her being more and more demanding. Jemima will find more and more
things to make a commotion about. She will not be that fun to live
with no matter how cute or loving she is. It gets old quick.
She is teaching you that she can adapt quickly to get you and Tom to
react to her nonsense. She is getting attention and whether it is
good or bad it does not matter to her. So if you say "Knock it
Off" but she is able to continue then she is being rewarded.
Remember what I told Wendy. You need to praise her for the GOOD
behavior more often than you correct her for the negative. So many
people sound uncertain when they praise their dogs. We are not always
comfortable with it. Why. A dog doesn't think we are giving face or
being facetious. It is the only way they can really be certain that
YOU APPROVE of the appropriate behavior.
It would be a lot easier if you treated her like she was going to go
live with someone else. Raise that dog like she is not for you. Would
you be setting her up to be successful in someone else's home?
I want you to call me later.
-shel
Bonnie
Hmmm......reading my mind. Not my type of challenge anymore. My WFoire
Fox ALSO never had issues like this, including nearly all the rescues.
SMOOTH FOX have been a different story, and I don't mean just Simon. I
look for simplifying my life. As much as I LOVE the look of a
Lakeland, I don't see another in my future. One was enough.
FORTUNATELY, Shel and Janis have enough energy to cover for us. <g>
Bonnie
Bonnie
ones. I've taken in so many seniors, over the years, and they are the
best. Thanks from all us! Bonnie
Janis Moore
calmers and praising good behavior; that is very important. If you do
give a verbal correction and cannot back it up, you are rewarding bad
behavior.
Sabrina my first Wire taught me control is my goal, and praise is the
control I want. Once she understood that she was NOT the center of
attention by behaving badly, she turned a corner and realized that
doing what I wanted put her in the center of attention and you could
teach her a trick in less than 10 minutes. She did test me all the
time though, she was a high energy Wire Fox, smart, quick and wanted
to learn.
Janis
Sue
You will be most fortunate- you are getting a trained lakie and you
have the knowledge that Pat has given all of us.
When you get Cassidy home, you will have that two month honeymoon. If
you are vigilant, things will go well- She will assume that you know
the rules and that life will be good under those rules. If however,
you fall for the "I am so cute and sweet trick" she will try, then
your life will become more complex.
You understand the process, but they are very cagey- if they sense a
weakness, they will exploit it- it is what makes them so interesting
and engaging. Never boring. It is one of the reasons I adore them.
Sue
Melissa
, but they are very cagey- if they sense a
> weakness, they will exploit it- it is what makes them so interesting
> and engaging. Never boring. It is one of the reasons I adore them.
AMEN !!!!!!! Sue you are soooo right !
Melissa