Dog Community

moved to city from country

Posted : 8/8/2006 9:47:25 PM

So, my three year old Golden Retriever, Roxie, just moved with me to the city. She stayed with my parents last year but now that I can have her in my new apartment she's moved with me. She's always been scared of everything, very easily spooked. As you can guess walking her is very difficult. She will try to turn around and book it back to the apartment while dragging me along with her. Does anyone have any good tips for me? For accomidating her to this new life. I'm worried she wont be happy with me here.

Janet Bradley

Posted : 8/11/2006 8:51:25 PM

Sunny was at first afraid of traffic and strange sounds. Before she came to New Orleans to live with me she was at a rescue group in the country for 3 months on a dirt road that was very quiet! I would use treats for your dog. Bring treats on your walk and distract her. Get her to watch you or practice simple commands. She will be distracted by the simple act of sitting or lying down and then will focus on the reward. Walks may have to be short at first until you desensitize her to the new sounds. Read "The Cautious Canine" by Patricia McConnell for more detailed info on how to desensitize. Now if I could just desensitize to fireworks!

Sarah Jarrell

Posted : 8/11/2006 9:10:30 PM

I've tried the treat thing and she just ignores them, lets them fall right out of her mouth. She can't focus on anything besides doing everything she can to get us back inside. I'll check out that book. Something I read while researching this problem is playing the sounds that scare them and increasing the volume slowly over time, I don't know, that may help you. But, thanks for the advice. : )

Janet Bradley

Posted : 8/11/2006 9:14:50 PM

Have you tried super tasty treats--like people food--hotdogs or small pieces of cheese or chicken or roast beef, etc? At first Sunny ignored treats unless they were really good. Now that she is more comfortable any treat works. I would try the good stuff if you haven't already. And, yes, you can get a CD or make one yourself of city sounds and start it at a very low volume and work your way up to desensitize. I would think there is more of a protocol than that, but I am not sure. Another option would be to use clicker training in conjunction with treats. I have not used that but I have seen it used. There is another book recommended frequently called "Click to Calm" that I have been meaning to get. I don't know the author.

Sarah Jarrell

Posted : 8/23/2006 8:51:32 PM

Thank you for your advice. It's really been bringing me to tears lately. She's my dog and I don't want to take her back home to my parents. I tried to sit outside with her, but she is still trying to pull me back to the apartment. I want to get her used to it, but I feel like I'm torturing her. I'm thinking of trying to get a trainer to help me, but I really can't afford it.

Geraldine Sim

Posted : 8/28/2006 8:56:10 PM

I know what you mean. I had to bring my dog Katie into the city a few times and I got scared myself at how much she was insisting on running back to the car to go home. I don't know what she is thinking. At one point we were in the middle of the street and she just stopped and put out her front paws to halt from going anywhere. We had to coax her with three people to get her across the street. I think that maybe it might help to get a trainer or at least read that book. I think the noises may be one thing but also do gradually increasing increments of time outside and she will get used to it eventually. Maybe ask Andrea Arden. I hear that she is very good.