Hello, Could use some ideas on how to help Brodie

[Chris]

Hi,
I am new to ABC and wonder is anyone has any hints/ ideas that might help Brodie, my 9 year old BC. I have had him for a year now, he suffered significant abuse at the hands of his previous owner and in rough shape when he came to me.
He was very skittish, frightened and unwilling to trust us for a several months. There were also fear agression issues that I sought the help of a behaviorist to help me understand the stress triggers that brought the aggression on. I also made dietary changes that seemed to help calm him.He has made great progress and is a much happier fellow now. But I have a couple of concerns, he still does not nap! He will lay down and rest during the day, but does not sleep. Is this typical? Also he loves to ride in the car but will not sit or lay down - we drove over 200 miles with him and he stood the entire time. He looked out the window and slobbered the whole time. How can we help him relax and lay down while riding in the car. Any ideas, hints would be more than welcome. I really want him to relax and enjoy his time with me.

[Patches2003]

Hello and welcome! A thundershirt could help http://www.thundershirt.com/lpm/ but I realize you probably want him to chill without that. How much exercise does he get?

[Chris]

(01-30-2012 06:46 PM)Patches2003 Wrote:  Hello and welcome! A thundershirt could help http://www.thundershirt.com/lpm/ but I realize you probably want him to chill without that. How much exercise does he get?

Thanks Patches. He gets several good play sessions a day with my husband-he loves to chase tennis balls so my husband tosses until Brodie takes the ball back to the house to indicate he has had enough.

[GreensMom]

Green was terribly timid...beyond timid when we adopted him. It sounds like you are doing everything right. Please let me thank you for giving Brody a loving home.

[Oenoke]

Hi and welcome.

It sounds like you and Brodie have come a long way already.

[Hollythebc]

Hello and welcome, sounds like you are doing well, some people used crates in the car, or a car harness, i don't know what they are like though because i don't use either, and of course it would depend on how happy your dog would be in either of these.

[wolftexas]

Is he crate trained? Sometimes it's nice for them to have a safe spot all their own that they feel is their little cave. Then whatever bedding he is used to having in his crate you can put in the back seat when leaving in the car. It is possible to rehabilitate them but every dog is different. You just have to keep trying different methods until you find the one that works for your friend. Thank you for rescuing him! It is hard to place older dogs especially when they have behavioral issues. It sounds like you are doing a great job!

[Chris]

We have never tried a crate with Brodie as we were unsure if one was used a punishment- when I first saw him he was 15 pounds underweight and his back parts were literally covered in his own dirt. Clearly he had been tied up on a short chain or crated for very long periods to get in that state. I am concerned that presenting a crate would cause him to regress - am I worrying too much?

[wolftexas]

I would try one but not force it on him. Start by keeping it in a room you are staying in with a nice bed. Occasionally place a treat in it or toss one of his favorite toys in it. If he acts afraid of it just don't stand behind him where he is between you and the crate until he is more comfortable with it. Sometimes it takes time. I know you must have plenty of patients with the work you've already managed to accomplish with him. Once they get used to them most dogs really like them. My pit bull didn't start using one until she was well into adult hood and now it's where she prefers to sleep. She doesn't have to worry about getting stepped on or asked to move. It is her spot. Raider, my border collie, was very shy when I first rescued him. I would take him with me almost everywhere. I would just leave him in his wire crate though. Even if the door was open he wouldn't come out. It allowed him to watch all the other people or animals at my friends houses but not have to directly interact with anything. He liked the feeling of safety and like he was hiding from the ongoing events.

This was Raider after I had only had him 2-1/2 days. We were decorating for Halloween and he is exposed to my friends helping but comfortable in his lil box. At this point he would only let me pick him up or touch him and he would cower to a corner or in the bushes first before I could get him.

[youngK9]

Hi and welcome.

My little girlie has ALOT of issues. Some of them are fear aggression so I know how you feel. I was at an Agility trial this past weekend and something scared Athena very badly and I am not sure what it was and she was scared to run, so I was talking to one of my friends and she gave me this stuff called "Rescue Remedy" ( http://www.nelsonsnaturalworld.com/en-us...escue-pet/ ) And I put 2 squirts in her mouth and after about 10 minutes I noticed her to start to settle down. She wasn't as anxious and scared. But she was not sleepy either. She was just calm. I will reccomend this for ANYONE who has a scared, nervous dog. It really works. You might want to look into some. I hope this helps!

[Chris]

Thank you, I will give this a try.

[Kieraaa]

(02-01-2012 06:58 PM)youngK9 Wrote:  Hi and welcome.

My little girlie has ALOT of issues. Some of them are fear aggression so I know how you feel. I was at an Agility trial this past weekend and something scared Athena very badly and I am not sure what it was and she was scared to run, so I was talking to one of my friends and she gave me this stuff called "Rescue Remedy" ( http://www.nelsonsnaturalworld.com/en-us...escue-pet/ ) And I put 2 squirts in her mouth and after about 10 minutes I noticed her to start to settle down. She wasn't as anxious and scared. But she was not sleepy either. She was just calm. I will reccomend this for ANYONE who has a scared, nervous dog. It really works. You might want to look into some. I hope this helps!

Do u think the rescue remedy would help with dogs who bark at other dogs out of fear ??

[trickytrip]

Welcome a-border from Silky and me.