I really need some behavioural advice. Below is the narrative of the last year. Its very holistic and covers all bases as Im not entirely sure where the problems have stemmed from and how to resolve them completely. Here is Billy, the teacup Chihuahua. Hes 13 months old and neutered. For the first 6 months of Billys time, he slept in the bed, was allowed on all furniture, mouthed frequently, uncrated, house trained on pee-pads only, and picked up mostly always in the presence of any other large dogs. Note, Billys house life involved an environment where his mouthing wasnt discouraged. Billy showed strong separation anxiety before and after this time, with not wanting to go out on walks with anyone except his owner, whining all night, every day of the week, following his owner around the house and begging to be picked up. Aged 9 months, he had a week with a behaviourist. The behaviourist was called when aged 9 months because he fearfully bit me badly post-op when he was neutered, showed strong territorial aggression with the bed and sofa and wouldnt walk with me alone (even with positive reinforcement). He would lock his legs out on walks and end up being dragged - no treats could encourage him to walk as he wanted to be at home with his owner. Afterwards, he showed some small signs of improvement with housetraining, crating and mouthing. He would still do all of the things previously mentioned, but less frequently or with less intensity. At this point, I continued training him daily, but more frequently, more intensely and with higher rewards. His whole routine was re-worked. Routinal walks, training and discipline. No more furniture, no more jumping up. I began to positively reinforce all wanted behaviours. Crating, sitting, heel, walking on lead - all rewarded. The problem really then came about with his unreliability. He never needed recall for his owner, as he never left her side off lead. With me he would often run off off-lead, as his recall and response is non-existent when in a state of panic. Billy often shows acute panic when without his owner, to sometimes what seem unrecognisable stimuli. However, the most recognisable stimuli are dogs and most people. He has never socialised with any dogs (apart from half which are his size or smaller). I began to work with him on a long leash, treating him when in the presence of other dogs, encouraging him be close to them for high-reward treats etc. We had many steps backwards. Many hard bites when in a fearful state. Once to a child who was petting him, and many to me. We worked on children giving him rewards (he used to be scared of all children). We have also avoided dogs which are too boisterous and have continued to de-sensitise him. Since, he has showed big signs of improvement, especially with his owners help, and now responds to recall most of the time with me even if suddenly in a panic state. He also goes to greet 50% of dogs, nervously and very apprehensively, which is much better than before. The problems still occur with his fearfulness and anxiety. The vet cannot do a simple check-up with him, and I cannot brush his teeth, cut his claws, and take his harness off easily, without receiving a bite. The harness removal used to be a bite-every-time job, but is now better - please see attached video. He has bitten two people on walks recently for petting him (even quite cautiously). My question revolves around how to desensitise him. When presented with an unwanted stimuli, he responds with a head turn/lip lifting snarl/front paw lift/eye glance, if he cant get away. If the stimuli continues to be present, a few lightning fast bites follow. With his owner he used to have his claws cut/be examined etc by being held. He would bite her, but barely making contact. He would bite her harder if he projects it from someone else (the vet or me) to her. I have a taken him to vets the vets a lot recently- we have tried to desensitise him to many things, touch mainly. This involves me treating him constantly whilst he is being presented with whatever stimuli, gradually, but most questionably, telling him sharply no when I see any strong responses such as a snarl. Is this correct - should you just back off when he shows any of those responses? He sometimes mouths or very gently bites his owner/me/anyone else if too excited, not getting attention or most intensely bites to stop things, such as being groomed. What is the best way to stop this? Removing his harness is one of the strangest things - I have rewarded him for tolerating it (he used to not even let me unclip the strap without biting), but as soon as it is removed, he lunges forward and bites, then almost seems to play afterwards. What are the best way to correct these behaviours? A muzzle in the vets is really not something I want to try because I think exposing him to such anxiety-inducing stimuli, and allowing him to try and bite with the muzzle on, is not the answer. It will just make him more anxious and distrusting. Any help or advice would be so helpful. I feel that it is such slow progress and Im not sure whether some things are causing him to be more difficult, or whether were on the right path. Many thanks.
Posted on: Fri, 25 Jul 2014 22:21:06 +0000
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