Thanks for asking Joan. Her excessive smelling of the furniture legs and some times the walls is considered a weird seizure disorder. I am constantly reading more and more on the subject. She does it more when she is excited, or even if she should feel rejected...for example, if I tell her to go to her bed, or just can't pet her at the moment that she ask. Now I am reading that it is considered brain damage from the actual seizure. Some days she displays the behavior, including banging her head on me or her bed and the excessive smelling and excessive licking, can be less and other days it is almost non stop.
Her diet is is important, because she had borderline readings for her liver. Although the Vet didn't think that it was serious enough to do anything about it, apparently he was wrong. They didn't think that she had liver stents either. When I did my research, and found out that that a dog that has any type of liver issues should be on a low protein and low fat diet, I changed her kibble food and stopped giving her any type of meat treats, she went a whole year of acting like a normal happy little chi. Then I gave her the new natural milkbone treats and the weird behaviour started again. Some one had posted they found articles about Rosemary causing seizures in dogs and cats. So again I did more research and could only find two articles that could back that up. Meantime, every single 'natural' dog kibble and dog treat on the market has Rosemary in it. I feel that the Rosemary is a culprit to, because last year when I experimented in giving her natural treats that contained it, she always got worse. Once I switched her back to the regular plain milkbone and a different kibble with even less protein and less fat, the weird behavior subsided, but she still isn't like she was for the past year. So I am inclined to think that she does have some permanent brain damage and we will just have to live with that. She is very much aware of what is going on all the time and responds all the time when I call her, even if she is smelling the legs on all the furniture, so that is a big improvement as at the beginning there was no response from her. She hasn't had any real full seizures since last year and I am always watching her. If I should notice her getting worse again then I probably will have to give in and put her on meds, which I am really trying to avoid, if I can find more natural alternatives. By the way, I am delighted that Dolly has healed so well. -------Original Message------- From: Joan Croft Date: 1/23/2012 4:28:46 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [Chihuahuas] cranky behavior PAM HI Peggy, I was reading your post and remembered that Gigi was smelling the walls again…you thought she might be going to have seizures again. How is that going? Did she stop doing that smelling thing, or are you still trying to figure that out? From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Peggy & The Girls Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2012 9:02 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] cranky behavior PAM Years ago, I did professional dog training mainly with large aggressive dogs All training has to start with the basic training....why? Because basic training puts you in charge as the alpha leader. When you have any type of issues with your dog, basic training should be a daily exercise, if you see any regression, start the daily basic training again. Princess, my Eskie was deemed to be destroyed because of her aggression, mainly at other dogs, but she also showed some fear of strangers. Eskies are known to be wary of strangers to begin with, so if that fear has been escalated, it only makes the dog look like it is a real aggressive attack dog. This is the main reason why the Eskie rescues, go out of there way to get them out of shelters as soon as possible, because they do not do well in a shelter at all, and for the most part, people that do not know the breed, immediately assume that they are aggressive. The truth is, the only reason why I was allowed to adopt her was because a woman who worked there at the time knew of my past reputation for training aggressive dogs. She was delighted to see that Princess would be saved. I soon learned that not only did she have the classical Eskie personality, but some one had been training her to be aggressive and increased her prey drive to the hill. It took 8 months of daily training and constant socializing to be able to trust her around people. She has been my apartment complex's mascot because people saw how she was when I first got her and what a beautiful social dog she has become. Even if your dog already knows the basic commands, the basic warm up routine is important to keep them on there toes, that you are the alpha and in charge, and they have nothing to worry about, like having to prove that they are the alpha, be it for over guarding there owner or excessive barking, nipping at strangers feet, or any unwanted behavior. A dog shouldn't have to worry about it's daily life, he should know that you are the protector and you will protect him. When he barks when the door bell rings, his only job is to warn you, just like a pack dog warns the others in a pack. It is not his job to protect you unless you command him to, much the same way an alpha dog would tell his pack. In the wild when two alpha dogs are fighting for the pack, the pack never interferes, and it should be the same way with an inside dog, they should never interfere when a stranger or company comes into the home. All basic training should be done with a leash on the dog, even indoors. It tells the dog that you are guiding it and it is not on it's own to do what ever it wants. The leash is the first step of putting you in control and they know it. Take 15-20 minutes everyday, maybe even 2x a day if you feel the issue is strong enough. Voice control is very important, no baby and high pitch talk, only a firm but gently command. It's up to you as to whether you want to use voice control for a reward or treats. Personally, I prefer voice control, other wise some dogs only do what you want for the treat and then at other times they don't listen. I will use a treat in the beginning if I see that a dog is showing exceptional fear of a human and then eventually switch over to voice control. Begin when the house is calm and no TV, radios, other dogs, etc., and preferably the same time of day to establish a routine. It's best to start training after they potty, and feed after the training session. Start by walking him around in circles in your living room. Your teaching him that he has to follow. After a few rounds, stand in front of him and put him in the sit position. When he does what you want, reward him, when he doesn't do what you want ignore him, wait a moment and give him the command again. Do not use the word 'No' when he disappoints you, just ignore him and stick to one word commands. Once he does the sit instantly, then teach him the 'down command. Repeat the two commands until he does them both instantly. Then walk around with him a few more times and do a sit and down again. If he passes with an A+ then take the lead off and it is play time for a couple of minutes. Always leave a training session on a good note with lots of praise. Do those two commands for a couple of days or however long it takes for him to do them instantly on the first command. Once you have achieved that, then add on the stay command. First do the sit and down, then the walk around the room and then the sit and stay. He should be able to stay 2-3 minutes and then the come and give a tug on the leash, and of course the good boy. If you do the above for 5-6 days, by the 7th day, your dog should be able to sit, down, stay, come, INSTANTLY, with only one command for each. Then you start extending the 'stay' time and walk further and further away, until you are able to leave the room and come back 2-3 minutes later and he is still in the same spot. That is basic training, and the 'stay' will be come invaluable to you when strangers come to your door, because you won't have to worry about them running out the door or running to attack a stranger. If your dog won't do that, then you are not in charge, he is!! And the problem will never stop. A well trained dog should not have to go into a crate or another room, just because you have a stranger in your home. An owner should be able to put the dog in a sit/stay anywhere, or a down/stay on there bed and not worry about the dog going beserk with excessive barking. The basic training will actually stop the excessive barking, because he knows that he is on command and in the spot where you showed him to go. Yes, both my girls do all of the above on command and more. Even Gigi with her little brain damage got it in three weeks and no longer goes into a panic of fear barking, and Princess no longer goes into a panic of aggressice barking. They both walk to there beds when I give a hand signal or say 'bed' and 'stay' and 'quiet'. They don't budge until I release them. The above steps work beautifully with puppies too. Of course socializing your dogs and puppies with daily outdoor walks is especially beneficial, and works hand in hand with getting them over the excessive barking and fear of strangers. And yes I do believe in training puppies and stop any unwanted behavior before it escalates into a nasty dog. I just don't believe in any type of physical reprimand on a puppy no matter what they do wrong, when I know for a fact that the reward and ignore method works so much faster and establishes much more trust with no fears in a dog. JMO -------Original Message------- From: Pam Dean Date: 1/22/2012 10:05:23 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] cranky behavior PAM Telling visitors in advance to ignore them actually works if you can outlast them. If they don't make eye contact or try to make up to them, the furbabies don't see them as a threat. Then they will sneak around and sniff at them instead of yapping endlessly at them. I dont mind a little yap and then a settle, but when they are getting off on it and not listening, then quiet room..They even know it by the quiet room lol..I will say "Quiet room and point" and they slink off pitifully lol From: C.M. <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2012 9:58 PM Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] cranky behavior PAM Thanks Pam. Great advice. So, I'll pick up both of my little ones and put them in the bathroom and in a couple of minutes - after my guest or repairman has settled in, I'll let the pups out. Right? Some repairmen, like the Cox Cable guy, just shoo them away and pay no attention. The dogs immediately calm down. Interesting, huh? When my son comes over, the little dogs jump, run around and bark, but he pays no attention to them. I ask my son to tell them to stop, but he doesn't so it's just me barking at them like they're barking at him. I think maybe somebody needs to be in control here........LOL From: Pam Dean <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2012 6:45 PM Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] cranky behaviot Usually that type of behavior is fear, although they behave like they are ferocious.lol.. I think they must totally trust in you and know you will protect them..as Alpha. I take mine to the vet and they know I will protect them and they have never reacted negativelty. The vet and staff can do anything to them as long as I hand them over to them and tell them it is ok. Of course I have had my dogs from puppies so there are no abuse issues in their history and I have developed this trust. If people come over, they do bark at the door. But then they are ordered to quiet. If they do not listen, they are removed to the quiet room. They hate that because they miss all the fun and they are nosy. After a few minutes, they are let out again. I think they have to understand that negative behavior has consequences and positive gets rewards. When they are let out, and are quiet they get treats. Most of the time they behave. From: C.M. <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2012 7:08 PM Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] cranky behaviot How did you teach him not to growl at people? My boy won't let anybody get near him except me. When people come over, he barks his head off and nips at their heels, but calms down in a little bit. How can I fix that? When I take him to the vet, I have to open his mouth so the doc can see his teeth. When I adopted him from the shelter, they said they couldn't exam him because he was too fierce and wouldn't allow it. You know, "writing this out loud" makes him sound like a little terror, but he's not really. He's protecting his property and his mom. But at the same time, shouldn't he be more calm once people are welcomed inside? C. From: Pam Dean <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2012 2:46 PM Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] cranky behaviot My little one is a little skitzy about people sticking their faces in hers. Perhaps because he is very tiny and fearful. Sees it as a sign of aggression. He is fine with me..probably a mix of trust and being alpha but a little skitzy with others. I have taught him, however, no growling and aggression with any human, but you can tell he doesn't much like and I warn people.
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