my poor puppy...

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

I took 9 month old Newly to his first obedience class tonight. I just got home. That poor puppy had an anxiety attack at the end of the class. He just laid there on the floor with his head on his paws, shaking like a leaf and hyperventilating. He wouldn't look at anything or acknowledge that I was there or anything. I've never seen anything so sad in my life as that puppy shaking with fear.

There was only one other dog in the class, a little Maltese, that hadn't had any training at all. Newly knows commands like come, sit, stay, etc but only from what I've been able to teach him in the past three weeks. I've never seen a dog having an anxiety attack. I didn't know what to do. It took awhile for the trainer and me to calm him down enough to stand up and leave the place.

Has anyone ever had a dog that something like that happened to? The Rescue Team said it was likely that he'd been abused at some point because he's so shy, but, to break an animal's spirit...it just broke my heart to see him like that.

[Jeannieb43]

Our little cockapoo was attacked by a big Akita once, biting him completely around his midsection with the Akita's big jaw. He went into shock. We took him to the vet, who said it could be possible that our dog might die from the actual fright, rather than from the bite itself. The vet said that dogs do die of fright sometimes. They get so panicky that their nervous system just shuts down the heart.

We had several hours of "ICU" for our dog, while we were all worrying overnight. Fortunately he survived that attack.

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Newly is home now and seems to be doing okay. I'm glad your little cockapoo came out of his shock experience too.

I wish I knew what had happened to Newly before I got him. He's got such a gentle disposition and a loving spirit. I don't know how anyone could mistreat him.

[GreatLakesGramma]

Some people are just plain evil, Pam. But I'm sure you've already realized that long ago.

[Dottie]

It sounds as if he has not been socialized. You'll have to get him used to new experiences tiny bit by tiny bit.

Search for "dog socialization" and try their tips.

[LynnDel]

Newly sounds like a very sensitive animal who will probably need lots of loving and reassurance all his life - but that's usually not too hard for us pet owners.

LD

[LynnDel]

Just wondering, besides unfamiliar location, could there have been something else that might have reminded Newly of his hidden past?? Perhaps a tone in the trainer's voice, a new training collar, or the echo in the room? I guess it could be anything or everything.

LD

[Gail]

Pam, I wish that Spooky could be there to be Newly's friend! She is so submissive yet playful

What now? Did the trainer have any suggestions?

I am glad that you are a gentle soul!

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Just wondering, besides unfamiliar location, could there have been something else that might have reminded Newly of his hidden past?? Perhaps a tone in the trainer's voice, a new training collar, or the echo in the room? I guess it could be anything or everything.

LD

The location really wasn't unfamiliar - he had been there before. The class is held at the pet store where the dogs can come inside, so Newly had been in there before. The trainer was a lady, really nice, but sounded a lot like his previous owner's wife... He didn't have on a new training collar...I put the choke chain collar on him two weeks ago, but never have to use it.

I just hope next week goes better. He wouldn't even take the treats I offered him down there, and usually he'll do anything for them.

[GreatLakesGramma]

Is there another trainer in your area that you can take classes from?

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

there's another trainer in the store, but it's a man. I think Newly would do better with a female. I have a suspicion that Newly got tied with a rope to the saddle of a horse and was pulled behind the horse. That's what the original couple had wanted Newly to do when they got him - trot along with the husband on his horse rides along the trails. I don't like to think that might be what happened, but Newly seems to do better with women than with men. But he's not aggressive toward men. He's not aggressive towards anyone. A big lovable puppy, he is.

[Liz]

Poor Newly!!! I am so glad that you have him now, because you will be patient and kind to him. There is no telling what someone else might do to him. I hope that you find the right training techniques that will work for him.