Today my dog was in an absolute panic

[WillParkinson]

Bailey is going through dog training. He's handled sit very well. Then they started working on wait and down. Wait seemed to be going OK until today.

I took them outside. I made him wait at the door until everyone else was in the house (we have 2 other dogs). When we got to the porch I made him sit at the bottom of the stairs and gave him the wait command while the other two dogs entered the house. Bailey was in an absolute panic, jumping, crying, whining with such fear in his eyes.

I stayed resolute. I didn't let him up the stairs until he followed the command but he looked so afraid that he was going to be locked out alone.

Bailey came from a small shelter in Iron River Michigan (the one we volunteer for). He's always been a very people friendly dog and very intenes in his desire not to be left alone. The people who gave him up mistreated him and he's very needy (he sleeps on the bed with us and will lay between Misty (our oldest dog whom Bailey has adopted as Mama) and me. Or between me and Paul.

So I have no idea where todays panic attack came from. I hope that the rest of the training goes smoothly because it broke my heart(and, yes, frustrated me immensley) that he couldn't sit still long enough for me to get up the stairs.

[idgiehkt]

1. Well

I know Cesar Milan would say that they have to work through that 'energy' that they have of fear or whatever it is from the past that is hanging them up so they can shed it and live in the present. I have watched him alot and I think he really does a good job with dogs that are just about beyond hope. I guess the more you do this with her the better she will get and the less panic she will have. My dog panicked on me yesterday when I was cutting his nails (they are all black and I have quicked him in the past) and I just about lost it because I have to get in a position where I can strain my back if I am not careful. I'm sorry you had to go through that, it's really hard to watch, but I think you did the right thing by remaining calm and letting her know that everything is okay. Of course you will never understand why he acts that way, unless you go to an animal psychic, which I've never done but it might help (if you believe in that sort of thing). I've always been very minimalist when it comes to obedience training with my dogs because they are all rescues. I don't set terribly high goals for them except that they come when called and that they sit when I tell them to, don't jump on people, and don't show any food agression. I don't think it's necessary to train them to do cartwheels and stuff like that unless the dog is really enjoying the training and the challenge.