zoesmommy

Uh...not sure how I'm going to react to lack of response to diplomacy (i.e.; BOTH sides work,). Some people don't get subtle like , "perhaps we should let the dog owner make the decisions about her own dog". Also seems blunt doesn't work either," Give it a rest guys", and many, many other examples and I believe 2 attempts especially " When a person does not know what direction they want to take and gives no indication of a decision then just move on. I did." Humor also seem to whiz past you faster than a speeding Greyhound. Whit is a form of intelligence. If you don't catch the irony of the emotion icons used then we can freely draw the obvious conclusion you do not have much of a sense of humor or intellect. My "smart" attempts at using the funny in order to diffuse a tense situation and not escalate a problem was completely lost on you. Perhaps I will try something more Sophomoric next time to equate your reading and comprehension abilities. Anybody else reading these e.-mails will see that I have made numerous attempts to be fair/kind/ and not escalate an argument. Now for those of us with reasonable intelligence it is very hard to respect you or take you seriously as dog training professionals when you can not obey simple commands such as "Quit it! Stop it!, Enough! Let somebody make their own decision! Both sides have merit! The woman has not made a decision and has not said she specifically wants you to tell her what to do. I do not want to hear anymore jabbering. Grow up." This is not high school. There is no, "We're your friends...not her." WE'RE all friends. We have all shared our opinions. End it. This is the 3rd time I have had to address adults to act like adults not children. Since you have not responded to the former "positive reinforcement" techniques of humor and diplomacy, polite words and nicely turned phrases, I will try some negative reinforcement. In my opinion you cannot control your inappropriate behavior. You can not help your self but to be combative and argumentative You do not respond well to "positive" reinforcement. You can not train your self how to avoid a fight. You have strong dominance issues. In my opinion your credentials as a trainer/behaviorist are suspect. I have no regards for your recommendations and less for you as a professional based upon these reasons. Now are we done? Thank you

One last thing in regards to Zoe, Her fear is of children....kids! The world is full of them. Sorry gang...red, white,yellow, brown, black and all other mixes, sizes, shapes, etc. It doesn't matter gender, age, socio-economic status. If we hit the mega billion lotto or live in a tent in a field. There's bound to be children somewhere. They're playing right outside behind the wall of our back yard. They're next door. The play across the street. They ride their bikes, scooters and skate boards on the sidewalks and streets. With my dog specifically....there is no other way to do "deal"/train her to "get over it" than what I am doing according to professionals--my current Vet; former vet/trainer/shelter worker. Unless I never want to walk the dog, take her to the park, go outside, let her use the yard, take her to the vet's office (there's a dance/gymnastic studio and a grocery store in the same plaza), have no friends over(they have kids) and live in a monastery or confine the dog to the house with no physical exercise and use pee-pee pads for the rest of her life..... Sorry gang....she's going outside for walks. She gets very short leash or walked by the collar until her panic stops and until she can "walk nice" on her leash and not panic whenever she sees a kid. She then gets treats, hugs, kisses more leash and we continue. Little by little she gets better. S-L-O-W-L-Y. She's getting better. The kids pet her now. Before she would try to bolt. Now she tolerates it. She's learning they are not there to hurt her. Playing and "yelling" noises are not them terrorizing her especially when she sees this with her own 2 eyes. When she sniffs bicycles and skate boards there's no "odor". They're not alive. They won't eat her. My husband and I "play ball" in the back yard and yell and carry on while we do so. See, mommy and daddy are playing with the ball...it isn't hurting them. The ball is in the back yard. It has been there all day. It hasn't hurt me. She's S-L-O-W-L-Y connecting the dots. She's walking better and better on the leash. Hey, unless somebody can rid my neighborhood of all of the kids for the next 7 years let me know. (There's about 4 that I personally wouldn't mind you getting rid of for me :} )

Give it a rest guys! I did a few responses back....remember I said some techniques work better for some dogs and some work for others. Some people have just got to be right about everything! Jeeez--Louise! Zoe is doing just fine and making progress too with so called "flooding" and is not flipping out. Actually she's calmer but it is still taking time. Like you said S-L-O-W-L-Y. She is at peace, loves me, happy and learning how to deal with kids and is making progress. See BOTH techniques can work. A professional vet/trainer gave me the technique. She's a medical professional with a D.V.M. degree and who worked with Greys. I'm sure your advice as pro dog trainers is equally valuable. (Let me guess...one of you is a DVM) BOTH are intelligent solutions and angles. Please stop yapping and let this lady make the decision for herself. Don't force the issue! Would you like somebody "forcing" their point of view in regards to treatment on you if it was your dog. What if it was your kid? Would you so willingly go along with 2 different types of advice (yours and mine) WITHOUT consulting a medical professional or seeking out somebody on your own independently? Again it is case specific; "personality" of the dog and "what is it" exactly this animal is afraid of, etc., etc. Just like people when you go to a doctor there is no one "generic" cure all for the problem or issue. It is tailor made for YOU and your health and well being and state of mind. Same with the dog. Ryder's mommy must evaluate IF she wants to check with the vet first or at all, and if so then what? She must then think about how she wants to address his fears and what type of training to pursue and why. Now please don't act like children -- :hahaor should I say puppies--and let it be. Let the lady make her own decisions based on Ryder and what she feels is right for him. Perhaps she (and possibly her VET) should make decisions based on her, and her dog's personality and overall health? This is an important decision she needs to make alone without us being busy bodies. Get over your selves. When in this case (dog training) a person does not know what direction they want to take and gives no indication of a decision just move on. I did. You need to. I'm only interested in hearing how Ryder's progress is going I am not interested in which method she is using or if I "won" because she picked "my way". Now stop it! DOWN! SIT! STAY! Good Girls! As previously mentioned I am rooting for her, her Espresso machine and Ryder. That is what I am interested in hearing about.

I'm Epileptic. I have been since I was 26. It started later in life as it often does. It was a result of physical abuse and repeated "slaps upside the head" from an abusive step-father as his way of disciplining, training and educating me. I'm disabled. I don't work. I don't drive. I don't have children because of it. I petite mal seizures that are clonic tonic in nature with atomism's. (Please look that up. It is too time consuming to explain). What I do have is a life. This life. I am not deaf, blind, dying of cancer, paralyzed, unloved, abandoned, alone and a burden. I am liked and loved by many. I have a loving, faithful, deep friendship with my husband and he with my self. My husband is not "owned" by me. I am not enslaved or indentured to him. The seizures are not the monster. Letting the seizures ruin my life and "us" is. I am respected. I am admired. I am looked up to and an inspiration to others. I was a professional artist (I am disabled. If you are disabled you can not "work". If you can "work" you are not disabled.) I HAVE a painting in the White House. Although I can not work or drive I give of my time. I volunteer I give of my self I show up personally to help at functions I give what little I can financially When I am able to. If I believe in it enough I will sacrifice and do without. Do I NEED that $5.00 frozen mocha frappachino at Starbucks? Is there not a better use for it? If your dog could talk what do you think it would say about its life? What would it say about your attitude? Does the dog's Epilepsy "own" you or do the two of you enjoy a mutual life together and "deal" with a disability called Epilepsy? Anyone who has witnessed or lived with seizures that are uncontrolled or uncontrollable knows that they are fatal, dangerous and can be deadly. I deal with the possibility of "death" every day as my seizures are not predictable, reasonable, logical, reliable or able to be controlled. Who knows what I could be doing, where, when or how when I have one. But I "own" my Greyhound Zoe. I am grateful for her love, affection, attention, time and companionship even if she is just quietly sitting or sleeping in her bed downstairs. When my husband is at work and I am alone in the house, and I remember my family lives across the country I look at her. I pet her. Or all I have to do is call her name and she will come. It is so nice to know whenever I think God has left me alone in this world and abandoned me there is proof he hasn't. Maybe your Epileptic Greys feel the exact same way about you? May I gently suggest you rethink how you view your Grey's Epilepsy? It is very frustrating I know. It is a very hard disease to understand. I don't know what to say in regards to dogs. I can say they need your love. You may be the living proof that after their hard life at the track God did not abandon them and they are not alone in this world. Zoesmommy

Hi gang, Don't want to get into a war over this. I agree with the lady above . I'm not sure...but I don't think any of us are professional dog trainers(?) so....all you can do in regards to Ryder is read and take with a grain of salt. Best advice...do what YOU feel is right! Only you know your dog. Only your love and intuition can guide you to what is best for Ryder. Greys are like people, each unique and special and with their own personalities and quirks, fears and anxieties, displays of bravery and sense of humor. We have to remember probably 97% of us out there adopted ours and did not raise them from puppy-hood. That being the case we do not necessarily know from where they came, how they were treated at the race track and by their owners and trainers. We don't know how well their fostering went and what "exactly" they were/were not exposed to. (steps, am I allowed on the furniture, can I sleep on the bed, do I get people food, is there a doggy door or not...or will I learn these things at my forever home? I know what the ice maker on the refrigerator sounds like and the garage door opener but not the Espresso machine or nail gun.) See...every dog gets something different at fostering. I bet a lot of you got dogs that already knew stairs but got on furniture (some people don't like this;some people don't mind) These factors and variables prevent us from knowing what may or may not send our Greys into a tail-spin of anxiety when they encounter something new and unfamiliar or what may have conditioned them to handle it like a champ. My absolute LAST WORD Talk to your vet please! He/She has treated your dog and is familiar with their health and personality...as well as you and how you interact with Ryder. He/She can tell you if this is a medical condition or just a "fear" THEY CAN TELL YOU based on your dog's personality/mannerisms WHAT TYPE of training your dog most likely would respond to best! They may also be able to recommend a local dog trainer/behaviorist for you That's what mine did for me. The lady that is helping me is a former vet that worked with a lot of Greys (she was in an area where there was a track) and now works part-time in an animal shelter. She and her methods work for Zoe. They may not work for Ryder or others. Best of luck in your search and in your solution. Please let all of us know how it goes. We're rooting for you, your Espresso and Ryder!

Yikes! Not so sure I agree with that one! DO NOT want the dog to think it is getting fed every time you have coffee. The idea is to make the dog unafraid of the coffee maker when you make coffee and reward the "good" behavior for not freaking out and "learning" to ignoring the machine (eventually he will completely). The concept is to teach the dog that coffee makers are "normal" and they are like "boogey men" the fear of them is unrealistic and should not exist. The coffee maker is as normal as the radio or TV. They are not to react to it. It is just part of the house. The treats should ONLY be given while the dog is "learning" the machine is nothing to be afraid of and starts behaving appropriately or demonstrating the approximate correct behavior. That good behavior gets rewards. Once the "normal" behavior is accomplished you do not "treat" the dog for not reacting to the coffee maker any more than you would for not freaking out when you turn on your TV or stereo. You react to the dog's "good" behavior and lack of freak out episodes for what it is supposed to be: "Normal" You no longer "bribe" your dog with treats to GET IT to go outside and act right and use the yard why "bribe" the dog to act right when the coffee maker comes out? When the dog is learning to go potty outside and does what it is supposed to ( act normal)--you reward it. Same with the coffee maker. When it has mastered the task of going outside (acting normal) do you give it a treat every single time, all day long, every day, all month, all year? Same with the coffee maker. The coffee maker is now "normal". The dogs reaction to it is now normal It does not deserve treats for being "normal" . The learning/knowing/understanding the coffee maker and getting a treat for it phase is over. Just like potty training. I would be leery of treating your dog every time you whip out the machine and make your self Espresso. When he smells your coffee it is not a cue for him to have water and a biscotti with you. He'll constantly beg and be a nuisance. God forbid you have coffee and donuts in the morning---or worse yet---breakfast in bed! Good luck in your quest. I'm rooting for you---and your coffee

Hey there-Hi there, Let's be friends! Here's my situation, story, and what was prescribed to me by a professional trainer who worked with Greys for a long time. We have the EXACT same problem except my grey is afraid of kids. My husband and I don't have any. It is not so much the kids that she is afraid of but the scooters, bikes, balls, and high pitched yelling/screaming that kids do when they play---you know--just being kids. She'll tolerate the kids petting her but shakes violently and danders. She never shows any anger or violence but has kind of a "just quit it" or "go away" look about her. She doesn't does not "love up" on children the way she does others. She tolerates them and shakes violently, nose dripping, swallowing, etc. She loooooves everyone else. Usually likes "older kids" about 12 and above. She displays all the exact same symptoms as your dog. The problem is where our back yard ends is a wall that is about 6 feet. There is about 150 feet of golf course and then our subdivision decided to build a gazebo/garden area and a CHILDRENS' play area/sand box for our subdivision! The dog has done nothing but flip out! She won't eat in the morning if she hears them outside. When she goes outside in the yard you must stay with her and insist she goes "pee-pee" or "poopy". If she doesn't you feel like you're torturing her making her stay out there until she does---BUT--you know she has to go---she can't not go all day. You feel guilty watching her panic and scratch at the sliding glass doors (our back yard lets out onto the patio). She started peeing on the rug. SHE NEVER peed in the house before (2 x's when she had kidney/renal problem) in 3 years! She always had a dog door or "told" my husband and I. We started crating her. We never let her out of our sight. If busy she got crated. She no longer wanted to go for walks or pulled like a maniac in the opposite direction from the children. She was eating my plants and then threw up on my carpet. She kept peeing on my carpet. I had it steamed cleaned 3 times (my rug is brand new!) in 2 months She was becoming a pain in the ass. We weren't amused any more. She was becoming more aggravation than she was worth. We talked about giving her back to the greyhound agency we got her from. We love her but could not revolve our life around a dog we could never leave alone/had to baby sit constantly, could not trust in the house, was ruining our carpet, costing us money, and eventually going to get sick from eating something she shouldn't. She was a nervous wreck and no fun. I finally found a trainer that worked with Grey that gave me some fabulous advice! For free out of the kindness of her heart. It was: You have to be cruel to be kind! DON'T BABY THEM! (hard to do when you see them panic/in distress. It's our nature to comfort---don't! They must "grow up".) They have nothing to fear but fear it's self! It is like when you were growing up. Remember those scary shadows on the wall in your room at night? They were the monster coming to get you, right? Nope. They were just shadows of tree branches from your window reflecting on your bedroom wall. That's it. No strange, mythical, "evil" power coming to torment/punish you. Same with the dog. The Espresso machines and nail guns and roofers are just that. Kids are just kids. Balls and bikes and scooters are exactly what they are. EXPOSURE is the key. See, hear, feel, etc. The more they hear/see the roofers and Espresso machine the dog gets a grip that is exactly what it is. Nothing special that is going to harm me in my home or out of my home. Big whoop it just makes a lot of noise. Sometimes it is here sometimes it is not. Same thing with my dog. Kids are just noisy little people who at times are capable of being quite nice, calm and gentle and like dogs. Bikes, scooters, balls move and sometimes they don't. They're not "alive". They don't "smell" like another animal. They won't hurt you. :beatheartAPPROXIMATION Your dog will dart and dash away. Pull and tug you down the street. It will run in circles and panic. BUT even if you have to grab it by the collar and "force walk" (try not to drag/yank) it to where you want it-- do so. When it "moves" a little better give it a little more leash and a TREAT and PRAISE, PRAISE PRAISE!!! If it starts acting stupid again go back to "collar walk". Every time better---treat/Praise. When it is near/around/by scary object sound IGNORE THE DOG! (That's for you if you don't listen--- not the dog) Don't hold/comfort/pet the dog. Just stand/sit with the dog and let it be . It will be a nervous wreck but every time it acts calmer treat/praise. (If it wants to run away shorten leash/collar hold BUT ignore the dog--not petting, calming, comforting, etc.) Take about 15 minutes EVERY DAY to do this! This is lots and lots of work! It will take lots and lots of time . Improvement is very, very slow. Did I say very slow? It is very slow. But if you want a dog that :wife2doesn't flip out constantly you have to be very, very diligent in doing this. Remember, your brain (supposedly) is bigger than the dog's. YOU have to make the dog understand there is nothing to be afraid of. If you don't spend the time doing it you can't get the rewards out of it. Zoe and I have worked 4 weeks. It has gone to where I now only have to collar walk her 2/3rds of the way down the street instead of the whole way. The other 1/3 she actually gets some real leash! She will shake when bicycles go past but will not cower any more. She has stopped peeing on my rug (although I do keep a somewhat close eye on her) and have moved the plants. She still panics in the yard when she hears the kids but if I make her stay out long enough will go to the bathroom without my "yelling" at her to do it. She now just stands at the sliding glass door rather than pawing at it. In the morning and afternoons she does her statue thing and listens attentively. When she does not hear the kids she does enjoy being in the back yard. YES This IS progress So don't you ever feel hopeless you just keep working, working, working. You'll get there.

Yeah Aston! So glad he's well and it isn't diabetes. Now if he would just stop watering the rug :} Did the vet ever explain what the mystery was? One mystery solved: As long as you keep Aston away from KFC and El Pollo Loco there won't be any problems with farts! (like the little picture joke?) You and Aston keep well

Have you ever thought about a "doggy door"? They're nice because the dog can let themselves in and out as needed to use the bathroom. It seems your dog tries to "tell you" sometimes when it has to go. It is hard to do that when you are gone 10 hours or it is not possible for a pet sitter/walker to be there to help. I found my doggy door to be such a blessing! Zoe lets herself in/out as she pleases and I have no accidents (unless it is for some other rare unrelated health reason). Training is easy. Use packing tape to tape it half way open (horizontally) so that the dog can "feel" it touch it's back. You be outside. Have a good time. Act like the party is out there. Since they are pack animals they will naturally want to be with you. Most likely it will venture through the hole. If not have a friend inside to give a "gentle" push or just to place front paws over the threshold of the door. Keep having a good time outside. Playing, laughing, etc. Eventually the dog will come out. Take the tape off the flap of the dog door. Do the same things but encourage the dog to "push through" the flap to go out. A few tries are necessary but they catch on very quickly. It took ours about 3 days. The flaps are very heavy duty plastic and have a magnetic metal strip across the bottom so it securely shuts/seals but can be pushed open by the dog when needed. The rest of the door is glass and in an aluminum frame. Check Superior Pet Products web site. Good luck and I hope this helps. It helped me a lot when I worked 32 hours a week( I don't work anymore) and my husband worked 40 (and still is). We still use the door when we go out for the evenings, shopping, dinner, movie, or longer than usual, etc. Let me know how it goes----please!

I'm not trying to make light of a medical situation. I truly hope Aston is well and it is nothing serious but some air rather than diabetes. I say this because it appears right now your dog has a legitimate reason for this noise. Mine does not. She just is gassy and flatulent. Unlike (most) humans she seems unperturbed by this and shows no embarrassment at the occasional "putt-putt-putting" sounds or the ability to clear a room with the S.B.D.'s (silent but deadly's). Since nothing is wrong with her health or diet we embrace a can of Lysol and accept it as part of her Greyhound charm. Hopefully that will be all that is "wrong" with Aston too!

Hi, I feel for you. Is there something that "changed" in her routine (or yours) suddenly or that has made her anxious or maybe there is something she has become afraid of outside? I'm Zoe's mommy. My dog suddenly developed a problem urinating indoors when she developed a fear/phobia of "noises and kids" she heard outside! Any chance there's something "spooking" her outside? Sounds silly but something like patio furniture covers, new garbage can, holiday decorations that cover the windows or door area or lights that blink....? Remember when you were a kid and afraid of shadows on the wall and weird shapes? These looked like "the Boogey Man" to you or you thought they were monsters. Maybe there's something similar going through her little doggy mind. How is her bladder? Is she older and goes out more than normal? Can she "hold it" until she gets to the door? How is her eyesight? Is she having a hard time seeing where to go at night so she heads to the same spot she already went on because it smells? Hey, just ideas. With Greys you never know. Worth thinking about Hope you get it solved and save your floors. I'm trying to save my rug too. Zoesmommy

It varies for my Grey (Zoe) and I. We live in Arizona. For 6 months out of the year we go for 20-30 minute walks 5 to 7 times a week in the sun and play indoors and out in our enclosed yard. November through April is fantastic and great "go for a walk weather". We also enjoy the dog parks. The other 6 months we stay indoors and just play and hide in the dark and the air conditioning. May through October we don't walk. Summer here is well into the 100's! Zoe has no desire to go outside and the sun is beating. The "evenings" are cooler but I can't say much for the black top and the lack of street lights in the desert is no fun! Not a "wise choice" for a walk. The evenings only "cool down" to upper 90's at best when it has been 112 or more all day. Best time is 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. if you can get up that early! By then it's already 90 degrees and climbing and the sun is blazing not shining! Right now on November 10th it is still 86 degrees but "pleasant" not like Summer! Feels more like Southern CA weather than AZ. Beautiful to walk and the dog enjoys it. I get her out as much as possible right now. Currently she is "excited" for her walks and lets me know how long and far she wants to go before she gets "tired" and wants to go home. Summer she is a 3 dimensional area rug. She walks from the cool kitchen tile to the water bowl and back...I estimate that to be 40 seconds.

Hi everyone, Back with those websites as promised. Well, I'm going to have to apply the same theories they offer to "thunderstorms/fireworks" to my "kid" problems. I found them most helpful. My vet also recommended 75 mg of an over the counter "people" medication to calm her when needed. I WILL NOT tell you which one. I WILL NOT promote, advocate, or suggest you use or give your doge any such thing without seeing and/or speaking to your vet first. Please speak to your vet in regards to any medications for your dog and their "nervous" condition. I trust mine. He has been Zoe's vet for 3 years now and is also a surgeon. I will give you the information I found to be the most educational and informative and helpful! Under Google search type in "greyhounds and phobias they have" You will see: Shyness, Fearfulness and Induced Phobias in Greyhounds (Judy Kody Paulsen) Whole article was excellent even if your grey wasn't abused. At the very bottom of article is a link called grey behavior and health. Most excellent! 2. Love-My-Greyhounds.com great articles specifically about storms/noise/fireworks. Middle of article "Vibrate when a storm was happening" 3. Advice on Shy or Spooky Greyhounds by Lynda Adame 4. Thunderstorms and Fireworks "Why is my Greyhound so frightened by loud noises?" I found this one most excellent! I feel it could help you (and me as I am substituting the words "kid noise" for fireworks/thunderstorms) Talks about what goes through little doggy minds and how to treat phobias. 5. Canine Noise Phobia Series by Victoria Stiltwell She's the gal from Animal planet's "It's me or the Dog" show. She has the C.D.'s and explains habituation and desensitization. Me I'm combining the information and "positive behavior" techniques for treating phobia/dealing with phobia and her C.D. for city noise and my V.H.S. tape of "kids". This is exactly what these "dog whisperers" in my opinion would charge you $395.00 for 2 hours for and $1,600 thereafter----with no promises of a cure. Hey, I look at it this way, what do I have to lose? I damn sure didn't spend $395.00 or more! If it doesn't work Zoe and I can share meds :} Happy reading and good luck Zoesmommy

Hi there, Definitely problem with thunder/loud noises. Also could be more than that as it sounds very severe. Thunder shirt sounds good. Also came across C.D. of "city noises". If you web surf under greyhounds and phobias you should find the C.D. they have for city noises such as trucks, traffic, helicopters, airplanes, etc... A lot of these web sites give excellent advice. There was one in particular. I promise I will search for it and give you the name again. It was a web sites that dealt with greys and phobias they experience. I am having a very similar problem except my Zoe is absolutely terrified of children! My husband and I do not have children BUT we live in a subdivision that does. They just built a new play area for the kids about 100 yards behind our house! Although our back yard has a very high wall surrounding it and Zoe can not see these children she most definitely can hear them! Over the last year she has steadily become more anxious around children although she "tolerates" their petting her. She has never growled, snapped or turned away although she shakes, licks and her nose drips and she danders. I no longer let kids pet her for fear of what may happen. Zoe is terrified of balls, scooters, bikes and skateboards. If she hears or sees them when we walk she will rip my arm out of the socket and drag me behind her to get away pulling the whole way home. We can no longer walk through the subdivision streets but have to take another path that circumvents it and runs parallel to the golf course (she is not afraid of the golfers, their clubs or the carts). Zoe does stop and "look over her shoulder" as though somebody is following her or stops quite frequently during our walks even though she does enjoy them. I can only walk her between 2:00pm. and 3:00p.m. when the kids aren't home from school yet during the week. Zoe has NEVER pottied in the house.(The exception was once when she had a kidney infection and we ended up with a $300.00 plus vet bill). In the last 2 weeks she has now urinated in the house 3 times and defecated once although I have a doggy door and do not work. She has used it 3 years without fail or problems. If we've gone shopping or out to dinner and a movie we have left her alone in the house with the neighbor coming to feed and check on her. It was fine. I can no longer let her "out of my sight" and block off with chairs or ottomans the area where I found her urinating IF she did not go to the bathroom already and I am not looking at her. I took her bed out of the living room and put it in the kitchen. I figured if she potties on the tile it is easy to clean up and I don't have to worry about brand new carpet being ruined! When she goes outside she does the "statue thing". She will pace or trot in circles, not go to the bathroom and then run back up to the sliding glass patio door. I make her return to the yard and "go pee-pee". This takes several tries. I do not yell at her but I am firm. She goes quickly and always as far away in the opposite corner of the yard from where she normally went and away from where the "kids" are in her mind. Getting her to go "poopy" is difficult. I have canceled Doctor, and nail appointments and days with friends so that I can stay home and make sure she does it out side. I do not want to clean up poop again! She will not eat at regular meal times. When she does she eats...stops....eats...stops...etc. She will leave food there sometimes until 5 or 6 hours later than she normally eats. Normally she is a pig with fur and just throws it down her neck. She is not playful anymore. She has thrown up on my rug. (Great...Just one more thing to clean up. So far I've racked up $177.00 in Rug Doctor fees for 3 uses in 1 month plus $60.00 on the shampoo, spot stain remover and anti foam). DO NOT call Bark Busters or TLC-K9 the prices are OUTRAGEOUS, there is no guarantee that what they can do will work, they can not and will not promise you a cure and they tell you---of course---it will take more than 2 sessions! TLC quoted me $395.00 for 2 hours and anywhere from $1,600.00 to $4,000.00 to "fix" it with no promises. YEP! Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeelp! Anyone else out there with a nut dog and whose being held prisoner because of it? Zoe's mommy P.S. will get back with those websites and I found children playing "noise" on an old V.H.S. tape of my nephews birthday party.