Flicka

Granca

Granca

Flicka’s made really good progress with you, Sonia. Your patience and perseverance is definitely paying off.

I’m now taking Tuppy to weekly/fortnightly sessions with the nurse at the vets, as she’s a quivering wreck when we go. She won’t get out of the car without persuasion when we arrive and then she shakes and whines in the waiting room. The nurse suggested that I take her favourite ball and that seems to help a bit - and definitely causes a bit of amusement when she drops it and people try to help by picking it up… covered in slobber!

On Monday (our third session), encouraged by a lick mat and treats, she gradually relaxed when we were in the consulting room. She stopped shaking, enjoyed playing and left hardly any black fur on the floor!

Once you have accustomed Flicka to travelling in the car, would you be able to take her to your vet for similar sessions?
 
Stacia

Stacia

Location
Malvern Worcestershire
Granca said:
Once you have accustomed Flicka to travelling in the car, would you be able to take her to your vet for similar sessions?
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Am pleased to read that Tuppy is making progress, it is so sad to see them so scared. Rourke loved going to the vet, he used to drag me in and when vet called us, he was in the consulting room before the vet got there! So Flicka is as different as chalk and cheese. In answer to your question, the vet suggested I take Flicka to sit in the waiting room when it is quiet at lunchtimes and the receptionists will give her treats etc.
 
Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
You’re really making amazing progress with her, it’s so lovely to hear about her new steps every day. Just getting her to the vets at all is huge and the visits with her breeder sound very beneficial for both of you.

Jelinga said:
I am just to get her in the back of the car and make it fun with her ball and sit there with her and do that for a week about three times a day
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Take heart, this is where Carbón started too. I used to just pull my car in front of the shelter and get him in and out, loads of treats, eventually closing the door, then further sessions with me sitting in the driver’s seat, then with the engine on, then driving around the outside of the shelter. It really does work! ☺
 
Stacia

Stacia

Location
Malvern Worcestershire
Emily_Babbelhund said:
Take heart, this is where Carbón started too. I used to just pull my car in front of the shelter and get him in and out, loads of treats, eventually closing the door, then further sessions with me sitting in the driver’s seat, then with the engine on, then driving around the outside of the shelter. It really does work! ☺
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Oh that is very encouraging, thank you 😊
 
Emily_Babbelhund

Emily_Babbelhund

Mama Red HOT Pepper
Location
Regensburg, Germany
Jacqui-S said:
Isn't it!
Such a well-travelled gentleman now
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And his cellmate from Spain, Paul, was soooo much worse. It took me a week to get him from Andalusia to Bristol because I got him up to 2 hours driving at a go / 4 hours combined for the day and then he’d just scream bloody murder no matter what you did.

Now his family (a lovely retired couple ) have a camper van and spend weeks on the road. Apparently he loves it. I would have never believed he’d chill out so much!
 
Boogie

Boogie

Moderator
Location
Manchester UK
Emily_Babbelhund said:
Take heart, this is where Carbón started too. I used to just pull my car in front of the shelter and get him in and out, loads of treats, eventually closing the door, then further sessions with me sitting in the driver’s seat, then with the engine on, then driving around the outside of the shelter. It really does work! ☺
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Some Guide Dog pups needed this approach too.

🐾🙂
 
Stacia

Stacia

Location
Malvern Worcestershire
Flicka had her first drive day before yesterday to a walk where I always took Rourke. Yesterday, in the car again, we went to the same place. I grasped the nettle with both hands and phoned Malcolm who was walking with his four yellow Labs across the other side of the large field and we introduced the dogs. Flicka is frightened of dogs!! Sky came over and introduced herself, Tess the hooligan was a little more difficult and Flicka told her where to go, Fern and Princess were ok. We then walked together, Flicka on extended lead and the other loose and hunting around, am longing for the time when I can let Flicka off the lead. We then met Bob in high viz bright yellow jacket and a beanie hat on, to my surprise after an initial 'what is that' she loved him and even did a play bow with him! So onwards and upwards fingers crossed.
 
Stacia

Stacia

Location
Malvern Worcestershire
M.F. said:
@Jelinga I’d love to know more of Flicka’s backstory. Her breeder sounds so kind and lovely so I’m curious to know why she ended up so nervous?
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I think it is/was because she hadn't been socialised into the outside world. She had only lived on the kennel site, she lived with many other dogs, most belonged to the chap and they were loose most of the day. Flicka was in a kennel with two or three of her sisters (I was not thinking straight at that time, so all a blur!), I remember seeing a large yellow Lab and possibly some springers. When I first saw her she was submitting which made me choose her. She hadn't been introduced to all the things we would socialise our puppies with. She had been in the house for the first three months of her life and so wasn't afraid of the vacuum, the hose, washing machine etc. So she is gradually realising the big wide world though scary, is not quite as scary as she thought, so slowly, slowly.
 
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