KPoos

If you've kept up with my posts regarding Ginger you know that a man that lives on a boat took her. Well, he just called me to tell me that he took the boat out for a small trip and she had a complete melt down. She was trying to jump off of the boat and peed on herself and so forth. She was doing fine as long as the boat wasn't moving but once they went out she freaked out. Can I get some advice to offer him on this issue? Is this going to be a done deal for them? Will she ever calm down on outings?

Emily-By

Is he on a power boat or a sail boat? if he was on a power boat he probably stimulated her too fast, and needs to start slowly, like running the engine in the marina, then pracitice going in and out of the marina, then going for a small very slow ride(2knots max) and go up from there.

If he has a sail boat was he leaning really heavily? was it very windy? the noise from the sails may have caused her to freak out. if he's in a sailboat he should motor out slowly and quietly a few times(no sails) then motor out then just let the sails loose and let them flap away in the wind (probably best to do this on a windless day) and slowly tighten them up and stopping when she tenses up and wait for her to calm down. lots of treats and toys and praise when she acts confidant. One of my dogs was terrified of the boat until he leaned that he go to go swimming and see 'seapuppies' aka sealions.

Good luck.

KPoos

I'm going to send him all of the replies I get in this thread. He has a 50 foot yacht. So it obviously has a motor and that might have been what scared her. That and she's never had her house move before. She's not eating today which I'm sure is from her freaking out. He's sounding like he wants to bring her back to me but I think he needs to try harder to make slow progress to get her used to it. I told him before her took her that she'd been a kennel dog and that she wasn't used to a lot of things. I mean she's afraid of the vacuum cleaner and even my broom so he knew all of this about her. It's one of those things that if you want to make it work you have to work at it. Grrrr, I'm just frustrated by people thinking that she's just exchangable.

Emily-By

Thats so sad, I wish I could adopt a poodle but there are not really any poodles in need of rescuing up here. Thats a good thing for them lol.

My grandparents are 'live aboarders' and my grandfather has always had dogs on board mind you this was only a 32' sailboat not a yacht. He just needs to give her time and slowly introduce her into the craziness that is boating.

KPoos

That's what I told him. You can't expect a dog to adjust to any new environment in a few days. This is going to take time and patience and he knew this going into the situation. I told him to buy her a crate. One for her size and one that's airline approved because they are darker and more closed in so she will feel safer. Then keep it in an area of the boat that's very quiet and start the motor of the boat at random times to get her used to the sound. If she's in a crate she cannot hurt herself and someone else. She needs to just get used to the sounds and sensations of that lifestyle and again that takes time not just a few days. He needs to try harder in my opinion. This little incident just shows me that she needs more time.

cuddleparty

Seems you have a handful of adoptive parents who want to bring their pups back to you. I remember a teacher telling me once to look at myself as the possible cause of the problem rather than point the finger all the time.
Did you ever stop to think that maybe you are not arming these people with the best possible information regarding the dog, prior to them taking on this HUGE responsibility? Going thru parent screening, contracts, etc... only count for so much..

KPoos

LOL should have known something like this would come from you. First off, I don't have a "handful of pups". I'm not a breeder. Go back and reread my posts. I have one dog that I am ARMING everyone interested in her with information that I have on her. Typically people are impulse shoppers and that comes along with owning pets as well. I have given people the benefit of the doubt when it comes to her and I've asked questions regarding their situations. Most of the issues that are going on with Ginger are people that want a dog to be fully trained whenever it comes to them and they don't want to take the time to let her adjust to their situation.

Let me repeat just in case you don't go back and read. Not a breeder, don't have pups, have one rescue dog that I'm placing hasn't had any issues at all with us. The issues that happened so far were not peeing on a leash enough times and being freaked out on a boat. Think that doesn't classify me as someone that's not educating the people interested in her enough and pointing the finger at the wrong person. She hasn't done anything wrong, they have so they are going to get the finger pointed at them. You don't like it, don't read my posts.

taxtell

People need to realize that the dog is feeling vulnerable/overwhelmed with her new situation and take things SLOW.

He could try a D.A.P. Collar for her, that might help a bit.
http://www.vpl.com/press/view_press.php?id=100690

The D.A.P. plug in thingy helped a lot for an anxious greyhound I used to have.

cuddleparty

Ok.. 1 dog, 2 dogs.. a million dogs... doesn't really make a difference. Ginger has been returned to you for what will be the 2nd time in a short time span. I feel for Ginger. I hope she finds a good home, and an owner who will stick by her.

You m'dear.. seem to lack alot of patience with people and have a serious attitude issue. Perhaps this is hindering you from finding Ginger a proper owner. The other lady said you got "weird on her"... she said it, not me. Maybe take a minute to read some of your posts and your treatment and attitude towards others. If it doesn't go your way, it's the OTHER parties fault - never yours. The other lady was demanding, etc... WTF?!

You need to learn some humility, and manners... and quit with being so nasty.

KPoos

Thank you, I'll fwd this along to him. I agree that you can't expect more from a dog than they can give and need to go at the pace of the dog.