Scared of sticks ..

Chiquito loves to play fetch with sticks, and will often walk with one he finds while out and about in his mouth. He also brings them to Sheba to play tug, which she quite happily joins in with.

Today however I noticed that when I picked a stick up to throw (in the air over my shoulder) for Choc that Sheba instantly cowered, ears and tail down and hid behind my dad. I made no big deal of the behaviour, threw the stick and changed to a ball to play with - once the stick was out of my hand she came to me half cowering with her tail down. She was fine once I gave her a pat.

Obviously she is fearful of the stick in my hand (which makes me equally sad and angry) .. wondering if anyone has suggestions for desensitising/working on lessening/removing her fear?

Ohhh dear Kell, that made me quite upset to read that, not becuase of you but what may have happened to Sheba in the past being afraid of you raising a stick.

Not quite sure how to advize you, only take things really steady and build up her confidence slowly.

Aww poor Sheba that's so upsetting kell how about if you throw it underarm until she's used to you doing it and obviously taking things very slow.

Awww that is so sad, poor little thing  Yeah I would just introduce them gradually, I'm sure her confidence will grow xx

How is the demodex doing?

Thanks Kathy, Hayley and Saz .. will try the underarm throw and keep working on her confidence with them. Just makes me so sad for the poor little girl

Sazzle wrote: How is the demodex doing?

Thanks for asking Saz x

To mine her skin is looking a little better - all the redness has gone and she seems to be growing some hair in the bald patches. Off for a skin scrape later today, will let you know how we get on.

Ah that sounds promising  

I wouldn't throw sticks for dogs any way, it's been known to splinter in the dogs throat and mouth, they do a dog toy in the shape of a stick, a far safer option. Hope you resolve the problem though x

Chance was terrified of sticks/brooms anything of that sort of shape which made him wet himself.

What i did was leave the broom around without using it or touching it, just to get him used to the sight of it, we then moved onto getting him to come sit with me and the broom for lots of tasty treats.

I then taught him to 'touch a target' where you get them to touch an object with their paw for a treat, hence getting him to touch the broom for tasty treats and voila not bothered anymore

It may just be that she's a little under socialized and unsure of unknown objects in the world rather than sticks? But if it is a definite stick phobia I'd follow Ella's advice. We used to get so many strays coming into Bristol that were terrified of the brooms/scrapers etc we used to clean the kennels and we'd automatically assume they'd been awfully abused. Then their lovely owners would come in to claim them and we'd have a chat with them and there clearly wasn't anything like that going on at home, it was simply a new environment for them with big unknown objects, they didn't know us and were frightened by the unknown!

Poor Sheba makes you wonder all great advice above, sure she will gradually get used to it xx

How did it go at the vets? xx

Thank you all for your replies

ella wrote:Chance was terrified of sticks/brooms anything of that sort of shape which made him wet himself.

What i did was leave the broom around without using it or touching it, just to get him used to the sight of it, we then moved onto getting him to come sit with me and the broom for lots of tasty treats.

I then taught him to 'touch a target' where you get them to touch an object with their paw for a treat, hence getting him to touch the broom for tasty treats and voila not bothered anymore

Thanks for this Ella .. feel a bit daft for not having thought of it - you suggested similar for Chocs fear of lawn mowers and it worked well over time.

Have been working on familiarising her to them by having them 'around' outside, will work with the rest of the steps with Sheebs as well

Poor Sheba, she's really been through the mill at some point, hasn't she? 

Kell wrote:
Thank you all for your replies

ella wrote:Chance was terrified of sticks/brooms anything of that sort of shape which made him wet himself.

What i did was leave the broom around without using it or touching it, just to get him used to the sight of it, we then moved onto getting him to come sit with me and the broom for lots of tasty treats.

I then taught him to 'touch a target' where you get them to touch an object with their paw for a treat, hence getting him to touch the broom for tasty treats and voila not bothered anymore

Thanks for this Ella .. feel a bit daft for not having thought of it - you suggested similar for Chocs fear of lawn mowers and it worked well over time.

Have been working on familiarising her to them by having them 'around' outside, will work with the rest of the steps with Sheebs as well

hope it helps hun