Our Snowball is always screaming!

[109ACE]

Thanks all. Please understand the video is for demonstration porposes only. Due to the high volume of responders wanting to know what it sounds like. That's it in a nut shell. She does get corrected and removed from a room when she has these fits toward the other dogs. But the more time passes I do think she might be better off in a home as a single dog with single master. I believe that is how she spent her previous years. I had the impression when we rescued her that she was living with a single divorced woman. I thought I heard something along the lines of the woman having some mental issues. Her ex father in law had to come in and take over her matters. Maybe exhusband died? At any rate he took Snowball from her master and surrendered her to a kill shelter near Flint MI. She had issues in the shelter and was deemed unadoptable and to be euthed or placed with rescue. I got word of her and when nobody responded to pleas for help for her, we did. Sooz pulled her and transported her to me somewhere in MI where I met up with her from a drive from Chicago. When Snowball entered our home she was Eskie number 7.

[Saint Mom]

I understand that the video was for demo only. But it certainly looks like "something" is bothering her, whether physical, psychologically, etc.

But the NILIF is to be used ALL the time, for anything she does. Right now, this behaviour should not (and I'm not talking to you specifically but at large) ever be accepted. It can be only the tip of the iceberg...to her disadvantage.

But it is also possible that for this particular dog, one is too many dogs to have around. It may cause her excessive stress over time. Some dogs will never be able to cope with that. Just like some cats are not doing great as soon as another cat is brought into a home.

Your thinking of trying out with next door lady could be a start. But she has, for the time-being, to apply the same technique of nothing is free. Looking at the way she is reacting on the bed, is not something to take lightly as you (we) were saying. It can even get nasty and dangerous.

[Geno]

It seems that sometimes older dogs get used to things, like beds or sofas or toys. I had a little terrier mix that was adorable and loving for about 14 years, then she started doing exactly what snowball is doing. She would freak out if I made her get off the sofa, and even nip at me. I had no experience back then and had to live with her attitude for 3 years until she passed away. I would lure her off the sofa with treats, boy was that the wrong thing to do.

You mentioned her jumping up on your lap, getting the treat, then freaking when you try to pet her. I really think you need to let her smell the treat, then try to pet her, if she lets you, give the treat, if not... no treat. Everything in her life needs to be like that. Put her on a lead, let her on the bed, try to touch her, if she doesn't let you, take her off the bed. Keep the exercises short and simple.

I don't know that other dogs are the issue "causing" the problem. You might end up having your neighbor get bitten. Snowball may be okay for a short while there, but I'll bet it doesn't last long.

Once she knows how to behave and who the boss is, she'll be a much happier girl.

She's going to need a lot of attention for a couple months. You may need to put her on her side and hold her there until she totally calms down.

Just my humble opionion.

Geno

[109ACE]

Geno, all good suggestions. Except I can not pick her up. I can not put her on her side to redirect her mind. To do so is the same as placing my hand in a meat grinder. She right now is in Melissa's lap napping while Melissa strokes Snowballs back and sides. Touch the head and she becomes devil dog. It really seems stress related and I may have to consult our vet for some meds for her. 

[Geno]

Maybe drugs will help for training purposes, hopefully not forever. There's also aroma therapy, and you could use a muzzle.

I wonder if sometimes they just get old and senile.

Best wishes!

Geno

[109ACE]

I think you might be right Geno. Senality is crossing my mind as she has been progressively evolving worse by the months. I'll just wait till I get paid for some projects I've been doing and get her to our vet for an exam.

[ArisMom]

Could Snowball have an ear infection?  When we brought Crystal home from the kill shelter, she growled and lunged at me when I tried to pet her head.  Turned out she had a severe ear infection.

[109ACE]

Melissa and were just talking about that this morning. Gosh, get out of heads! I am just wondering how in the hell the vet is going to be able to get a look into her ears when she is so nasty. Can't even get a muzzle on her. She just becomes this little demon tornado and it's nothing but flashing fur and sharp teeth.

[ArisMom]

I am not an authority but perhaps the vet can prescribe medication that may calm her prior to her visit.  I would call your vet to discuss.

[snowballsmom]

kevin, did you ever get to the bottom of this?

[109ACE]

Yes I did Jen! We rehomed Snowball with a family in Erie PA who have less Eskies then us. She has been with them since the middle of Oct and is doing great. They absolutely adore her. And she does them. She is no longer the bedroom recluse she was with us. She is a new dog now.

[snowballsmom]

thats great news! so it was an enviornmental issue after all.

[caroline]

That's awesome!

[katie's mom]

What great news!  You're an angel a) to have put up with that behavior and b) to have found her a situation where she would be happy.

[109ACE]

Yes Jen it was all either a bad mix of dogs or too many. Both problems have been corrected with Snowball going to PA to a new home, and Buddy who was a very dominant alpha going to San Antonio TX to Carol Raymond. We miss Snowball. But am so glad she is a happy dog again.

[snowballsmom]

you did right by her, even thought it was tough on you and melissa. commendable.

[snowflake's mom]

Wow.  I somehow missed this post originally and just got caught up.  Good for you guys for being optimistic and patient and rehoming her to a home where she can be happy.  Thanks for all the hard work you do on behalf of eskies.   

[Cadygrl]

Whew. I watched the video. And from what I see, it really seems as if she wants to control the game. And on the video, it seems to be working for her.

If a medical check-up reveals all is normal, I would try the NILIF on her. Earn the points to move forward.

Yes, I agree, after watching the video, it's a little clearer that she thinks you're invading her space, and she's challenging you. She's anxious and scared, and she's learned that growling, screaming, and baring her teeth works when she wants to get her way. My dog was EXACTLY the same when I first got her. She was scary, and no one trusted her, everyone was afraid of her. It took practicing NILIF (and using Cesar Milan's calm assertive techniques) to break that dominant streak and teach her that we weren't afraid of her, so growling doesn't work. Rather than comforting her when she does those things (which only reaffirms that it's ok to growl), you've got to correct her. Not in a mean way, no hitting or yelling or anything like that, just a firm but calm "no" and don't give in. In the video situation, I would have made her get off the bed as soon as she made the first noise...the key is catching the bad behavior and correcting it before it becomes a bite or growl. For us, what worked when she got that way was reaching behind her head to grab her collar, holding it behind the neck (to avoid getting bitten), and gently flipping her onto her back, putting our other hand on her chest and holding her there in that position until she physically relaxes and stops baring teeth. We'd also wait til the tongue came out, because it's a sign of relaxing; giving up the dominance. At first, it might take a long time holding them there, so it takes patience, but the more you do it, the quicker she'll get the idea that her old habits are not ok, and she needs to learn to cope with her fear in a different way from now on. Of course, if you're too scared of getting bitten or don't feel confident enough to try this, don't...but be sure to practice firm discipline in other ways, don't ever let the screaming/growling cause you to stop whatever you're trying to do with her, or she gets exactly what she wanted.

I had to make a "how to" video for a school assignment recently, so I did mine showing the methods I used with my Eskie. If you want to watch them, it might be helpful. I demonstrated a few things that worked especially well:
"How to Recognize your Dog's Energy/Leave it": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTfCUtNwGao
"Why the methods work" (watch about 4 minutes in, I demonstrate the rolling over thing): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLfMKg1752M

Hopefully that helps a little. I probably seem like a Cesar groupie, haha, and I know some people don't like the way he does things, but I hafta say it worked really well on my dog, who was doing the SAME THING that I saw in the video, so I think it would help you a lot to practice the whole "they have to work for everything" technique. My case was a lot more extreme, but considering that it worked so well, I totally endorse it. Good luck!

[Cadygrl]

Whoops, should have read the last few posts before I replied.

Never mind, glad to hear she's doing well in a new home!