Brookes, think she was abandoned from a car

Fresia · Aug 31, 2014, 09:20 AM

So in the past couple of weeks I have been taking Brookes to the vet as you know, a lot. However, it hasn't been until recently that I have had a chance to do what I normally do with the dogs, which is to run my normal errands with them. This weekend was the first time and had a strange reaction.

She is really good in the car, sits or lies down on the ride, very patience, but she does always try to be touching me in some way on the ride. She will not ride in the back seat but always has a paw or her head on my lap. I have a gate on order to keep her fenced in the backseat, as this has never been an issue before with the dogs. When we stop and I go to get out, I have noticed she gets not just excited but a bit anxious. The last couple of trips, she gets out with me the places we have been.

This weekend, I left her in the car with the other dogs. EACH time I came back, completely unexpected, it was madness, never seen such a thing: she whines, mobbed me like she had not seen me in years, with full blown body slams, paws me all over and up on my shoulders, kisses all over, would not stop, but her tail was wagging the whole time; she would not listen to commands and would not stop. I actually have bruises today.

She is not the most affectionate dog normally, as I attribute this to living on the streets and she is still getting to know me so this is somewhat out of character for her. She does not even do this when I come home from work or from being out coming home, just a laid back wiggly, tail wagging greeting normally, so this is really unusual in so many respects.

I am suspecting she was abandoned from a car, which breaks my heart. She has been really clinging to me ever since we went on our first errands yesterday. I am concerned that I know I am going to have to take her on more trips so she can learn she is not going to be left, but I don't know how soon is too soon (?).

I am also going to have to wear nothing good as we work through this, such as my gardening clothes when I do this, as she totally slobbered me up and even tore a whole in my shirt pawing at me. Bless her. We have some work to do, and that gate cannot get here soon enough.

Any opinions on how to work through this? Thanks in advance for your feedback.

lizardlady · Aug 31, 2014, 09:35 AM

Fresia, it sure sounds like abandonment fear. What about start with sitting in the car at home? Sit a few minutes, get out of the car, but come right back so she doesn't have time to freak. Then when she's relaxed with that take a short ride in the car, like around the block, get out for a very short time and come back. Maybe you could even stand outside the car so she can see you. Then slowly lengthen the drive and how long you are out of sight? I'm thinking of something similar to systematic desensitazation.

too SHy · Aug 31, 2014, 08:22 PM

It sounds to me that she may have been beaten

Fresia · Sep 01, 2014, 06:50 AM

Perhaps Too Shy, and that is why she is slow to attention and affection as well. She is warming to it and comes for affection now. It has been a slow process. She has never flinched or dodged at my hand though, or anything else for that matter, but has also did not really take immediately to being petted either. I don't know that either she never got it being neglect with no attention and no contact, or was a abused as you suggest. I suspect she has been on streets a long time.

Day by day though she makes more progress, likes more and more affection, coming for it and asking for more and showing more signs of trust. However, she is not an over exuberant dog with affection as she is still reserved. That is why the car kind of threw me. The desensitization is a great idea LL. Thanks for that.

I was in such shock, it did not occur. I started it yesterday and will work on it the next weeks see how it goes before trying to run errands again. Will let y'all know how it goes.