Nervous Shiba Inu

toedtoes wrote:
Try getting her used to just being in the trailer for short periods first. If she likes toys, establish a "camping toys only" stash in the trailer. Have "camping treats only" and keep them on hand in the trailer at all times. Then, bring her in with you while you clean, organize, etc. Every time you go into the trailer, call her to join you. Give her a treat, encourage her to play with her toys.

Try having driveway camp-outs. Feed her in the house at the normal mealtime, then at bedtime, go sleep in the trailer with her. Grab a book and go sit out in the trailer reading; bring out the laptop and surf the web in the trailer; etc. Bring her with you every time. Just let her get used to the trailer as an extension of the house. Then start feeding her in the trailer.

She may always have some nervousness about it, but the more she sees it as "part of our home", the less nervous she'll be when you go camping.

I did this with my two dogs. They transferred from a trailer to a motorhome without a blink of the eye. They love their RV. When it gets home from being at the shop, etc., they get all excited and are at the gate waiting to climb in. Once they get inside, it's straight to the toy box:

X10! :B

Try getting her used to just being in the trailer for short periods first. If she likes toys, establish a "camping toys only" stash in the trailer. Have "camping treats only" and keep them on hand in the trailer at all times. Then, bring her in with you while you clean, organize, etc. Every time you go into the trailer, call her to join you. Give her a treat, encourage her to play with her toys.

Try having driveway camp-outs. Feed her in the house at the normal mealtime, then at bedtime, go sleep in the trailer with her. Grab a book and go sit out in the trailer reading; bring out the laptop and surf the web in the trailer; etc. Bring her with you every time. Just let her get used to the trailer as an extension of the house. Then start feeding her in the trailer.

She may always have some nervousness about it, but the more she sees it as "part of our home", the less nervous she'll be when you go camping.

I did this with my two dogs. They transferred from a trailer to a motorhome without a blink of the eye. They love their RV. When it gets home from being at the shop, etc., they get all excited and are at the gate waiting to climb in. Once they get inside, it's straight to the toy box:

Camping in the driveway is the answer. Letting the dog know that the camper is part of the family surroundings and letting them get used to it parked with you there.

Whatever feeding time is in your house move it out to the camper and sit with the dog. Do this for several days and spend a couple nights out in the camper too.

Also add you leaving the camper for a few minutes at a time reassuring the dog you are just outside the camper.

I find too many people just up and throw a pet into a camper for the first time and drive off expecting a pet to understand the whole situation of being locked in a small box vehicle that is now moving down the highway. And when they don't, the owner takes the easy way out for 'them' and resorts to drugging the dog. :(

Pets need to be shown and get acquainted to the camper and know that it is a safe place to be with their owners BEFORE you head off down the road.

I have yet to come across a dog that was anxious, nervous, whatever that couldn't be calmed with TIME and EFFORT of behalf of the OWNER.

Best of luck helping your Sheba understand that the camper is a safe place to be.:C

Welcome to the world of Shiba Inu's. Our Yugi is 9 years old and is and has been exactly as you described. She loves camping, getting into the truck for trips but when we get going a whole different story. Not making a big deal of things helps but in talking to several other Shiba owners in our area several are the same and looking on some of the online forums it is in their nature so don't sweat it. They are a different dog for those that have never had one and even at the big dog shows they say they are challenging as they have their own mind and agenda and are hard to trainin most cases.
Personally my dog is a lab/golden retriever cross and is everything that is wanted in a dog fro travel and camping. The wifes Shiba is,has and always will be special in that dept. and is a topic of a lot of conversations because of it. Do some reading on Shiba's and you can find a lot of this type of info online. If it were my lab I may be concerned but in a Shiba just do what you can and not worry about it.

No suggestions, as I haven't figured stuff out for Calvin. However, I found, unless we're in the Eagle. Calvin does not travel well. He starts out fine, eats his snacks, but once we get to the motel. He won't eat, or poop the same as when we're at home.

It's been years since he joined me, but, IMO, for whatever the reason, he still thinks he's gonna go to another home. As it was the case during the first few years of his life.

He won't go to the back room at the clinic. For some reason, or I think he remember's .... well, he remembers, I think.

Good luck,

Pops

Fears and Phobias

This is a pretty comprehensive article about fears and phobias with current recommendations for ways to go about treating them.

Often a multiple approach including pharmaceutical (either "natural" and/or prescription), something like a thundershirt along with avoidance and training.

The biggest factor to consider is to do something before the behavior becomes habitual, then it's really tough to deal with.

Doug, DVM

Francesca Knowles wrote:

Pawz4me wrote:

Francesca Knowles wrote:
She'll get over it, provided you do NOT acknowledge her "fears" etc. in any way, such as urging her to eat etc. Dogs pick up on our anxiety, which only reinforces their own.

Suzanne Clothier and Patricia McConnell, two of the best dog trainers and behaviorists alive today, disagree with you.

The Myth of Reinforcing Fear

You Can't Reinforce Fear

I wasn't speaking to fears of unusual occcurrences like thunderstorms, fireworks and the like. The O.P.'s concern has to do with anxiety in a changed environment, and how best to help the dog adapt to it.
I guess I could have put it differently: it's possible to teach a dog NOT to be anxious about certain things by treating them as normal. This situation is a perfect example. The O.P.'s dog is anxious, likely due to the unfamiliarity of the circumstances. If the owner's behavior says "business as usual", the dog will learn that norm as nothing to be afraid of and will no longer need comforting.

IMO and IME with dogs fear/anxiety are the same regardless of what the trigger is.

I don't mean to pick on you. I've just heard the "don't comfort them or you'll reinforce it" thing all my life and it never made one lick of sense to me. I'm glad more and more canine behaviorists and trainers are now educating people on how wrong the belief is.

OP, in your shoes I'd have the dog spend as much time in your trailer as possible, even when you're at home. And make as many short trips with her as possible before you start full timing. I suspect all she needs to become more comfortable is more experience. You might also consider trying one of the pheromone products. They work well for some pets.

Pawz4me wrote:

Francesca Knowles wrote:
She'll get over it, provided you do NOT acknowledge her "fears" etc. in any way, such as urging her to eat etc. Dogs pick up on our anxiety, which only reinforces their own.

Suzanne Clothier and Patricia McConnell, two of the best dog trainers and behaviorists alive today, disagree with you.

The Myth of Reinforcing Fear

You Can't Reinforce Fear

I wasn't speaking to fears of unusual occcurrences like thunderstorms, fireworks and the like. The O.P.'s concern has to do with anxiety in a changed environment, and how best to help the dog adapt to it.
I guess I could have put it differently: it's possible to teach a dog NOT to be anxious about certain things by treating them as normal. This situation is a perfect example. The O.P.'s dog is anxious, likely due to the unfamiliarity of the circumstances. If the owner's behavior says "business as usual", the dog will learn that norm as nothing to be afraid of and will no longer need comforting.

Francesca Knowles wrote:
She'll get over it, provided you do NOT acknowledge her "fears" etc. in any way, such as urging her to eat etc. Dogs pick up on our anxiety, which only reinforces their own.

Suzanne Clothier and Patricia McConnell, two of the best dog trainers and behaviorists alive today, disagree with you.

The Myth of Reinforcing Fear

You Can't Reinforce Fear

She'll get over it, provided you do NOT acknowledge her "fears" etc. in any way, such as urging her to eat etc. Dogs pick up on our anxiety, which only reinforces their own. You might increase the frequency of trips outside to potty, but just act like it's business as usual.