OCD- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
OCD could also be excessive licking or chewing, chasing shadows, or lights, or triggered by sounds, excitement, stress. I'm not talking about normal, running around excited...or boredom chewing. I'm refering to when the behavior continues for hours, and the dog cannot control it. There are ways of training out the behavior by replacing it with another, and there are some meds that can be prescribed for it. I have heard, perhaps incorrectly, that there is a high incidence of this in OES's. Just wondering if anyone has any experience with this. |
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| I've seen episodes on that on the Dog Whisperer. If I recall correctly, Cesar addressed it though more exercise and giving the dog a job / sense of purpose, such as by wearing a backpack. I know that sounds simple, but I thought I'd pass that info along. . . I recall one german shepherd looked so proud to be wearing his backpack. . .
Good luck! |
Valerie wrote: I recall one german shepherd looked so proud to be wearing his backpack. . .
All right, that sounds like one of the cutest things ever! Clyde doesn't have OCD but i think he's gettin' a backpack! |
| I am the first to admit I don't know much about dogs, but the behavior you describe sounds identical to the behavior seen in children with autism. The spinning, the staring off into space, repeating the same behaviors over and over for hours and hours. I don't know that the same kinds of things would work for a dog, that do for a child, but we have had great sucess with Aisling using sensory integration therapy. Basically she is over stimulated by some of her senses and under stimulated by others. In her case she is over stimulated by hearing and touch and under stimulated visually. When ais was young, Devon was instructed to brush her with brush several times a day and apply pressure to her using pillows. She also had to apply pressure to the upper palate of her mouth before she ate. In therapy they had swings that they spun Ais around in. I know all it sounds kind of nuts, but the results were amazing! For example Ais would only eat 2 or three different kinds of food, but after Devon began apply the pressure to her mouth she became much more experimental and would try different foods. Ais was over three before she said a word, but after she began therapy she began to communicate with us for the first time. She is now in regular class with normal children and doing extremely well. A lot of Autistic behaviors are very OCD. Aisling still lines all of her toys up in order either by size or color. She arranges everything in the house that she can that way. I don't know if any of this could help with your rescue, but it seems like if you modified it for a dog, it might be worth a try. |
| Hi,
Thought I'd share some input regarding this topic. As a Special Ed teacher many of my students have autism or autistic like tendencies. The sprectrum is so wide concerning behaviors, it's difficult to place an exact diagnosis on children with this disability. What may work for some may not work for others as the dissability may be different with each child , I've heard great things regarding what Aisling's mom just reported. Currently, I am spending a lot of time with a child with Aspergers which is high functioning autism - he's brilliant but there are facets to his personality (behavioral) that set him apart. Amazingly in one conversation with him he responded by telling me" not in my world, that doesn't occur". Thought I'd share that as that one line gives insight into what and how he views the world perhaps differently than most. Back to the subject at hand and I hope I don't offend anyone comparing children and animals but have often found that working with both has allowed me a lot of insight in non-verbal communication. Dogs like some non verbal children tell us a lot if we can read their body language and becoming familiar with the individual you get to know them. Panda has a quirk in his personality which after discussion with the vet we both came to the conclusion that he does it at a very primal level and does not seem to be aware of when he does it. In a nut shell he is not an aggressive dog but certain triggers cause him to react in what may be viewed as a bit scary to some. I am sure he wasn't born like this, unlike a child with a certain disability, rather his past experience causes him to react like it in times of stress. Certain noises or stress causes him to frantically bite a pillow. Being aware of this I make certain that when he lays on his chair there is a pillow next to him, should this happen. Some may say I'm encouraging the behavior but it's saved the arms of the chair which he will use as a substitute in the rare occasion that it occurs. I say he rarely does it, as since he came into my home in the Spring of 2004, the frequency of him doing this is very rare. I can only describe it like a frenzy kind of behavior. To me it's almost like someone who is extremely frustrated and not being able to say what's wrong. Many children sometimes react this way not because they are aggressive but for frustration in not being able to be understood. The first couple days in my house Panda shredded anything within reach in that kinda frenzied like behavior, dish towels, Cd's , sweaters...it was alarming to watch. I remained calm and would offer him a trade which he always accepted (even if the trade was a plastic lid ) so that I could scoop up the object. I never attempted to pull anything out of his mouth. Within a very short time and one room at a time in the house with me he never did this again. He's become so trustworthy that I can leave him, Merlin and Blue in the house while I'm at work and never find anything chewed or ripped from any of them. I've read that shelter dogs or ones whom have led a life of being tied up all their lives do the circular thing as a way to relieve boredom. The same can be said for animals in zoos - you see the same pacing back and forth or circular movements. I agree, that with a change of environment and the building of trust , many of these animals can improve a huge amount and the behavior may dissapear entirely. In some cases the vet needs to be consulted as there is medication that will help eleviate anxiety in the dogs. Being one that likes going the natural route, Natures Remedy (both for people and pets) works really well. I hope I'm not making Panda sound like a Tazmanian Devil or hard to handle as quite the opposite he's one of the best behaved dogs I've ever had the pleasure of sharing my life with. Everyone that meets him comments how they have never seen a dog look so adoringly at his upright (Me!) I probably look at him the same way. I never have to repeat a command, as he's so willing to please and will race like the wind towards me and without my asking will immediately stop infront of me and look up. I know his behavior stems from his previous life where he was beaten severely as the scars on his body prove. It means I never,ever become complacent however as I am always aware of my surroundings and can forsee any possible triggers. He's wonderful with the rabbit, cats, children, men, women and other dogs and so I learn to deal with his occasional "frantic behavior". The triggers for him are scissors, firecrackers, shadows and loud aggressive yelling (he'll hear it on tv and react). If one of the cats suddenly jumps on his chair when he's sleeping it will cause him to jump and bite his pillow. I believe he uses it as a substitute as he's never got mad and attacked the cat instead. Becoming accustomed to what his triggers are, I can do something about them. Shadows for example - I immediately turn on brighter lights, scissors I can now pick them up in front of him without any reaction from him (we are still working on my ever attempting to use them on him) so far, I've had to have him completely put under so the vet can shave him down, this will be the last time I will have this done as he now allows me to brush his entire body with no reaction . This year the firecrackers in the neighborhood didn't cause him to react like they did last year where he raced around the backyard and vomited every couple feet. I sat with him in the yard and did the same on New Years but in the house as by then he no longer vomited when hearing them. This year this behavior has really improved as he just barks when he hears them. I believe they pick up cues from us as I react little when I hear them and speak in a soothing voice if he comes over to me. I don't go over to him. Once these boys or girls feel secure and the clue to that is observing how they sleep. Panda used to sleep huddled in a tight little ball and now sleeps on his back, legs up , belly exposed. I know he feels safe as even in his most vulnerable time (sleep) he will expose his belly and that's the clue. I also used to catch him pacing quite a bit and would sit on the floor in the opposite corner and speak to him very gently to build up his trust. I often do this with children that have experienced abuse too as rushing over them sometimes causes them to react. Having fun, sharing a meal and keeping busy! Hand feeding builds trust and the dogs view you as their leader whom they come to trust and listen to. Having fun gives them opportunity to let off steam in a positive way and build a bond with you. A tired dog is a good dog! Giving them jobs and things such as obedience training makes them tired from thinking, some experts claim this even makes a dog more tired than if you took them for walks. At times , for every two steps forward it's two steps backwards but like Panda, they eventually become a well behaved family member. Look at how far Jil has come with her Bentley and many examples of others on this board! It took me six weeks before I could touch the top of Panda's head and now anyone can do it and sends him into a full body wiggle and lots of licks from him. I wouldn't give up Panda for the world - I just love that boy so much! Good for you for allowing this rescue into your home as my experience will be they will pay you back with their love tenfold. Keep us posted and can't wait to hear stories of your new sheepie! With your new sheepie as time goes on you will see what his triggers are and should he attempt to do behavior(s) which you find unacceptable - distraction to another positive behavior is sometimes the key and then lots of praise. Marianne and the boys |
| Marianne, I didn't know you were a special ed teacher! My mom and my sister in law are too!
Sofa has all the signs of OCD, whenever she gets stressed she starts licking you or something. The more stressed she gets, the faster she does it. Ignoring her, asking her to sit or stay still causes her even more anxiety because she wants to please, so it becomes a kind of circular feedback that makes her hard to control sometimes. She had been abused on her former home and we've managed to reduce her fears and increase her confidence... Now she's not afraid of anything and became Sofa the Daredevil. Recently, I started holding her and praising her for being quiet or laying still when she starts her licking routine. I've done som reading and came to the conclussion that you need to provide an alternate behabiour (sp?) for the one you are trying to eliminate. So far, it seems to be working. We still got a looooong way, but maybe we're into something. |
| Thanks for the notes, and keep them coming. We are picking up the dog this weekend.
Marianne, just to clarify, this dog with OCD is not an OES, and I am not the foster home, but he is coming into my rescue. He is going to a foster home that has a deaf dog, and close access to behaviorists and vets. We would just like to have as much first hand expereinces to draw on as possible, so we are nto going into this blind. I hear a lot about "alternate behavior" and reducing stress, so perhaps working on the behavior, along with meds, we may be able to help this boy. He apparently acts quite autistic, and stares a lot into space, looking up to the sky....and spins for hours. Poor dear. I am also involved with a rescue OES, and for that one we are still working out the logistics. Hope to be able to post some final details soon. |
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