Have I created a problem..advice needed please

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jane123

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Hi everyone, I have not been on here in a very long time but know there are some on here who may be able to offer some good advice.
I was walking my 6 month old wolfhound today and she got shocked by an electric horse fence and it has really upset her. I tried to stop her touching it but she was more interested in what she was doing than me for that split second (puppy impulses not totally in-check). she ended up runnig off and took herself to her bed. I walked her back past the place she got the shock, made her sit and relax and then walked on and back. She was still a bit flighty but much better.

Since we got home everytime she see me with a dog lead or lead rein she moves away from me. She is particularly worried about the extendable lead, probably because it makes a noise. She is definately avoiding me. I have sat with her until she relaxes, given her treats to help her associate me with good things etc. but she is still a bit weary of me.

What can I/should I do to help her trust me and the lead again. Should I just take her out tomorrow and make sure all goes well, should I practice walking in the garden with incentives, sit in her bed with her??? The possibilities are endless but I really don't her to become fearful of me and to continue avoiding people.

This all only happened in the last 2 hours so I may need to give her some time to chill out?

Thanks for any advice and responses in advance.
 
I would think it a temporary glitch, I would simply put the lead on her , no fuss, get ready as you would for a walk and stick the lead in your pocket, if she shye's away just walk over to her get lead from pocket and stick it on and walk out, I would not sit in the bed e.t.c. You have to carry on as if nothing is the bother now otherwise you may just encourage that fear.
Take her for a long walk and past the area last with her on a lead and take you treats out then (chicken,sausage,cheese) and offer it then for her focus.
Or if you can avoid that area for a good week and get her back into the stride of enjoying walks again and associating her lead with them.
Treats don't usually works when they are a little anxious but she may take them once she is out and otherwise occupied with the big wide world.
 
Ps, just re read the 2 hour time line:D so its still fresh in her experience;) just dont keep reminding her and she will soon forget:) get on with what you usually do and let her come to you instead of going to her bed and fussing around her.
 
When my puppy was 6 monthsish he ran under my horses electric fence and it got his back. He freaked out screamed and ran. He came back but wouldn't come back to the field (I had turned fence off!) he just sat and watched shaking, the next day though he was absolutly fine :) bless her though I love wolfhounds we need pics please :D
 
I would just leave her be, and just go along with your everyday life. Don't fuss her about.
This also happened to my border collie, we were out checking my mare and stallion and she attempted to jump this fence(as she normally does) but she caught her belly on the wire. This gave her a shock but she was fine as long as I acted as it didn't happen. :D
So just don't make a fuss over it.
 
My 4 month old JRT pup got a mild shock of our chicken netting yesterday whilst we were poo picking. She yelped and ran off, I gave her some reassurance and a cuddle then put her down. She was off running again no problem but stayed away from the fence. She was quite happy to go up to it today but wise enough to not touch it....

I guess the only difference was that she wasn't on the lead so doesn't associate me with the shock. FWIW because I am by no means an expert, I agree with the others - just go about business as usual, avoid that area for a while and play a focus/ distraction game when near it for the first time. In the mean time try and interact with her in playful way - throw balls, whatever she thinks is fun - rather than trying to comfort her and act worried

Hope she feels better soon
 
My od girl regularly electrocutes herself - she forgets, sees a rabbit. Tail goes up like an antennae and she gets zapped. I always get the blame and she normally won't speak to me till the following day!
 
If you fret then the dog will!

I have a low fence keeping two pigs in a rough paddock and my dogs all know that it bites. The Fox Hound pups were heading that way and I could see the older dogs telling them to stop but hound pups being hound pups continued to do their own thing and two of the four got zapped!

They all came screaming back whilst the wiser dogs all chuckled amongst themselves. I joined in the 'told you so" and ignored them.

Tonight when I went down to feed the pigs the pups followed but stopped several feet away from the fence.

Lesson learned.

Forget it and your dog will just be wary of that area, just ignore her aversion to you, it will not last.
 
My old terrier got zapped the other day through his tongue!!!! He was drinking from a cow trough and an electric fence had fallen in it!!!!!!! He was very shocked to say the least, he got over it... they are only soft wrecks if we make them that way... like i tell ppl in the vets when they come in for sedatives etc for fireworks, ignore them don't make a fuss, if you cuddle them etc they think they should be worried xx
 
Thanks for all the replies. I know I did not reply till now but the advice was taken on board and followed, so thanks again!

She had forgiven me, or forgotten about it by the evening...I decided to ignore her when she avoided me and carried on as normal and success :-)

I gave us both a day off yesterday and walked her today with another dog on the extendable lead.

She was a bit scatty and expressed a desire to return home but we (me and other dog) carried on as if nothing had/was happening and had a successful and stress free walk.

I think we will be ok and won't have to call in an expert after all (well not yet anyway)!!
note to self....give electric fence wide berth when have dogs on lead
 
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