[chiggins82]

Hi There, I have a ~4 yr old Border Collie Great Pyrenees mix. We've had her a little over a year now. She has some fairly severe anxiety issues. Separation Anxiety, Containment Anxiety and Noise Phobia. We've been working with a behaviorist and vet to figure out meds and training. She has been doing pretty good, to the point that we can leave here alone for a few hours as long as the weather is clear!

Over the past month or so, she has started to refuse to walk and/or get up. It usually happens when we are in the hall on the way back from a walk (we're in an apartment). She will sit out of nowhere and refuse to move unless we go the other way and run! She also now does it occasionally when we try to take her for a walk inside the apartment.

The vet hasn't found any medical reason for this.. I assume it is all anxiety related to some extent.. problem is I cannot figure out what is triggering it.

Nights used to be worse for this, but recently she started similar behavior if I am working from home and try to go out midday.

Wondering if anyone has ideas on how to work on breaking this behavior? We have a lot of unpredictable noises in our place as we are downtown in a high-rise... but I have not noticed that she is anxious prior to her doing this. Often she seems relaxed and happy, and then suddenly stops and feezes

Appreciate any opinions on this one!!

 

[Sthelena]

Have you tried to find a trainer with experience with working breeds? They might have a different take on things.....that is a mix of two polar opposite working breeds in just about every way. Just a suggestion

 

[chiggins82]

We have some names of trainers from the behaviorist (not sure if they are experienced in working breeds). It may be time to look into that!

I agree that the mix of the two is very interesting. We are not 100% sure that is her breed. It was a guess based on looks from the rescue we got her from and by googling pictures of that breed mix.

She looks like a border collie, but is about 70 Lbs and I would say has a temperament much more to a Pyrenees. She is very low energy, and prefers to watch over things from afar. Never has tried to herd.

Honestly she acts like she is a senior which I have talked about with the vet and they said it is likely that trauma from being bounced around shelters may have made her become mature early.

When motivated (ie squirrels) she is fast and strong.