A list

I wrote this as a list for a friend when he asked how Mochi has done on prozac. I thought it belonged here as well!


Pre Prozac Mochi:


Could not have another dog within 10 feet of him without alerting to it (longer distances if we're in unfamiliar places)


Would startle at every little sound. If I played Adele he would come lay under my feet. He was getting worse in the few months before I put him on prozac and spent too much time trembling at my feet in fear of the sounds he heard (this includes wind, which we have a LOT of). 


Had a hard time staying in work. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhpugZGyuNE Yes the thundershirt made a difference but it wasn't lasting.


Bmod "didn't stick". We'd work on counter conditioning or desensitizing to him and get just as bad of reactions the next time it was encountered. His anxiety was truly overwhelming.


Reacted to every. single. noise. ever. 


Post prozac Mochi:


Has learned to tolerate Helo and even come within inches of him. It's still a bit up and down but especially today I'm noticing lots of good behavior from Mochi.


Doesn't startle at most sounds. He still doesn't like the sound when my bass cord gets hit (makes a huge boom) but doesn't not panic during wind/storms. In fact I have only used his thundershirt when we had an especially bad storm and I'd say his reaction was 25% of what it would have been pre prozac. With the tshirt he slept comfortably.


Stays in work. I just finished a REALLY REALLY amazing heel work session with him. Stayed with me despite barking dogs he wanted to go see and was insanely attentive and focused. Knew to sit immediately when I stopped. It gave me serious pause: I think he might need to do rally!


Responded extremely well to his bmod with Helo. Went from actively seeking him out to correct him to tolerance. Was actually being a butthead during helo's training earlier and kept interrupting with no calming/stress signals given, no dilated pupils... just wanted to train XD.


Is learning the 3 bark rule. He gets 3 barks at noises, dogs, people and then he's done. Actually responds when I ask him to be quiet. Can sit next to the fence while the neighbors work and just watch them.


Oh and doesn't live in a state of constantly dilated pupils.


Edit: Oh and pre prozac Mochi gave calming/stress signals way too late and couldn't calm himself. He is building a frustration tolerance and learning to give other dogs calming signals BEFORE he is too close for comfort.