Anxiety

[BBB]

Hi all

Does anyone know if there anything around that I can give my dog who has extremely bad anxiety. Its more like separation anxiety because once she is in the house or in her vari kennel, she is fine but put her outside and she carries on like a dog possesssed. Shes tried taking on our sliding door security screen to a point if I ever move house its going to have to be replaced, she tries jumping through our kitchen window which is probably about 3 feet off the ground.

Im really at my wits end and she needs some help. Ive been to the vet and he gave me some medication to keep her calm but at $60 a fortnight, its something I can afford on a permanent regular basis plus I dont like giving dogs/humans drugs on a regular basis.

Look forward to hearing from you.

cheers

BBB

[Tonymc]

BBB,is she attacking the Door,as in chewing and tearing?Any digging? Tony

[Poodle wrangler]

The medication is best used as part of an overall training program to help the dog.

It sounds like your dog can't cope with being without you. Basically, you have to work on a less attached relationship with your dog- for your dog's sake! You can still have pats/ cuddles etc. but on stricter terms.

An example would be when you come home, ignore the dog for 10-20 minutes. Only let them in once they're calm.

Hopefully the trainers will be in to help with specifics. Good luck

[BBB]

BBB,is she attacking the Door,as in chewing and tearing?Any digging? Tony

When she gets the opportunity she will pull at the security screen but no chewing or digging. Now she definitely has the strops with me because she has started weeing and pooing in the vari kennel, its all seems out of spite.

She gets herself so wound up that you would swear it was a 45c day when its only say 14c outside, heavy panting and running around between the outside doors like a maniac.

[NaturallyWild]

Rescue remedy (bach flower essence) from your chemist or health food store can be helpful sometimes, but as mentioned any drug or remedy needs to be combined with training to change the behaviour. Might be worthwhile getting someone in to assess the situation and give you a detailed training plan.

They don't do things like going to the toilet in their bed because of spite, but it could be that emotionally and biochemically she is all over the place and contributed to the situation. Was this when she was confined to the crate? If so how long for?

How long before she goes nuts when you put her outside (immediately/5sec/30sec/when you leaving house/etc)? If you leave her inside and you go outside and shut the door does the same thing happen?

[BBB]

Rescue remedy (bach flower essence) from your chemist or health food store can be helpful sometimes, but as mentioned any drug or remedy needs to be combined with training to change the behaviour. Might be worthwhile getting someone in to assess the situation and give you a detailed training plan.

They don't do things like going to the toilet in their bed because of spite, but it could be that emotionally and biochemically she is all over the place and contributed to the situation. Was this when she was confined to the crate? If so how long for?

How long before she goes nuts when you put her outside (immediately/5sec/30sec/when you leaving house/etc)? If you leave her inside and you go outside and shut the door does the same thing happen?

To be honest Ive never thought about the biochemical situation, she is only left in the vari kennel to sleep and when no one is home because Im scared that she will cause herself self harm. When she is put outside, she virtually goes hypo within say 30 secs, she even knows in the morning as there is a routine that as soon as we let her out she starts running around like a maniac. Its now even got to a point that if we do leave her inside at night time while we sleep, we usually wake to a present, if you get my drift.

Ive tried flower essences before but, is the bach flower essence one of the better ones?

Thank you for your help but Im pretty sure Im going to have to get someone in to help change her behaviour.

BBB

[Poodle wrangler]

Thank you for your help but Im pretty sure Im going to have to get someone in to help change her behaviour.

BBB

That's the best way to get the problem sorted- they can see what's going on first hand. Problems like this tend to escalate if you don't do anything. Pretty soon your dog has destroyed so much stuff that it would have paid for a trainer a few times over AND the problem's only worse.

What area are you in? Perhaps someone can refer you to someone who's good?

[BBB]

Thank you for your help but Im pretty sure Im going to have to get someone in to help change her behaviour.

BBB

That's the best way to get the problem sorted- they can see what's going on first hand. Problems like this tend to escalate if you don't do anything. Pretty soon your dog has destroyed so much stuff that it would have paid for a trainer a few times over AND the problem's only worse.

What area are you in? Perhaps someone can refer you to someone who's good?

Ive been in contact with my vet and been referred to a behavioural specialist plus with the medication, hopefully we can turn the corner for her sake.